MR. BUNGLE – Dead Goon

Mr. Bungle‘s self-titled debut album was released on August 13, 1991, through Warner Bros. Records. Mike Patton managed to get his band hired by the major label after he became the vocalist for Faith No More.

The album mixes a variety of musical styles, including ska, circus music, heavy metal, free jazz, and funk. AllMusic called it a “dizzying, disconcerting, schizophrenic tour through just about any rock style the group can think of, hopping from genre to genre without any apparent rhyme or reason, and sometimes doing so several times in the same song.” The website described Mike Patton’s lyrics as “even more bizarrely humorous than those he used in Faith No More”, and “also less self-censored”. At the time, the band’s label Warner promoted the record as being Mike Patton’s “seriously weird new project”.

The album cover features artwork by Dan Sweetman, originally published in the story, A Cotton Candy Autopsy in the DC Comics/Piranha Press imprint title Beautiful Stories for Ugly Children.

“Dead Goon” is about an asphixiophile, whose actions lead to the narrator’s death due to asphixiation.

Nobler than Oedipus Clairvoyant and toothless Foreplay with no friends Premature until the end

I’ve got a secret Babbling senseless No one will ever know

Kids can be so cruel Smash the feeling Suckle the sugar breast Too happy – a jerk beyond a smile An asphyxiophile I’m the Humper; stop hitting me Walking the plank, swallowing dirt

Johnny – just skin and juice and hair A hero unaware Tied in a knot beneath giggling My own two hands tickling me

Innocent friction Boys and girls are stealing my oxygen Sex? There’s no such thing All that’s left is laughing, choking, laughing

Playing solitaire A rope and mommy’s underwear Hanging on, letting go Dangling to and fro

NOOO

(Screaming)

It can’t happen It can’t happen It can’t happen It can’t happen It can’t happen It can’t happen It can’t happen It can’t happen It can’t happen

Floating, floating, floating away Floating, floating, floating away Tingling, tingling, tingling, tingling Tingling, tingling, tingling, tingling

Fluid seeping Family weeping It feels good So bad But please Don’t tease me

(Choking sounds)

Sex? There’s no such thing