Only a Lad : analyse de l'album d'Oingo Boingo

1981

Je vais être clair dès le départ, ce premier album d'Oingo Boingo est une réussite complète, un coup d'essai comme véritable coup de maître. Pourtant je ne le conseillerais pas à ceux qui désirent découvrir le groupe. D'une part parce que c'est un album profondément ancré dans le son de son époque (le début des années 80) et que certains aspects pourront sembler vieillots à bon nombre de personnes. Ensuite parce que les paroles, qui sont parmi les meilleurs jamais écrites par Elfman, sont loin d'être évidentes. Entre la pédophilie gaguesque de Little Girls, le manifeste anti-communiste/bourgeois de Capitalism, le côté réac de Only A Lad, la charge anti-critique de Imposter, le premier album d'Oingo Boingo est clairement le plus engagé. Il faut bien se rendre compte cependant que tout cela fonctionne au second degré et même à un bon nombre de degrés supérieurs. Le mieux est d'aller jeter un coup d'oeil aux paroles puis de jeter une oreille à la musique qui va avec pour bien réaliser que tout cela est de l'humour typiquement Boingesque. Quoi qu'il en soit, Only A Lad est un disque exceptionnel où toutes les chansons sans exceptions possèdent une personnalité accrocheuse.

Little Girls contient tout l'esprit Oingo Boingo. Humour noir, provocation, voix cinglée d'Elfman, musique sautillante entre punk et pop. Little Girls est d'une efficacité phénoménale. Un tube malsain comme le groupe saura en pondre des dizaines.

Perfect System est une sorte de brouillon de No Spill Blood (sur Good For Your Soul), c'est une chanson très représentative du Boingo politico-parano. Particulièrement entêtant en tout cas.

On The Outside brille par des paroles à la fois très amusantes et très personnelles, une profession de foi de la part de Danny Elfman ("I'm just an alien through and through, Tryin' to make believe I'm you") qui adopte cette vision cynique "from the outside" qui caractérisera bon nombres de ses futures compositions. Mélodiquemment la chanson est magnifique.

Capitalism n'y va pas avec le dos de la cuillère, toutes les paroles seraient à citer. En tout cas les communistes-bourgeois en prennent pour leur grade ("You talk, talk, talk about suffering and pain, You mouth is bigger than your entire brain, What the hell do you know about suffering and pain..."). Une chanson "politique" discutable mais sautillante (avec le Boingo il vaut mieux ne rien prendre au sérieux).

You Really Got Me est une reprise boingesque du tube des Kinks. Une version techno-pop particulièrement déjantée. Mais au final assez laborieuse, une démonstration de style.

Only A Lad, le premier grand classique du groupe, se caractérise par un message réactionnaire assez hallucinant. Bon, c'est de l'humour noir de chez humour noir en fait. Pas d'excuse pour les criminels, zou ! qu'ils aillent tous brûler en enfer. Je crois qu'Elfman a surtout fait de cette chanson une comptine pour enfants pas sages, cruelle et irrésistible. Impossible de ne pas reprendre le refrain en chœur. Un tube qui n'en fut jamais un.

What You See poursuit dans la veine cynique rentre-dedans. La musique est toujours aussi efficace et Elfman semble toujours autant s'amuser à agresser l'auditeur. Mais la chanson est excellente donc on oublie le bizarre esprit punk-réac de certaines lignes de texte.

Controller est la première véritable chanson purement parano de Danny Elfman. Et c'est hallucinant, on a rarement vu une chanson aussi psychotique dans le style "ils sont partout, le système va nous détruire, je suis poursuivi, harcelé, surveillé". On sait combien la thématique de 1984 obsède Elfman, ce Controller en est le premier manifeste mené à 1000 à l'heure.

Imposter est une charge en règle des critiques. Les critiques sont présentés comme ayant toutes les tares possibles et imaginables. C'est violent comme du punk adolescent mais cela sonne sur disque comme de la techno-pop. Sur scène par contre cela devait tout massacrer sur son passage.

Nasty Habits est une chanson géniale, qui conclut l'album en beauté. Les paroles sont un délice de cynisme. L'ensemble est très accrocheur et démontre une bonne fois pour toute qu'Elfman est un artiste parfait qui allie talents de composition, de parolier et surtout talents vocaux hors du commun.

