I Fought The Law by Dead Kennedys

Album: Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death (1986)

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In the 1965 Bobby Fuller Four classic "I Fought The Law," he fights the law, and the law wins. In this Dead Kennedys variation, the song comes from the perspective of a cop who literally gets away with murder - he fought the law and he won.

Lead singer Jello Biafra re-wrote the lyric to be about the 1978 murder of San Francisco mayor George Moscone and his aide Harvey Milk ("I blew George and Harvey's brains out with my six-gun") by the former police officer Dan White, who managed to get the charges of double murder down to voluntary manslaughter by using his depression to claim he wasn't thinking clearly.
The line, "Twinkies are the best friend I ever had" comes from the "Twinkie defense" Dan White's lawyer reportedly used at trial, claiming White went temporarily insane after eating too many Twinkies. The sugary snack food was mentioned in trail as part of White's diet, but was not the basis for his defense. It made a great headline though.
The Dead Kennedys had been playing this song live for a few years before it was first released on the 1986 sampler Play New Rose for Me. In 1987, it was included on the group's compilation album Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death. At this time, Jello Biafra was on trial because their 1985 album Frankenchrist contained a poster that the Los Angeles District Attorney found worthy of prosecution. The case ended in a mistrial, but essentially broke up the band. When they regrouped in 2001, it was without Biafra, who was sued by his bandmates in 1998 in a dispute over royalties.
This song was featured in the second season Crime Story episode "Pauli Taglia's Dream." During portions of the titular dream, John Santucci lip-synchs to the song. >>
Suggestion credit:
James - Tracy, CA

Comments: 12

George from Vancouver, CanadaNo mention of the Clash song by the same name, & more focused on impressing a girl he loves?
Mathme From Lincolnland from Lincoln, NeThe "Twinkie Defense" was that Dan White was at a diminished capacity and that the otherwise health-nut was displaying several symptoms of functioning abnormally. Eating junk food was just one of the alleged symptoms of his supposed deficit. So the twinkie-eating had the same root cause as the murders, not a cause itself. Kind of small quibble.
J T from MontanaIf you had the compilation, Give Me Convenience, Or Give Me Death the liner shows what the song is about with pics, articles and lyrics. Jello is jenius and he’s probably the only person to make Al Jourgenson fall over with laughter.
William from Seattle, WaHarvey Milk was not Mayor Moscone's "Aide" ...he was the first openly Gay man elected to major office in the US. He was City Supervisor Harvey Milk of San Francisco as well as the so-called un-offical "Mayor" of Castro Street. . . The man is a giant in the Gay Liberation and LGBT Rights Movement as well as a leader of the community at large. He is a Hero that got shot down by a pitiful wisp of a "person." Milk as well as Moscone stood for something, they were men of principle in a movement to liberate their fellow human beings...
William from Seattle, WaThe one song that I know of that put the plight of Harvey Milk and Geroge Moscone into verse at the time that it happened. That alone makes it great. Then you look to the fact that the cover art of 'Fresh Fruit for Rotten Vegetables' depicts the burning of cars following the verdict in the Dan White case, the "White Night Riots". It also draws into question the real role of the SFPD, as Dan white had been a Police officer before becoming a City Supervisor; it draws into question whether the police bureaucracy may have had a larger role in the entire plot (being that the SFPD was considered a Reactionary, anti-Left/Liberal, anti-gay organization). Many people at the time felt that this was a police hit on two of its main political enemies (Moscone and Milk) i.e. "you can get away with murder if you have a badge" and "I AM the law! SO I WON!!!" Again, as in so many DK songs, this is Biafra taking the part of the Devil's Advocate, he is (VERY Ironically) speaking from Dan White's POV in the song...
Cj from Oak Creek, WiI never had any idea that this song was about Harvey Milk being killed. I just thought it was the Dead Kennedys f--king around covering an old song.
Ross from Leicester, United KingdomUnless I'm mistaken it was originally recorded by Buddy Holly & tHe Crickets (!!!) and was written by their guitarist Sonny Curtis. The Bobby Fuller Four had a hit with a cover. In 1979 the Clash, big fans of early rock & roll, had a UK hit with their louder but fairly straightforward version. The DKs then did this faster version but with their own typically cutting satirical lyrics.
Matthew from Milford, Ma...Lots of people did this song. Or, is the name just a coincidence?
Morgan from Huntington Beach, CaIn Jello's run for mayor he promised statues of dan white be put up around the city so people could throw eggs and tomatoes at it.
Kevin from Guelph, CanadaThis is also a remake of the Bobby Fuller Four song of the same name, and signifigantly different style.
Zac from Gastonia, NcThis is a very clever remake rather enjoyable
Taylor from Hesperia, CaDead Kennedys rocks!!! this is a good song. i think it was the 1st i hve ever heard [of DK]
by the way im 1st losers lol jk

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