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The B-52's — Rock Lobster
Album: The B-52's
Avg rating:
6.9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1877









Released: 1979
Length: 6:47
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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Ski-doo-be-dop
Eww
Ski-doo-be-dop
Eww
(Ski-doo-be-dop) We were at a party (Eww)
(Ski-doo-be-dop) His ear lobe fell in the deep (Eww)
(Ski-doo-be-dop) Someone reached in and grabbed it (Eww)
(Ski-doo-be-dop) Was a rock lobster (Eww)

Aaaah
Rock lobster
Aaaah
Rock lobster

Eww
Eww
We were at the beach (Eww)
Everybody had matching towels (Eww)
Somebody went under a dock (Eww)
And there they saw a rock (Eww)
It wasn't a rock (Eww)
Was a rock lobster (Eww)

Aaaah
Rock lobster
Aaaah
Rock lobster

Rock lo-o-obster
Rock lo-o-obster

Motion in the ocean (Ooh ah)
His air hose broke (Hoo ah)
Lots of trouble (Ooh ah)
Lots of bubble (Hoo ah)
He was in a jam (Ooh ah)
He's in a giant clam! (Hoo ah)

Rock, rock
Rock lobster! (Aaaaaaaaah)
Down, down! (Aaaaaaah)

Lobster
Rock
Lobster
Rock
Let's rock!

Boys and bikinis
Girls and surfboards
Everybody's rockin'
Everybody's frugin'

Twistin' round the fire
Havin' fun

Bakin' potatoes
Bakin' in the sun

Put on your noseguard
Put on the lifeguard
Pass the tanning butter

Here comes a stingray (ooh wok ooh wok)
There goes a manta ray (ah ah ah)
In walked a jellyfish (huah)
There goes a dogfish (rea-owr)
Chased by a catfish (geh geh geh geh geh geh geh geh geh geh)
In flew a sea robin (Laaaaa)
Watch out for that piranha (eh rek eh rek ah hoo)
There goes a narwhal (eeeeh)
Here comes a bikini whale! (Aaaaah!)

(Lobster rock lobster-ster) Rock lobster
(Lobster) Rock lobster (Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah)
(Lobster rock lobster-ster) Rock lobster
(Lobster) Rock lobster (Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah)
(Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah)
(Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah)
Comments (264)add comment
 yobyot wrote:

If you aren't dancing in the last 90 seconds of this song, you're dead. Among the best bass lines and scratchy guitar riffs in rock n roll.



Yep. Its really cookin' from about 5:15. Great sound. Classic… 
Posted 4 months ago by dave3ld    [ Reply ]
 coloradojohn wrote:

I remember tuning in for the hottest show in the land in those days, Saturday Night Live, and there was this spastic guy in a suit belting out the wildest Dr Seuss lyrics and a gal with a tall red beehive playing sci-fi keyboards and a blonde with an impossibly long ponytail who sang in the weirdest way and danced and played tambourine, and there was a dude just twanging madly away on an old blue guitar, and another guy was back there bashing on the drums. At one point, the singers collapsed to the floor. Aghast, we beheld Rock Lobster...and the world was never ever the same after. Impossible to measure the infinite ways this amazing band enriched our lives!



Link to the video pls...
Posted 9 months ago by rtrt    [ Reply ]
High art...No.   Extremely fun.....Oh Yea..
Posted 10 months ago by xtalman    [ Reply ]
 nmb wrote:

Cindy Wilson ..the world´s greatest female hysterical shouter :-)



LOVE her. 
Posted 1 year ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
 Proclivities wrote:

I suspect you probably can't dance either.  No matter, different strokes for different folks.  "Studied Artlessness" would be a good band name though.


