Buzzbomb from Pasadena Lyrics

"Buzzbomb" is a song by the Dead Kennedys which appeared on their 1982 album Plastic Surgery Disasters. A second version of the song, titled "Buzzbomb from Pasadena", was released on the 1987 compilation Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death. The song was written by East Bay Ray and Jello Biafra. Basis The original "Buzzbomb" is about a restless young man who is yearning to break free and does so by driving his car, which he loves more than life itself, at high speeds. He's nicknamed his car "buzzbomb" for reasons unclear. He also apparently still lives at home, as evidenced by the lyric "I'd rather cruise around all day than save up for a move." He escapes California driving 110 miles per hour on U.S. Route 50 and heads into Nevada continuing to gain speed, crashing through rest areas and running over people in toilets, including a "lonely salesman wanking in the men's room." He fantasizes about having a woman love him strictly for his car, pretending she's there as he goes on. Eventually he reaches Ely, Nevada, the birthplace of Pat Nixon, and finally gains the attention of police, who work to try to take him out. They succeed, and he is apprehended at a 7-Eleven by the police who shoot out his tires and scuff up the side of his car to take him in. Sequel The sequel involves an old lady who, like the young man in the first song, is restless and has a car she likes to drive fast. The title is inspired by "The Little Old Lady from Pasadena" by Jan and Dean. As the song is centered around a different person, several of the lyrics have been changed. The woman is looking to avoid moving into a retirement home and is caught in Palm Springs, California after crashing through a golf course. She fantasizes about being with a young man who will love her for her car and runs through the same rest area that appeared in the original song, where the lonely salesman apparently still is.