Dead Kennedys, Too Drunk to F**k | Controversial Songs

In the 7th edition of Controversial Songs (2024), we explore the controversy behind the “Too Drunk To Fuck” by Dead Kennedys.

Bring on the controversy! Controversial Songs is a column that provides background information and insight into songs that raised eyebrows, stirred the pot, or were banned. The more censorship censor$hit, the better! The records that grace Controversial Songs are old and new alike, with all genres of music welcome.  In the 7^th edition of Controversial Songs (2024), we explore the controversy behind the “Too Drunk To Fuck” by Dead Kennedys.

“I’m too drunk to fuck, you’re too drunk to fuck / Too drunk to fuck.” It feels appropriate to respond with, holy fuck! American punk rock band Dead Kennedys released an ‘inappropriate’ song entitled – wait for it –  “Too Drunk To Fuck”.  The offensive word is the f-bomb, which is used in a sexual context. “Too Drunk To Fuck” was released in 1981 as a single.  It ultimately appeared on the band’s compilation, Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death, in 1987.  While “Too Drunk” didn’t impact the charts in the US, it did achieve success in the UK, reaching no. 36.  That’s surprising considering it is a song that was banned.

Is there a legitimate message with “Too Drunk To Fuck” or was it all fuckery? Well, the fucking doesn’t happen. If you drink too much, and you plan to have sex, it can be difficult aka whiskey dick.  In this song, the party boy simply can’t get it up. In the first verse, Jello Biafra asserts, “I drank sixteen beers, and I started up a fight / But now I’m jaded, you’re out of luck / I’m rolling down the stairs too drunk to fuck.”  The innuendo is ripe in the second verse, but ultimately, he doesn’t shoot out “loads and loads of fun.” That whiskey dick don’t play! In the third and final verse, Jello settles: “You give me head, it makes it worse / Take out your fuckin’ retainer, put it in your purse.” Speechless 😶. “Too Drunk To Fuck” is a piece of work.  Fast-paced, unapologetic punk, it’s a fucking good time, even if ‘good sex’ didn’t result.  Is it controversial? Anytime the f-bomb appears, you can count on controversy, especially back in the day. However, Jello Biafra and Dead Kennedys were just being honest about sexual abilities post-inebriation.

Dead Kennedys // Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death // GoldState Music // 1987

Dead Kennedys, Too Drunk To Fuck: Controversial Songs No. 7 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; GoldState Music; Tazz Vaughn via Pexels; Elena Arboleda Salas, nikolaytaman90, Tumisu from Pixabay; christian buehner on Unsplash]