For you, there is a skip button. 
Posted 1 year ago by Terry22310    [ Reply ]
For the love of god please never play this song again. It's 5-minutes too long.
Posted 1 year ago by Jim0266    [ Reply ]
Todays Generation would label it "wait for it". That riff near the end oh maaaan ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Posted 1 year ago by Atombender    [ Reply ]
 GuiltyFeat wrote:

Never got the appeal of Rock Lobster. It's just a silly noise to me.



Hence it's appeal, old sport. 

Posted 1 year ago by kcar    [ Reply ]
 GuiltyFeat wrote:

Never got the appeal of Rock Lobster. It's just a silly noise to me.




You must be tons of fun at parties!   
Posted 1 year ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
Never got the appeal of Rock Lobster. It's just a silly noise to me.
Posted 2 years ago by GuiltyFeat    [ Reply ]
ROCK LOBSTER!! Bring out the lobster costumes!! Party On!!
Posted 2 years ago by dirtbagpook    [ Reply ]
Takes me all the way back. Amazing. Bizarre, dancing joy.
Posted 3 years ago by emmo_radio    [ Reply ]
Cindy Wilson ..the world´s greatest female hysterical shouter :-)
Posted 3 years ago by nmb    [ Reply ]
I'm happy this song is THIS LONG.
Just can't skip it for some reason.
Posted 3 years ago by Atombender    [ Reply ]
For what it offers - it’s excellent
Posted 3 years ago by Matt_Maurer    [ Reply ]
The Yellow album - a legend! 
Posted 3 years ago by Pjesnik    [ Reply ]
 bruz wrote:
If sitting still while listening to this, better check for a pulse.
 
If you listen to this for more than 10 seconds, better check for brain activity. It might be dead if you can handle more than that.  
Posted 3 years ago by icuski2    [ Reply ]
This song is 4 minutes too long...
Posted 3 years ago by Jim0266    [ Reply ]
If sitting still while listening to this, better check for a pulse.
Posted 3 years ago by bruz    [ Reply ]
As pointed out to me by a female way back then - A 'Rock Lobster' is all about female masturbation in the bath. Makes sense to me!
Posted 4 years ago by tazmondpembroke    [ Reply ]
I'm rocked. I feel like a cooked lobster.
Posted 4 years ago by Atombender    [ Reply ]
If you aren't dancing in the last 90 seconds of this song, you're dead. Among the best bass lines and scratchy guitar riffs in rock n roll.
Posted 4 years ago by yobyot    [ Reply ]
Iraq lobster!
Posted 4 years ago by grawl    [ Reply ]
 Jim0266 wrote:
This song at 6:48 is 4 minutes too long.
 

I bet that you are tons of fun at parties!
Posted 4 years ago by eileenomurphy    [ Reply ]
 mbriner wrote:
Definitely a 'like it or hate it' number.
I appreciate the ultra creative silliness.
It always makes me smile.
 

Me too!
Posted 4 years ago by eileenomurphy    [ Reply ]
This came out while I was in college! ...we used to play it at keg parties! ...too much fun! ...sophisticated, NO! ...fun, YES!
Posted 4 years ago by eileenomurphy    [ Reply ]
This song at 6:48 is 4 minutes too long.
Posted 4 years ago by Jim0266    [ Reply ]
I saw these guys at DAR Constitution Hall sometime in the early 80's.  I had a great time. There was someone near the band dancing around with  3 foot lobster on his head . 
Posted 4 years ago by folkes.tom    [ Reply ]
 coloradojohn wrote:
Much like The Big Lebowski, lines from this song and band have entered modern culture, and tie the whole thing together. RockLob!
I STILL get the shiver down the spine when Fred lets us have it with his "HERE COMES A BIG KILLER WHALE!" and Kate screams...
  
 Bikini Whale

Posted 4 years ago by ScottFromWyoming    [ Reply ]
High art, no....Fun music Oh Yea!
Posted 4 years ago by xtalman    [ Reply ]
 icuski2 wrote:

Makes me embarrassed to be a human. Chimps could produce better music than this!
 