En clair, Only A Lad est un disque de très grande qualité, parsemé de pures pépites mélodiques telles que On The Outside ou What You See mais aussi de réels chefs-d'oeuvre irrésistibles (Little Girls, Only A Lad, Nasty Habits). Certes cet album a vieilli, certes il faudra sans doute à l'auditeur peu habitué au Boingo un certain nombre d'écoutes avant de réellement accrocher. Mais attention, une fois que l'on commence à entrer dans Only A Lad, impossible d'en sortir, TOUTES les chansons finiront, les unes après les autres, par tourner dans votre tête pendant au moins une journée entière. Cet album est une réussite de l'after punk qui mérite d'être redécouverte et appréciée à sa juste valeur.

Paroles et crédits

4- Capitalism

6- Only A Lad

8- Controller

9- Imposter

10- Nasty Habits

Little Girls

I love little girls they make me feel so good
I love little girls they make me feel so bad
When they're around they make me feel
Like I'm the only guy in town
I love little girls they make me feel so good

They don't care if I'm a one way mirror
They're not frightened by my cold exterior

They don't ask me questions
They don't want to scold be
They don't look for answers
They just want to hold be
Isn't this fun
Isn't this what life's all about
Isn't this a dream come true
Isn't this a nightmare too

(Repeat first verse)

They don't care about my inclinations
They're not frightened by my revelations

Uh oh take a second take
Uh oh it's a mistake
Uh oh I'm in trouble
Uh oh the little girl was just to little
Too little, too little, too little
Isn't this what life's all about
Isn't this a dream come true
Isn't this a nightmare too . . .

And I don't care what people say
And I don't care what people think
And I don't care how we look walking down the street

(Repeat Chorus)

(Repeat first verse)

Perfect System

I'm in love with you I know
And I know that you love me too
I'm in love with you I know
I'm in love with everyone too
We're all comrades now you know
We're all brothers under the skin
With a few adjustments now
Living in the perfect system

The adjustment's simple there is really no pain
You'll hardly notice anything has changed
Living in a programmed life never really has ups and downs
There's no need for fighting now
There's no reason to wear a frown

In a perfect system
There's no confrontation
Unnecessary friction
To impede our concentration
We've simply done away with
Unnecessary friction
I live in a system
I got an occupation
I get enough nutrition
By eating protein biscuits
Recommended by the system
It's routine regulation
I had an operation . . .

I'm in love with you I know
And I know that you love me too
I'm in love with you I know
I'm in love with everyone too

I can tell by the look in your blank dull eyes
That you agree, but I'm not a bit surprised

Living in a programmed life never really has ups and downs
There's no need for fighting now
There's no reason to wear a frown

I had an operation
With no adverse reaction
They tampered with my brain some
It helped me see the reason
For living in the system
It helped me see the reason

(We're all brothers in a perfect world)
In a perfect world there's uniformity
(We're all brothers in a perfect world)
In a perfect world there's conformity
(We're all brothers in a perfect world)

There's no need for spontaneity
Perfect system we're all brothers to the end
Brothers to the end
Brothers to the end
I know and I know that you love me too
(Brothers to the end) I know I'm in love with everyone too
(Brothers to the end) I know we're all comrades under the skin
(Brothers to the end) I know living in a perfect system
BROTHERS TO THE END

On The Outside

They laugh at me aloud
They say I'm just a clown
That I ain't got no pride
I'm on the outside
The girls look really cute
They really make it work
They think I'm just a jerk
I'm on the outside
I never could sit still
I never was too hip
I never caught the ride
I'm on the outside

I'm on the outside, I'm on the outside now
This is where it all begins right here
On the outside lookin' in, I'm on the outside

I never was a punk
I never shot junk
I never even tried counter
Culture passed me right by
(I'm on the outside)

Don't talk to debutantes
Don't eat in restaurants
The patrons sit and stare
The waiters make wise cracks behind my back
(I'm on the outside)

Teachers there in school
They flunked me by the rule
They say I had no motivation, brains or dedication
I guess the imbeciles were right I'm on the outside

I'm on the outside, I'm on the outside now
This is where it all begins on the outside looking in
Looking in
At you
I'm just an alien through and through
Tryin' to make believe I'm you
Tryin' to fit
Just a stranger on the outside looking in

