Album: The B-52's (1979)

Charted: 12 56

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• Sca-do-ba-da, eww
  Sca-do-ba-da, eww
  (Sca-do-ba-da) We were at a party (eww)
  (Sca-do-ba-da) His earlobe fell in the deep (eww)
  (Sca-do-ba-da) Someone reached in and grabbed it (eww)
  (Sca-do-ba-da) Was a rock lobster (eww)
  
  (Ah-ah-ah-ah) Rock lobster
  (Ah-ah-ah-ah) Rock lobster
  
  Eww
  Eww
  We were at the beach (eww)
  Everybody had matching towels (eww)
  Somebody went under a dock (eww)
  And there they saw a rock (eww)
  It wasn't a rock (eww)
  Was a rock lobster (eww)
  
  (Ah-ah-ah-ah) Rock lobster
  (Ah-ah-ah-ah) Rock lobster
  
  Rock lobster, rock lobster
  Motion in the ocean (ooh-ah)
  His air hose broke (hoo-ah)
  Lots of trouble (ooh-ah)
  Lots of bubble (hoo-ah)
  He was in a jam (ooh-ah)
  He's in a giant clam (hoo-ah)
  
  Rock, rock, rock lobster
  (Ah-ah-ah-ah) Down, down
  
  Lobster rock
  Lobster rock
  
  Let's rock
  
  Boy's in bikinis
  Girls in surfboards
  Everybody's rockin'
  Everybody's fruging
  Twistin' 'round the fire, havin' fun
  Bakin' potatoes, bakin' in the sun
  Put on your nose guard
  Put on the lifeguard
  Pass the tanning butter
  Here comes a stingray (ooh-wah, ooh-wah)
  There goes a manta ray
  In walked a jelly fish
  There goes a dogfish
  Chased by a catfish
  In flew a sea robin
  Watch out for that piranha
  There goes a narwhal
  Here comes a bikini whale (ah)
  
  Rock lobster (lobster, rock lobster)
  Rock lobster (lobster, ah-ah-ah-ah)
  Rock lobster (lobster, rock lobster)
  Rock lobster (lobster, ah-ah-ah-ah-ah)
  Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah-ah-ah Writer/s: Catherine E. Pierson, Cynthia Leigh Wilson, Fred Schneider, Julian Strickland, Rickey Wilson
  Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Sentric Music
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 35

• Rob B from North Carolina, UsaA rock lobster is not "also known as a crayfish". Totally different creatures. For one thing, the crayfish is much smaller and has more slender claws. Also, Pedro from Portugal, where did you get the idea that they were from Canada? They formed down in lil ol' Georgia. Keith and Cindy are from Georgia and Kate and Fred are from New Jersey.
• Kent from Greensburg People often say that Yoko Ono’s music is awful and uninspiring but if it wasn’t for her music, Rock Lobster wouldn’t have been created and Double Fantasy would have never been made.
• Tim“So he could record an album by making me an equal partner and we won't get flack like we used to up to then." I had a 45 record of Starting Over when I was a kid. It had a song by Yoko on the reverse side. It was horrible. Even as a kid I thought it was the worst thing I’ve ever heard.
• Pedro from PortugalCanadians did it right
  This song is so great. Pay attention, cause Rick is playing Rock. His guitar rooocks. But Fred dont sing. Is mostly spoken words. He have a great voice, well. The girls give sometimes a melodic line , other times crazy or funny sounds
  And Farfisa gives the final touch.
  A clássic.
  And original still today.
• Thegripester from Wellington, New ZealandMight want to check your sources on that story, Jake from Talahassee. Rock Lobster is on the B-52's first album in 1979 - and Love Shack was released on Cosmic Thing in 1989. All the songs on Cosmic Thing were written by the whole band, jamming together trying to kick-start their creativity in the late 1980's after the death of Ricky Wilson. So I don't think Rock Lobster and Love Shack were written by Fred Schneider on the same day.
• Cory Stoczynski from Lancaster, NyThat Song Was Sung On Muppets Tonight With Pierce Brosnan Where The Crustacean Liberation Army
  Tried To Take Over The KMUP Television Studios!
• John from Philadelphia, PaIMO, "Somebody went under a dock" to relieve themselves, aka #1. The rock of course wasn't a rock, it was a...piece of, um, raw sewage, aka #2.
• Rui from Porto, PortugalThanks Kevin from Philadelphia! I just heard the Botch cover and it is pretty sick!
• Jake from Talahassee, MtWhen Fred Snyder wrote this song he was in an aggressive mood supposedly. As he continued adding more and more lyrics to the song it started to make him feel down. This is where the inspiration in the part where he sings "down, down, down" came about. Later that day he started thinking about ideas for "Love Shack". Obviously his overly aggressive mood had shifted to a more peaceful state and thus their next hit was created.
• Lalah from Wasilla, AkIn the early 80s this was popular at dance clubs in the northeast. Lots of hopping thenand falling to the ground when the lyrics say "down down down" where the entire dance floor would be covered by people writhing on their stomachs and backs until the guitar riffs started back up. Then we'd all be hopping straight up with arms flailing until the end. The bars would play it as the last song because we'd be worn out by the end and they could close. I miss punk dances. Nobody maked you down for lack of form.
• Kevin from Philadelphia, PaMathcore band Botch did a cover of this that kicks ass. If you get a chance, listen to the Botch version. It is on their album Unifying Themes Redux.
• Matthew from Milford, MaThis song is on Donkey Konga for the Gamecube, but it gets cut off after the halfway point. >_<
• Jimmy from Orlando, FlFred Schneider once said in an interview that the line "His earlobe fell in the deep" is actually based on an experience he had at a party when he was in drag: his earbob fell off his ear and into a bowl of dip. When they were improvising lines for "Rock Lobster" in a jam session, he turned this into the line that we hear in the song.
• Joe from Bellingham, WaWhat a weird song huh? I first heard it on the radio in the late 90's, I thought it was a joke! Oh well very catchy!
• Eduardo from San Jose, OtherIn fact, it was in the summer of 1980 (not 1979) that John Lennon heard the song while having a vacation with his son Sean in Bermuda. After that, he started to write the songs that were later included in the Double Fantasy and Milk and Honey albums.
• Emily from Xenia, OhThe fact that this song was on Family Guy doesn't matter. I mean, the song by itself, Family Guy or no Family Guy, is truly an amazing piece of work. I don't think anyone could have copied the sound that the B52's had. It was just so unique and Rock Lobster is a great example of their individuality. So are soungs like Is That You Mo Dean, Quiche Lorraine, and 52 Girls. People who have only heard this song should really listen to some more of their music. Each of their songs is so unique...it's just so amazing. I'm getting over-excited just writing this..haha.
• Kent from Toronto, CanadaSmall correction: it was the more unusual "Making Plan For Nigel" that hit #1 in Canada. Should have done my reference work first!
• Kent from Toronto, CanadaI think it is interesting to point out that "Rock Lobster" enjoyed amazing success in Canada, going to #1 (!) in the charts. (Compare with not even getting near the Top 40 in their native country.) In general, Canada was very much more open to New Wave when it hit. "Life Begins At The Hop" (XTC) was also #1 early on, as well as the early Police hits long before they hit it really big in the States. How about including some other chart positions besides only the U.K. and U.S. ones?
• Dev01d from Wollongong, AustraliaThe band for this song consists of Drums, Keyboard, Tambourine, cowbell, vocals.. and the best part, a 4 stringed guitar. The guitarist for B52s Only has the two high and two lowest strings and they are downtuned like crazy for this song I believe it is.. (Low E - Tuned down to A) .. (A - Tuned down to G) .. (D - String removed) .. (G - String Removed) .. (B - Tuned DOWN to F) .. (High E - Tuned DOWN to G#) It's a very fun song to play on guitar though.
  