Yeah but fun chimps!
Posted 5 years ago by alain.brault    [ Reply ]
May be a relic but it's still danceable!
Posted 5 years ago by justlistening    [ Reply ]
THE.WORST.SONG.EVER!
Posted 5 years ago by icuski2    [ Reply ]
Laz...pass the tanning butter...
Posted 8 years ago by LowPhreak    [ Reply ]
Everybody in my elevators loves this classic song from a marvelous eponymous album...  we be dancing like happy hippies...  love sex, drugs, and New Wave music...
Posted 8 years ago by Lazarus    [ Reply ]
Remember, this was a party band at the bar scene in Athens, Ga. think you could dance this thing down after finals?
yup 
Posted 8 years ago by darmah    [ Reply ]
Definitely a 'like it or hate it' number.
I appreciate the ultra creative silliness.
It always makes me smile.
Posted 8 years ago by mbriner    [ Reply ]
Much like The Big Lebowski, lines from this song and band have entered modern culture, and tie the whole thing together. RockLob!
I STILL get the shiver down the spine when Fred lets us have it with his "HERE COMES A BIG KILLER WHALE!" and Kate screams...
Posted 8 years ago by coloradojohn    [ Reply ]
 Proclivities wrote:

No need to feel embarrassed for the '80s; besides this song was released in 1978.

 
Makes me embarrassed to be a human. Chimps could produce better music than this!
Posted 8 years ago by icuski2    [ Reply ]
Worst song ever made in my book. Cause I know you cared to know. ;-)
Posted 8 years ago by icuski2    [ Reply ]
 kylieh wrote:
This song makes me feel embarrassed for the eighties...

 
No need to feel embarrassed for the '80s; besides this song was released in 1978.
Posted 8 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
Still makes me laugh after all these years.
Posted 8 years ago by leafmold    [ Reply ]
 LPCity wrote:
I think that hanging out with the people who enjoy the fun of this song would be infinitely more enjoyable than being in the same room with the people who hate this song.

 
Have to agree with you. What's NOT to like?
Posted 8 years ago by leafmold    [ Reply ]
I think that hanging out with the people who enjoy the fun of this song would be infinitely more enjoyable than being in the same room with the people who hate this song.
Posted 8 years ago by LPCity    [ Reply ]
 wgsu_1978 wrote:
I've said it before here, but you have to look at this in the context of nearly 10 years of disco. It sounds silly now (though still fun) but it really was a breath of fresh air at the time.
 
There is no context in which this did not or does not suck.
Posted 8 years ago by aelfheld    [ Reply ]
I've said it before here, but you have to look at this in the context of nearly 10 years of disco. It sounds silly now (though still fun) but it really was a breath of fresh air at the time.
Posted 8 years ago by wgsu_1978    [ Reply ]
No, no, ya'll. This is a solid 10. They made a completely goofy idea into a great song. This song is played with the middle two strings on the guitar missing it is about nothing and is totally danceable. This thing could have tanked hard but they pulled it off. Over and over again. Musical geniuses.
Posted 8 years ago by Ahnyer_Keester    [ Reply ]
NOOOOOO!!!{#Frustrated}
Posted 8 years ago by rlr511    [ Reply ]
Wtf?!! 
Posted 8 years ago by Axelito    [ Reply ]
 kylieh wrote:
This song makes me feel embarrassed for the eighties...

 
Psst wrong decade 

It was pretty fun and goofy back in the day...
Posted 8 years ago by kcar    [ Reply ]
 big stud romeotuma wrote:
This is a GREAT song...  John Lennon said that "Rock Lobster" was an inspiration for his comeback...  the first version of this song was released by DB Records in 1978, and then a longer version of it appeared in 1979 on their self-titled debut album, produced by Warner Bros...
 
