Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA

Song Name: Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA

Artist: DEVO

Appears On:

• Duty Now For The Future,  Greatest Hits,  Hot Potatoes,  Pioneers Who Got Scalped: The Anthology  
• DEVO Live: The Mongoloid Years,  Miracle Witness Hour,  Live at Max's Kansas City - November 15, 1977,  DEV-O Live (Re-release Only),  DEVO Live 1980,  New Traditionalists: Live 1981 Seattle  

Live in Central Park,  Live at the Observatory, Santa Ana, CA  

Run Time: 6:02 (Album Version)

Writing Credits: 

"Smart Patrol": written in 1974 by Gerald V. Casale

"Mr. DNA": written in 1977 by Gerald V. Casale and Mark Mothersbaugh

Sung By: Mark Mothersbaugh, Gerald V. Casale, Bob Mothersbaugh (co-lead) Bob Casale (backing)

Alternate Versions: Sometimes "Smart Patrol" is played without the segue to "Mr. DNA"

Early Demo Versions: 

Smart Patrol (Version 1), Smart Patrol (Version 2)

Performances: 

Smart Patrol performed (without Mr. DNA) 1975, (?also 1976?),

Medley Performed: 1977-1982, 1989-present ^{setlist.fm stats}

Song Connections: The Death of Lt. Casanova (Features similar medley)

Trivia / Info:

◦ The song was originally titled Smart Proletariats. The origins of the "Smart Patrol" title can be heard on a 1975 live bootleg, when Jerry says to an audience member: "Alright. You're a smart prole. Nowhere to go."

◦ "Smart Patrol" was first performed in April 1975. Devo performed two sets before each showing of John Water's transgressive film "Pink Flamingos."

◦ Devo may have subsequently included these songs in a November 1975 DEVO performance, after a movie shown at the "Kiva" in the Kent State University Student Center. An 11/25/1975 Daily Kent Stater ad includes the words "DEVO" (twice) and "soupdujour" [sic].

◦ "Smart Patrol" features elements from another song played live called "The Death of Lt. Casanova" [1].

◦ Early demos were recorded with the voices of the DEVO characters Booji Boy, Chinaman, and Clown.

◦ "Smart Patrol - Mr. DNA" lyrics were printed in the ‘zine Search & Destroy with a photo of DEVO by Ruby Ray.

Onstage Behavior: 

• Bob 1 plays the La Baye 2x4 (he calls it his "Mr. DNA" guitar).

Lyrics:

"Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA" - LyricWikia

He's been with the world
And I’m tired of the soup du jour
He's been with the world
I wanna end this prophylactic tour

Afraid nobody around here
Understands my potato
I think I’m only a Spudboy
Looking for a real tomato 

We're the Smart Patrol
Nowhere to go
Suburban robots that monitor reality
Common stock
We work around the clock
We shove the poles in the holes


Wait a minute, something's wrong
He's the man from the past
He's here to do us a favor
A little human sacrifice
It's just supply and demand

Mr. Kamikaze
Mr. DNA
He's an altruistic pervert
Mr. DNA
Mr. Kamikaze
He's here to spread some genes

Wait a minute, something's wrong
He's a man with a plan
His finger is pointed at Devo
Now we must sacrifice ourselves
That many others may live
Okay we've got a lot to give

This monkey wants a word with you

Notes and References:

• Woody Allen. Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask) [1972], (film vignettes #5 and #7).

• Richard Dawkins. The Selfish Gene (1976),[2],[3],[4]

• Mother Jones, magazine cover, Table Of Contents, (1977, January)

• Who came first, the tomato or the potato? [5] [6]

Links:

MusicBrainz

AllMusic

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