  EDIT: Tried to make it a little clearer.
• Dev01d from Wollongong, AustraliaThe band for this song consists of Drums, Keyboard, Tambourine, cowbell, vocals.. and the best part, a 4 stringed guitar. The guitarist for B52s Only has the two high and two lowest strings and they are downtuned like crazy for this song I believe it is..
  Low E - Tuned down to A
  A - Tuned down to G
  D - String removed
  G - String Removed
  B - Tuned DOWN to F
  High E - Tuned DOWN to G#
  It's a very fun song to play on guitar though.
• Andy from Hunterdon, NjOn the surface, the "motion in the ocean" verse [motion in the ocean / his air hose broke / lots of bubble / lots of trouble / he was in a jam / 's in a giant clam] seems to be about a deep sea diver who faces danger when his air tube breaks. But I am convinced this verse has a double meaning -- it is also about a guy whose rubber accidentally bursts while he is having sexual intercourse.
• Billy from Otway, OhRock Lobster is a great song,though all things considered,every B-52's song is great.
• Nelson from MelbourneThis song is so inspirational how silly it is! I'm a musician and now I'm not afraid to write about anything!
• Jen from Ontario, Canadai haven't heard of this song till it was on family guy it was so funny!!!!
• Windy from Otway, OhI like when Peter sings this on family guy.
  good playing,but he sucks at the high part.
  he sounds like he has a minor throat irritation
• Windy from Otway, Ohread the lyrics. I meant "in walked a Jelly-fish".
  also,how can one piranha eat you in a matter of seconds?
• Windy from Otway, OhWhat's with the line, "He was a Jellyfish,uuuggghhh!"? did the rock lobster mess him up beyond being able to know what he was? did he kill the jelly,or what?
• Jesse from Haddam, Ct Whose earlobe fell in the deep? It must be Van Gogh's...
• Marlow from Perthid never even heard of this song until long after their loveshack song in 89...
• Mike from St. Paul, MnCatchy tune, that keeps rattling around in my head. Drives my wife nuts!
• Mike from Winnipeg, CanadaBest song ever.
  
  
  Also a Rock Lobster is also known as a crayfish.
• Pat from Las Vegas, NvThe song is sampled on a popular casino slot machine called "Lucky Larry's Lobster Mania." Hillarious.
• Travis from Phoenix, Nythat was hilarious when it was on Family Guy
• Ydur from Knoxville, TnThe B-52's performed this on the CBS soap opera "Guiding Light" in the 80's. While the performance itself was amusing, the reaction of the cast was hysterical! I don't think there's been a rock band on a CBS soap since...
• Mike from Winnipeg, CanadaThis song is one of a kind.
  
  Also it was on Family Guy.

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