Golden Energy

Song Name: Golden Energy

Artist: DEVO

Run Time: 2:27

Writing Credits: Mark Mothersbaugh

Sung By: Mark Mothersbaugh

Personnel:

( As listed in HARDCORE.)

Jerry Casale - bass

Mark Mothersbaugh - synths

Bob Mothersbaugh - guitar

Jim Mothersbaugh - drums

Trivia / Info

◦ Mark uses a ring modulator on this song.

◦ This nice little electronic track first appeared on Hardcore Devo 1.
Hardcore Vol.1 and Vol.2 were later released together in HARDCORE.

Lyrics

golden energy
for the guy or gal who's had a hard day

golden energy
when you’re expected to meet the demands
of an energetic mate before a red hot date

golden energy
dripping down on you

golden energy
natural aphrodisiac 

golden energy
working hard to keep you on full

golden energy
pumping iron all the way
keep you, you from being too, too, too tired
keep you ‘laxed-up and wired
rootin-bootin, sure fired

golden energy
for the guy or gal who's had a hard, hard day
at the office

golden energy
when you’re expected to meet the demands
of an energetic mate or before a red hot date

golden energy
meets all requirements
posts no bills
poots no guff
needs no prescription

golden energy
handle if you care
if you dare
help yourself to another share

Additional Info

◦ The Hardcore, track eight lyrics of "Golden Energy";

"Golden energy, Dripping down on you

Golden energy, Natural aphrodisiac",

may be thematically related to track nine, "Buttered Beauties";

Come spread your Tallow on me..

Oiled wonder of the Midnight Forest

Toss down your Glossy Web.."

◦ (Disambiguation: Mark quickly vocalizes “ah” [or], then sings “before a red hot date.”
“Or a red hot date” are the lyrics printed in Hardcore, Volume 1.)

◦ DEVO lyrics often combine a kind of playfulness with social commentary, making their work both thought provoking and entertaining. The lyrics of “Golden Energy” can be interpreted as a parody of quack advertising claims and also a sharp critique of the commodification of intimate human biological experiences.

Lyric analysis:

The song “Golden Energy” is a direct satire of the way capitalist advertising taps into the emotional and physical exhaustion of individuals, selling them the idea of instant relief via fake medical “cures”.

The repetitions of phrases like “keep you on full" and “energetic mate” mimics the language of these types of ads, which promise to optimize every aspect of a person’s life, bestowing robotic physical energy, computer brain mental clarity, or sex-machine vitality.

The line “keep you, you from being too, too, too tired – keep you ‘laxed up and wired” illustrates the contradictory nature of these supposed “energy” boosting products. They claim to fight exhaustion (“too tired”) while also promoting relaxation and alertness at the same time (“laxed up and wired”), a paradox that highlights the absurdity of advertising claims that attempt to sell an unattainable ideal.

The tone of the lyrics – upbeat and comically exaggerated hyperbole – emphasizes the ridiculousness of these promises. It’s like an over-the-top commercial where the product is portrayed as the ultimate cure for all that ails you, even though deep down we know it’s not.

References

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