SST, superstore
Society, Screaming Skull
Lemonheads, superstore
Society, SST
I'd go there, I don't care
I'll go there, it's just to stare
Let's go there, it's just it's fair
I'll go there, Pat Smear

Superchunk, Society
Sunset Strip, Screaming Skull
Society, Husker do
Lemonheads, SST
I'd go there, but I don't care
I'll go there, it's just to stare
Let's go there, Sister's there
I'll go there, Pat Fear

Society, superstore
SST, Lemonheads
Sunset strip, society
Screaming skull, Husker do
I'd go there, but I don't care
I'll go there, it's just to stare
Let's go there, it's just it's fair
I'll go there, Pat Smear


Lyrics submitted by shut, edited by WilliAmDel, Jestoon425

Screaming Skull Lyrics as written by Kim Gordon David Markey

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Screaming Skull song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

10 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +1
    General Comment

    Apparently, Thurston wrote this song after visiting the SST Records Superstore on the Sunset Strip. SST was SY's former record label (and the Lemonheads' and Husker Du's) but the band and the label split acrimoniously when the Youth left for Geffen Records. SST used to be staunchly "indie" and resolutely against anything which smacked of corporate sellout or major label-ism, yet ended up opening a Virgin-type megastore in L.A. by the mid-90s and turning into a parody of "major label" terrors, without the big sales. To Sonic Youth, who were able to maintain their indepedence despite being on a major label, this must have been delicious poetic justice.

    owennnnnnnnnnon June 11, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It's either about stuff they dislike, stuff they like, or a summary of random parts of their life.

    eatmychildon January 07, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Seems like it's just an indy music montage. Lot's of music-related names (Pat Smear, Husker Du, SST, Lemonheads, etc.), There's probably other stuff I just don't recognize. Sister was the name of a previous album of theirs. Could be a lot of stuff, but probably just a bunch of music-themed stuff that fit together.

    acousticrock87on March 20, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    yeah. owennnnnnnn's got it right.

    metalmouthon August 30, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I have to agree with owennnnnnnnnn on this one. This was definitely poetic justice, since Sonic Youth was formerly on SST.

    rimiskaon June 10, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i love this song. its my favorite Sonic Youth.

    toomanyhumanson August 30, 2007   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning

    In 1986's super-hero comic "Watchmen" one of the characters, Nite Owl I, mentions an old super-villian named "Screaming Skull" who has reformed: "found Jesus, got married and had two kids".

    It sounds as a metaphor for an organization which has radically changed due to external factors of social evolution. Could there be a connection there? Or is it just a major coincidence?

    Alienoon November 24, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is about nostalgia for their indie days, particularly the couple of years they spent on SST Records. They had survived their indie years, signed to a major label, got a gold record (1992's Dirty), but somehow they missed the salad days.

    In 1992, SST opened up the "SST Superstore" on Sunset Boulevard in LA. To attract business, punk legend Pat Smear (formerly of Germs, and later of Nirvana of Foo Fighters) worked the counter. Hence, the lyrics about SST Superstore, and "I'll go there/for Pat Smear."

    Screaming Skull and Husker Du are two bands who put out records on SST, along with Sonic Youth. Superchunk never put out anything on SST (they were on Matador and their own label, the equally legendary Merge), but it's a cool indie shout-out anyway.

    While their years on a major certainly treated them well, I imagine they are happy to be back on an indie, with their first album for Matador coming out in June 2009.

    leamancon May 01, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Since the admins think I'm BOOW-SHIT, here's the lyrics to the "Rap Damage" version:

    That's right! Fuckin' Greg G Suckin' on a big D Damn straight baby! Motherfuckin' major label corporate fuckin' weasels and shit Suckin' on a big D That's right! All y'all! All ya fuckin' sell-out bullshit motherfuckin' Rock n' roll suck-ass assholes Suckin' on a big D That's right! I ain't fuckin' around this time Even though my fuckin microphone is fucked up n' shit I don't care Cuz all you fuckin' motherfuckers out there Tryin' to fuckin' be Foreigner Styx..motherfuckin' Genesis and shit Y'all can go suck on a big D Yeah! I ain't fuckin' kiddin' either! I'll go out and kick your fuckin' ass! That's right! I'm the bad motherfucker on the motherfuckin' mic Tellin' all y'all All you major label corporate ass kissin' motherfuckers To suck on a big D Yeah! Ain't no shit this time! I ain't fuckin' around! I ain't ever fuckin' around! Y'all know it too! Yeah! You know the truth! All you motherfuckers out there Suckin' big ass corporate cock Yeah, you know! All you rock and roll motherfuckers Suckin' on a big D Fuck yeah! You know it too, baby! I come out there... Start kickin' some motherfuckin' ass! Some motherfuckin' hardcore ass! Yeah! All you west coast, east coast Fuckin' southern regional motherfuckers Down there in Tex-Ass And all the way up there in Cana-Duh Yeah you all get down on your knee And be suckin' on my big D! Goddamn straight, I think y'all got it straight now I think you know I ain't bullshittin'! You fuckin' corporate cocksuckin' motherfuckin' Major label ass-kissin' bullshit Sucking on a big motherfucking dick! YEEEEEEEEEEAH!!!! (It's right!)

    Kaiveranon October 27, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    owennnnnnn got a few things wrong.

    Lemonheads never put anything out on SST.

    The SST Superstore was hardly a major store like Virgin or anything like that. It was actually a very small record store, its gimmick being that they only sold SST LPs and CDs.

    I went there many times in the '93 to '96 time frame and bought a lot of SST goodies. Never saw Pat Smear though.

    leamancon October 18, 2012   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Siberian Kiss
Glassjaw
its amazing how far music can come.. 24 years after it released and its one of the most heartfelt songs ive heard
Album art
Show Me a Little Shame
Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals
He certainly did earn that reputation.
Album art
Grand Theft Auto
Insane Ian
The way this song speaks to me🥺🥺when I sing it I feel like I relate
Album art
Step
Ministry
Both as a standalone and as part of the DSOTS album, you can take this lyric as read. As a matter of public record, Jourgensen's drug intake was legendary even in the 1980s. By the late 90s, in his own words, he was grappling with massive addiction issues and had lost almost everything: friends, spouse, money and had nearly died more than once. "Dark Side of the Spoon" is a both funny & sad title for an album made by a musical genius who was losing the plot; and this song is a message to his fans & friends saying he knows it. It's painful to listen to so I'm glad the "Keith Richards of industrial metals" wised up and cleaned up. Well done sir.
Album art
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve. The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future. Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere" The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”