The disco makes me sick I
Wear the wrong clothes
I say the wrong things
You know I can't dance
My feet are much too wide (I'm on the outside)

You think you set the trends
You wear your hair just right
Your clothes are out-a-sight
Your house is modern really kitch
You get so macho when you're with your bitch
(I'm on the outside)

I see them go to work
I see them go to sleep
I see them on T.V.
I see them laugh and cry
I'm on the outside. I'm on the outside. I'm on the outside

(Repeat chorus)

I'm on the outside. I'm on the outside now
I'm on the outside
I'm on the outside now

Capitalism

There's nothing wrong with Capitalism
There's nothing wrong with free enterprise
Don't try to make me feel guilty
I'm so tired of hearing you cry

There's nothing wrong with making some profit
If you ask me I'll say it's just fine
There's nothing wrong with wanting to live nice
I'm so tired of hearing you whine
About the revolution
Bringin' down the rich
When was the last time you dug a ditch, baby!

If it ain't one thing
Then it's the other
Any cause that crosses your path
Your heart bleeds for anyone's brother
I've got to tell you you're a pain in the ass

You criticize with plenty of vigor
You rationalize everything that you do
With catchy phrases and heavy quotations
And everybody is crazy but you

You're just a middle class, socialist brat
From a suburban family and you never really had to work
And you tell me that we've got to get back
To the struggling masses (whoever they are)
You talk, talk, talk about suffering and pain
Your mouth is bigger than your entire brain
What the hell do you know about suffering and pain . . .

(Repeat first verse)

(Repeat chorus)

There's nothing wrong with Capitalism
There's nothing wrong with Capitalism
There's nothing wrong with Capitalism
There's nothing wrong with Capitalism

You Really Got Me

(From Van Halen version)

Girl, you really got me now
You got me so I don't know what I'm doin'
Girl, you really got me now
You got me so I can't sleep at night

Girl, you really got me now
You got me so I don't know where I'm goin', yeah
Oh Girl, you really got me now
You got me so I can't sleep at night

You really got me
You really got me
You really got me

Please, don't ever let me be
I only wanna be by your side
Please, don't ever let me be
I only wanna be by your side

Girl, you really got me now
You got me so I don't know what I'm doin', yeah
Oh yeah, you really got me now
Got me so I can't sleep at night

You really got me
You really got me
You really got me
Oh no, no, ah

Girl, you really got me now
You got me so I don't know what I'm doin'
Ah girl, you really got me now
You got me so I can't sleep at night

Girl, you really got me now
You got me so I don't know where I'm goin', yeah
Oh yeah, you really got me now
Got me so I can't sleep at night

You really got me
You really got me
You really got me
Oh Oh Oh

Only a Lad

Johnny was bad, even as a child everybody could tell
Everyone said if you don't get straight
You'll surely go to hell

But Johnny didn't care
He was an outlaw by the time that he was
Ten years old
He didn't wanna do what he was told
Just a prankster, juvenile gangster

His teachers didn't understand
They kicked him out of school
At a tender early age
Just because he didn't want to learn things
(Had other interests)
He liked to burn things

The lady down the block
She had a radio that Johnny wanted oh so bad
So he took it the first chance he had
Then he shot her in the leg
And this is what she said
Only a lad
You really can't blame him
Only a lad
Society made him
Only a lad
He's our responsibility
Only a lad
He really couldn't help it
Only a lad
He didn't want to do it
Only a lad
He's underprivileged and abused
Perhaps a little bit confused

His parents gave up they couldn't influence his attitude
Nobody could help
The little man had no gratitude

And when he stole the care
Nobody dreamed that he would
Try to take it so far
He didn't mean to hit the poor man
Who had to go and die
It made the judge cry

Only a lad
He really couldn't help it
Only a lad
He didn't want to do it
Only a lad
He's underprivileged and abused
Perhaps a little bit confused

It's not his fault that he can't believe
It's not his fault that he can't behave
Society made him go astray
Perhaps if we're nice he'll go away
Perhaps he'll go away
He'll go away

(Repeat chorus)

Hey there Johnny you really don't fool me
You get away with murder
And you think it's funny
You don't give a damn if we live or if we die
Hey there Johnny boy
I hope you fry!

