I was in a ska band in high school, and we played this song at the school twice. After the first time, the school administration requested we censor a few lines, notably “I’ll even cut my lyrics off for you.”
Close, but sadly no. The fedora was green, and the shoes were black converse with white-out checkers.
The administration was actually fairly reasonable about it. It was being broadcast on the school’s TV station, and they had fcc concerns so they cut the end our performance of that one song. For future performances they asked for playlists in advance. We thought they would object to the song because it is about lesbians, but it was just the line about cutting off your penis that they felt was about self-harm. So we changed it to “lyrics” for the next show. They didn’t cut the broadcast for How’s My Driving, Doug Hastings, or Stuff, but asked us not to play either one again. I think we snuck Doug Hastings in as an encore once, but didn’t face any repercussions.
Honestly, it was a long time ago so I might have the details wrong.
I was in a ska band in high school, and we played this song at the school twice. After the first time, the school administration requested we censor a few lines, notably “I’ll even cut my lyrics off for you.”
I hope you refused to bow down to censorship, tipped your checkered fedora at them, and skanked your way right out of the principal’s office.
Close, but sadly no. The fedora was green, and the shoes were black converse with white-out checkers.
The administration was actually fairly reasonable about it. It was being broadcast on the school’s TV station, and they had fcc concerns so they cut the end our performance of that one song. For future performances they asked for playlists in advance. We thought they would object to the song because it is about lesbians, but it was just the line about cutting off your penis that they felt was about self-harm. So we changed it to “lyrics” for the next show. They didn’t cut the broadcast for How’s My Driving, Doug Hastings, or Stuff, but asked us not to play either one again. I think we snuck Doug Hastings in as an encore once, but didn’t face any repercussions.
Honestly, it was a long time ago so I might have the details wrong.
Ha! That is awesome. I got into ska after joining Jazz Band in high school. Jazz opened me up to so much music.