The Poetry of Punk

Punk bands have produced an abundance of poetic texts, some crude, some elaborate, in the form of song lyrics. These lyrics are an ideal means by which to trace the developments and explain the conflicts and schisms that have shaped, and continue to shape, punk culture. They can be described as the community's collective 'poetic voice,' and they come in many different forms. Their themes range from romantic love to emotional distress to radical politics. Some songs are intended to entertain, some to express strong feelings, some to provoke, some to spread awareness, and some to foment unrest. Most have an element of confrontation, of kicking against the pricks. Socially and epistemologically, they play a central role in the scene's internal discourse, shaping communities and individual identities. The Poetry of Punk is an investigation into the Anglophone punk culture, specifically in the UK and the US, where punk originated in the mid-1970s, its focus being on the song lyrics written and performed by punk rock and hardcore artists.

Gerfried Ambrosch holds a PhD in English and American Studies from the University of Graz. He spent several years working and researching in London. He currently lives in Vienna, where he works for an international NGO. As a touring musician, he has intimate knowledge of the goings-on in international punk communities.

List of Figures Foreword: On Punk Lyrics Greg Bennick Introduction: 'Three Chords and the Truth' Chapter 1: Definitions Etymologies Defining Punk Defining Poetry Chapter 2: Punk Lyrics in Form, Function, and Delivery The Meaning of Punk Vocalization The Economy of Punk Songs: Text-Music Reciprocity Text and Paratext Form Intertextuality in Punk Songs The Levels of Communication in Punk Songs The Functions of Punk Lyrics The Anatomy of Punk Lyrics Chapter 3: The 'Punk Ideology': The Language of Politics in Punk's Poetry Anarchy Anticapitalism and DIY Religion Gender and Sexuality Race and Ethnicity Vegetarianism and Animal Rights Chapter 4: "Anarchy in the UK": Genealogies of British Punk and Post-Punk Sex Pistols: A Crudely Poetic Revolution Anarcho-Punk: A Crass Threat to the Establishment 'UK 82': The Austere Poetics of Thatcher-Era Punk Eclecticism and Diversification: British Punk in the Twenty-First Century "The Queen Is Dead": From Punk to Post-Punk Chapter 5: "Rise Above": A History of North American Punk and Hardcore The Ramones: Punk as Pastiche Dead Kennedys The Harsh Poetics of Reagan-Era Hardcore Straight Edge: A Sober Revolution? 'Neo-Punk': Between Underground Credibility and Mainstream Appropriation The 1990s and Early 2000s: Modern Hardcore's Defining Years Index