What You See

What you see is what you get
Don't relax you're not home yet
What you see is what you get
Don't relax you're not home yet

Put your life into my hands
Look around you'll understand
Put your life into my hands

It's the '80's idiot
What you see is what you get
It's the '80's little fool
Don't forget the golden rule
What you see is what you get
What the hell did you expect
Pretty red roses, wet puppy noses
Men with rubber hoses is more like it

What you see is not always what you get
A lesson we must not forget
One never knows what to expect
So close your eyes and what you get
Is what you see and what you get

Open up your eyes and look around
Then close them tight and kiss the ground
You better be thankful you're alive
And how much longer can you survive
Underneath the mask there's something brewing
Underneath the ground there's something moving

It's the '80's idiot
What you see is what you get
It's the '80's little fool
Don't forget the golden rule
What you see is what you get
What the hell did you expect
Pretty red roses, wet puppy noses
Men with rubber hoses is more like it

Patrolling the street with all of their friends
Bashing you around trying to make you like them
What you see is what you get

Controller

There's someone knockin' on my door
There's someone knockin' on my door
I think they're looking for me
I think they're looking for me
Pretend there ain't nobody home
Don't make a sound, don't even move
Don't give them nothing to see
I think they're looking for me

I got to run
I got to run
I got to run
I got to run
I got to run

There's someone crawling in my yard
There's someone creeping on my roof
There's someone tapping my phone
I feel it deep in my bones
They want to probe my intuition
They want to find out what I know
Why don't they leave me alone
Why don't they leave me alone

I got to run
I got to run
I got to run
Might be the catcher
Or the controller
Can't be too careful
I take precautions
They're very clever
I got to run

Faceless surgeons armed with razors
Cut out our imagination

(Repeat first verse)

(repeat chorus)

Faceless surgeons armed with razors
Cut out our imagination
It's a strange thing
Deadly reason
Razors cut with such precision
Probing deep without detection
Razors never lie
But it's all right

I think they're looking for me
I think they're looking for me
I think they're looking for me
I think they're looking for meeeeeeeeeee

Imposter

You never lived in the streets though you wish you had
Not enough talent to play a guitar
You failed as an artist 'cause you lacked in the confidence
Now you're a critic and you're at the top
(The top of what)

You don't believe what you write
You're and imposter you don't, don't, don't believe what you write

You can't get used to the fact that you ain't a kid
You like to think that you speak for them all
You'd cut off your nose if you thought it would make you hip
It drives you crazy you can't be a star (Oh ain't that tough)

You don't believe what you write
(You're an imposter) you don't believe what you write
(You're an imposter) you don't believe what you write
(You're an imposter) you don't, don't, don't believe what you write

You take the credit while others do all the work
You like to think you discovered them first
But we all know you moved in after it was safe
That way you know you could never get hurt
(You like to play god!!)

(Repeat chorus)

You're just a critic, we know why you drink so much
Jealousy slowly consuming your gut
The streets that you never knew are just where they've always been
Your head is firmly lodged way up your butt (where it belongs)

(Repeat chorus)

Nasty Habits

Here's something to think about
Where would we be without nasty habits, nasty habits
Makes me want to scream and shout
Life would be so dull without nasty habits, nasty habits
All those naughty little things that we don't discuss publicly
Nasty habits, nasty habits
Tell me your secrets, tell me your name, tell me your secrets

Does it please you to employ little girls or little boys
Nasty habits, nasty habits
Do you like to romp and play by yourself when they're away
Nasty affair what do I care
Do you peek at magazines filled with doggies and leather queens
Nasty habits, nasty habits
Tell me your secrets that no one should hear
Whisper them softly into my ear I won't tell, I won't tell

People act so proper when they're going 'bout their business
Cup of coffee, lfriendly conversation
'Til they get home,
'Til they get home

Turn the phone off, lock the door and shut the curtains
Make sure that the neighbors are without suspicion
No one will know
No one will know
Nasty habits I must condone
No one knows what I do when I'm all alone
Nasty habits I'm so ashamed

Nasty habits here to stay now they'll never go away
Try and stop you'll have to pay
Nasty habits are here to stay

(Repeat chorus)

Nasty habits I must condone
No one knows what I do when I'm all alone
Nasty habits I'm so ashamed
But we must not let that stop our little game
Nasty habits are so much fun

Nasty habits here to stay now they'll never go away
Try and stop you'll have to pay
Nasty habits are here to stay