The KKK Took My Baby Away
"The KKK Took My Baby Away" is a song written by Joey Ramone. It appears on the Ramones' 1981 album Pleasant Dreams.
| "The KKK Took My Baby Away" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Ramones | ||||
| from the album Pleasant Dreams | ||||
| A-side | "We Want the Airwaves" | |||
| Released | 1981 | |||
| Genre | Punk rock | |||
| Length | 2:32 | |||
| Label | Sire | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Joey Ramone | |||
| Producer(s) | Graham Gouldman | |||
| Ramones singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Lyrics
The protagonist sings that his girlfriend has been kidnapped by the Ku Klux Klan on her way to Los Angeles for the holidays and pleads with the listener to call federal authorities to find out where she is and whether she is still alive.
In End of the Century: The Story of the Ramones, a documentary film about the Ramones, Ramones tour manager Monte Melenick stated that it seemed clear to him that Joey must have been obliquely referring to Johnny Ramone (who used to tease Joey for being Jewish) "stealing" away his girlfriend, Linda.[1][2]
Joey's brother Mickey Leigh has disagreed, saying that the song had been written before Joey learned of their affair. Leigh explains that the song was in response to Joey's relationship with a black woman, whose parents disapproved of the interracial relationship. Leigh asked Joey what happened to the girl and Joey responded by saying "the KKK took my baby away."[3]
Former Drummer Marky Ramone claimed in an interview for website Loudwire that the song was inspired by Joey's experience at a mental institution. Reportedly, the lead singer befriended an African-American woman who was also in the same institution. A few days later the woman left the institution, making Joey depressed. According to Marky Ramone, the song was written about this episode.
Music
Like almost all Ramones songs, the time signature is 4/4. It alternates two verses with a chorus; the second chorus is followed by a bridge, after which the first verse and the chorus are repeated with a change of key.
In the documentary End of the Century: The Story of the Ramones, Johnny Ramone states that the guitar riff of "The KKK Took My Baby Away" was inspired by the riff of Cheap Trick's "He's a Whore"
Cover versions
| Year | Artist | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Face to Face | Standards & Practices |
| 1999 | MxPx | At the Show |
| 2001 | Loose Change | Ramones Maniacs |
| 2003 | Marilyn Manson | We're a Happy Family |
| 2011 | Shonen Knife | Osaka Ramones |
| 2013 | New Found Glory | Mania |
- Alkaline Trio performed the song live on Australian radio station Triple J's Like a Version.
- Anti-Flag played the song at Punk Rock Holiday 1.3.
- German band Die Ärzte covered the song in German under the title "Die Wiking-Jugend hat mein Mädchen entführt" for a Ramones tribute album entitled "Todos Somos Ramones".
- The American indie rock band The National covered the song on their 2017 tour.
- The Spanish pop punk band Waldorf Histeria covered the song in Spanish under the title "El Opus Dei se llevó a mi mujer" for their first self-titled album.
References
- Spitz, Marc (November 2004). "The Last Testament of Johnny Ramone", Spin (magazine)
- "'End Of The Century': The Ramones' Long, Sad Trip, By Kurt Loder". MTV. 9 September 2004. Retrieved 18 December 2011.
- Leigh, Mickey. I Slept with Joey Ramone: A Family Memoir, p. 216 (2009)