Everybody in my mushrooming multitude of galactic presidential campaigns loves this song...  we love this whole classic album, which inspired John Lennon to let Yoko sing on their album called "Double Fantasy"...  we be dancing like bowlegged gypsy muleskinners...  love sex, drugs, and new wave rock 'n roll...
Posted 8 years ago by Lazarus    [ Reply ]
 kylieh wrote:
This song makes me feel embarrassed for the eighties...

 
they had some good/fun songs but Fred's delivery was a bit over the top. this borders on a being a novelty song. I'll take Private Idaho or Love Shack any day.
Posted 8 years ago by phlattop    [ Reply ]
This song makes me feel embarrassed for the eighties...
Posted 8 years ago by kylieh    [ Reply ]
The most annoying band in the history of R&R? Gets my vote. 
Posted 8 years ago by meloman    [ Reply ]
Thank you Bill!

I needed a little silliness this afternoon.

{#Music} 
Posted 8 years ago by GeneP59    [ Reply ]
 kingart wrote:
Uggh. Fun tune, but...really? Must we? Kind of puerile. 

 
Yes we must. {#Yes}

Not everything has to be serious like a job interview or heart operation, right?

Too many uptight mofos around here. Let yer beehive down and live for a change.
Posted 8 years ago by LowPhreak    [ Reply ]
1978 or  79 B-52's opened up for The Talking Heads, still one of the greatest shows ever! A special night! {#Bananajam}Still see them on stage, memorizing! Had nothing to do with the altering effects of something we took! lol 
Posted 8 years ago by willmcnaught    [ Reply ]
Back in the day, the B-52s were just a local college band in Athens, GA. We loved them then, but little did we know...
{#Dancingbanana} 
Posted 8 years ago by NickDanger    [ Reply ]
Such a great song from a great band.  I love this whole album.  Pure joy!
Posted 8 years ago by FatPants    [ Reply ]
Yep. These two songs belong to each other.
 
Rachid Taha — Zoom Sur Oum
B-52's — Rock Lobster


I'd rather listen to Peter sing it.

peter griffin rock lobster
Posted 8 years ago by bseib    [ Reply ]
A brilliant blend of surf, punk, and pop with one hand in the 50's and the other shaping new wave.  I still wonder that this song was ever written, and I celebrate its artistic and musical abandon.

Doesn't it make you dance that way? 
Posted 9 years ago by goatshow    [ Reply ]
I remember tuning in for the hottest show in the land in those days, Saturday Night Live, and there was this spastic guy in a suit belting out the wildest Dr Seuss lyrics and a gal with a tall red beehive playing sci-fi keyboards and a blonde with an impossibly long ponytail who sang in the weirdest way and danced and played tambourine, and there was a dude just twanging madly away on an old blue guitar, and another guy was back there bashing on the drums. At one point, the singers collapsed to the floor. Aghast, we beheld Rock Lobster...and the world was never ever the same after. Impossible to measure the infinite ways this amazing band enriched our lives!
Posted 9 years ago by coloradojohn    [ Reply ]
 blackaddermrbean wrote:
Playing the full 7 minute album version!  Nice Job Bill!.

 
Amen to that.
Posted 9 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
Uggh. Fun tune, but...really? Must we? Kind of puerile. 
Posted 9 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
Great way to get everyone dancing.  Always !!!

 
Posted 9 years ago by msymmes    [ Reply ]
Don't have the fish today...try the rock lobstah!
Posted 9 years ago by LowPhreak    [ Reply ]
Amiga 500 motherboard
Posted 9 years ago by gumby    [ Reply ]
 Egrey wrote:
Motion in the ocean!

 

oooowaaaahh!
Posted 9 years ago by eroz    [ Reply ]
I only give it a 2 because of Peter Griffin.
Posted 9 years ago by bseib    [ Reply ]
 hanssachs wrote:
No matter how many positive comments I see for this, the studied artlessness and wink-winky in-on-the-joke bullshit level are just too high.  I can't stand this crap. 

