Punk Rock Girl by The Dead Milkmen

Album: Beelzebubba (1988)

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The song, written by Joe Genaro, is a typically fast-paced, straightforward, lyrically direct Dead Milkmen number. It eschews the full-on comedic bent of most of the band's work for a slightly more narrative tone. "Punk Rock Girl" is written from the perspective of a guy who meets and subsequently explores Philadelphia with the titular punk rock girl. The pair's rebellious exploits are described in an irreverent tone, becoming increasingly over the top as the song progresses, culminating in driving away in a stolen car.
"Punk Rock Girl" was originally written by lead singer Joe Genaro for a two-man side project, Ornamental Wigwam, comprised of himself and David Sculthise. Genaro brought the song to The Dead Milkmen wondering if they could perform it as a group; it worked, and went on to become the band's single most well known song.
The song became something of an anthem for punk culture devotees, and gained considerable airplay on MTV. It's the band's most commercially successful release, and came just shy of charting in the Billboard Hot 100.
Joe Genaro says that fans often point out a presumed error in the line "And someone played a Beach Boys song on the jukebox, it was California Dreamin'." The song is, in fact, by The Mamas and Papas, not the Beach Boys. Genaro says that he was aware of this when he wrote the "Punk Rock Girl," but that the Beach Boys had recently released a popular cover version.
"Punk Rock Girl" was released on 1988's Beelzabubba, the Milkmen's fourth full length release. While the album retained the band's straightforward, crass humor, the songwriting is somewhat more sophisticated than on previous releases. "Punk Rock Girl" spurred it to become the band's best-selling album.
Some media uses of this song:

It is featured in the video game Tony Hawk's Project 8

The music video for the song is riffed in an episode of Beavis and Butthead

The song is briefly heard in the pilot episode for the Fox TV series, Raising Hope
Streetlight Manifesto and Diesel Boy have both recorded popular covers of this song.
We thought Joe Genaro was singing:

I tapped her on the shoulder
And said "do you have a bell?"

But he tells us the line is really "do you have a beau?" A beau being a boyfriend.

Comments: 9

Nunya Byz from NvEvery time the Cincinnati Bengals play and Joe Mixon catches a ball, I think of this song.
Barlow from Mississippipretty sure he asks her “do you have a beau” not “bell.” and beau rhymes with “said she did not know.”
Stukka63 from St.augustine, Fla.We got into her car away, we started rollin
I said how much you pay for this
Said nothin man it’s stolen.
Tommy from Philadelphia, PaThe pizza place named is The Philly Pizza Company and it was also located on South Street, not Village Pizza on Market.
Jeff from Saginaw, MiActually, the Beach Boys DID record a version of California Dreamin'. It was released and getting airplay around the time the Dead Milkmen would've written Punk Rock Girl.

Something I found funny with the video for Punk Rock Girl - the vinyl record that they're vandalizing is by Poison...who were labelmates of the Dead Milkmen. Coincidence...?

Mojo Nixon, like the Dead Milkmen and Poison, recorded for Enigma Records.
Bob from Schenectady, NyThe song states they hear a Beach Boys song, but then cite "California Dreamin'" was playing. "California Dreamin'" is by The Mamas & The Papas. This could be completely intentional to display the singer's lack of knowledge or concern for the fact.
Matt from Cambridge, United KingdomAh a great old song, haven't heard this in a long time! I love their clothing style too, that kind of rockabilly pin up clothing fused with your everyday man style (very badly put).. nice!
Myla from San Diego, CaI love the words, "We went to a shopping mall and laughed at all the shoppers and security guards trailed us to a record shop. We asked for Mojo Nixon
They said "He don't work here" We said "If you don't got Mojo Nixon Then your store could use some fixin'" Hilarious silly nonsensical lyrics!!! What a riot! But I always thought the last line said, "Then your store could use some Vixen!" (referring to the female big hair band of the day). Oh well!
Pjironed from Dublin, IrelandThe song starts with a the line "One day I took a walk to Zipperhead..." Zipperhead was clothes shop that sold alternative clothing.
They name drop 2 artists Mojo Nixion, who sang "Debbie Gibson Is Pregnant With My Two-Headed Love Child", and the Beach Boys
In the song they are kicked out of the Village Pizza Company which is on Market Street in Philadelphia.

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