Night Of The Living Dead by The Misfits Lyrics Meaning – Unearthing the Punk Anthem’s Cryptic Narrative

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for The Misfits's Night Of The Living Dead at Lyrics.org.

Lyrics

Whoa oh oh oh

Whoa oh

Whoa oh

Stumble in somnambulance so

Pre-dawn corpses come to life

Armies of the dead surviving

Armies of the hungry ones

Only-ones, lonely-ones

Ripped up like shredded-wheat

Only-ones, lonely-ones

Be a sort of human picnic

This ain’t no love-in

This ain’t no happening

This ain’t no feeling in my arm

Whoa

Whoa oh

Whoa oh

Whoa oh

You think you’re a zombie, you think it’s a scene

From some monster magazine

Well, open your eyes [now/too late]

This ain’t no fantasy, boy

This ain’t no love-in

This ain’t no happening

This ain’t no feeling in my arm

Whoa

Whoa oh

Whoa oh

Whoa oh

Whoa oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh

In the claustrophobic annals of punk rock history, The Misfits command a particularly dark corner, cloaked in the imagery of horror and the occult. Their track ‘Night Of The Living Dead’ isn’t just a raucous noise assault; it’s a cryptic tapestry interwoven with threads of social commentary and existential dread. To the untrained ear, it may seem like another burst of the band’s signature horror punk, yet beneath the ghoulish veneer lies a depth worth excavating.

The song, named after George A. Romero’s cult classic film that reinvented the zombie genre, taps into themes far beyond the obvious undead symbolism. On the face of it, the lyrics read like a b-grade horror flick script, but those willing to peer behind the curtain of the macabre will find a mirror reflecting the more monstrous aspects of society itself.

Decoding the Undead: A Punk Rock Poltergeist or Political Parable?

With ‘Night Of The Living Dead’, The Misfits haven’t just set the stage for a punk rock spectacle; they’ve unwittingly crafted a scathing political commentary. Through the chaotic verses, one discerns a narrative of unrest and human decay, a metaphor for a society rotting from the inside. The ‘armies of the dead’ could be seen as a proletariat uprising, a mass of ‘hungry ones’ disillusioned by the promise of the American dream, turning instead to a voracious hunt for scraps of dignity and survival.

It’s not a stretch to suggest that the ‘lonely ones, ripped up like shredded wheat’ represent the marginalized and disenfranchised individuals. Within the cacophony and aggressive strums, there is a poignant outcry against the lack of empathy in modern social structures, the ‘human picnic’ a morbid nod to society feasting upon the souls of its own citizens.

The Anthem’s Infectious Rage: A Soundtrack to Anarchy

The unbridled energy of The Misfits’s music is no accident—it’s the sound of rebellion, the loud heartbeat of the outcast. ‘Night Of The Living Dead’ pumps through speakers like an adrenaline shot, its relentless pace a perfect vessel for the song’s undercurrent of rage. This isn’t music that’s meant to be passively consumed; it’s an invitation to throw a punch at the societal structures that have long since been zombified by complacency and consumerism.

Much like the film it draws its title from, the song serves as a cathartic release for those who feel trapped by the mundanity of existence. For those smothered under the weight of capitalism’s hollow promises, the track is more than just notes and lyrics—it’s a rebel’s manifesto set ablaze.

A Harrowing Feast for the Mind: Imagery and Allegory in Punk’s Fabric

The lyrical imagery of ‘Night Of The Living Dead’ paints a dystopian picture that’s grotesquely vivid. Glenn Danzig, the band’s frontman and the brains behind the lyrics, has a knack for blending realism with the fantastic, producing choruses that unsettle the soul. By describing a ‘sort of human picnic,’ he compares the human condition to one of flesh and bone—literally consumed by the pressures and horrors of life.

The stark metaphor is heavy with connotation, conjuring the image of a society that doesn’t just turn its inhabitants into monsters—it devours them. There’s a brutal honesty in the portrayal of humankind’s darkest tendencies; it’s horror meant to startle us awake from the slumber of ignorance.

No Fantasy, Boy: Hidden Meanings in the Heart of Punk’s Labyrinth

Upon peeling back its layers, ‘Night Of The Living Dead’ emerges not as a simple tribute to flesh-eating ghouls, but as a vessel for hidden meanings. When Danzig declares ‘This ain’t no fantasy, boy,’ he thrusts the listener into the harsh light of reality. It’s a wake-up call to those who may romanticize the song as mere fantasy horror, compelling them to acknowledge the societal decay mirrored by the living dead metaphors.

He challenges the listener to discern the allegorical from the literal—a message as much about awareness as it is about the music. By fusing the contemporary issues with horror tropes, The Misfits prod at the complacency of a culture enamored with the macabre, but often blind to the real-life horrors that unfold around them.

Memorable Lines That Claw at the Consciousness

‘This ain’t no love-in / This ain’t no happening / This ain’t no feeling in my arm’ These lines strike at the heart with surgical precision. They refute the hopefulness and unity of the 60s’ counterculture movements, signaling instead an era devoid of such warmth. The lack of ‘feeling in my arm’ alludes to a numbness, a detachment from the pain and struggle that should otherwise unite people in compassion.

These moments of lyrical clarity serve as chilling reminders that the monsters we fear in movies may already walk among us, metaphorically speaking. They remind us that The Misfits are not just painting a portrait of death and destruction for the sake of shock value, but are also etching a message into the annals of punk rock lore—alerting us to the death of empathy and the rise of a society of the emotionally undead.