 
I suspect you probably can't dance either.  No matter, different strokes for different folks.  "Studied Artlessness" would be a good band name though.
Posted 9 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
 hanssachs wrote:
 wink-winky in-on-the-joke bullshit level
 
W.  T.  Actual.  F?
Posted 9 years ago by dwhayslett    [ Reply ]
Playing the full 7 minute album version!  Nice Job Bill!.
Posted 9 years ago by blackaddermrbean    [ Reply ]
When the album came out I didn't get it. I was horrified. Then I finally did get it. Great stuff. Thanks for playing. 
Posted 9 years ago by Keef    [ Reply ]
Put on the nose guard! Put on the lobster outfit! Down! Down! Down! Dance like a fool! Yup, lots of fun!
Posted 9 years ago by dirtbagpook    [ Reply ]
Motion in the ocean!
Posted 9 years ago by Egrey    [ Reply ]
The song that finally gave everyone who despised disco for nearly ten years a chance to hit the dance floor. Hard to explain otherwise to folks who weren't there.

It's certainly a far cry from the pre-apocalyptic music that seems to dominate today.

Please help me by naming a few new (or newish) groups or artists with an inate sense of humor, other than The Dandy Warhols (which I love).
Posted 9 years ago by wgsu_1978    [ Reply ]
Two words. Dorm party.
Posted 9 years ago by By_The_Bay    [ Reply ]
 hanssachs wrote:
No matter how many positive comments I see for this, the studied artlessness and wink-winky in-on-the-joke bullshit level are just too high.  I can't stand this crap. 
 

 NoEnzLefttoSplit wrote:


no, I don't get it. Can you explain it to me? 

 
Its just good fun. Try dancing to it with a lot of people who’ve had too much to drink. It’s a 24-carat blast! 


Posted 9 years ago by ScottishWillie    [ Reply ]
Helpful on a Monday, thanks....:)
Posted 9 years ago by jmkate    [ Reply ]
 hanssachs wrote:
No matter how many positive comments I see for this, the studied artlessness and wink-winky in-on-the-joke bullshit level are just too high.  I can't stand this crap. 

 
Ignoring the words, I just so totally love the gradual musical frenzy. It's hard to capture that, and there's some sort of joyous explosion that happens near the end that makes me so energetic and happy... 
Posted 9 years ago by Steely_D    [ Reply ]
 hanssachs wrote:
No matter how many positive comments I see for this, the studied artlessness and wink-winky in-on-the-joke bullshit level are just too high.  I can't stand this crap. 

 

no, I don't get it. Can you explain it to me? 
Posted 9 years ago by NoEnzLefttoSplit    [ Reply ]
No matter how many positive comments I see for this, the studied artlessness and wink-winky in-on-the-joke bullshit level are just too high.  I can't stand this crap. 
Posted 9 years ago by hanssachs    [ Reply ]
Lock robster!

Posted 14 years ago by Zep    [ Reply ]
there's just so much love and groove ccomming out of this... it's awesome, what can I say.
Posted 16 years ago by sebiche    [ Reply ]
EssexTex wrote:
I like em...in a Devo/kind of way
I think Devo had taken over their minds.
Posted 16 years ago by wferrier    [ Reply ]
Can someone post a flattering picture of the folks in the band? For some reason I think the chicks are probably really sexy in a fun sort of way.
Posted 16 years ago by GChevy410    [ Reply ]
rickhoran wrote:
if you ever get a chance, find them doing this on SNL in 1979 i think it was. it was way cool and what got me to start listening to them way way way back then.
'twas 80. Fred on cowbell and it might as well had been Jane Curtin's Prymaat on keyboards. Awesome. (click here)
Posted 16 years ago by slartibart_O    [ Reply ]
Solid. FluorideFreeMN wrote:
Peter Griffin's "Rock Lobster" to cheer up Cleveland
Posted 16 years ago by MojoJojo    [ Reply ]
if you ever get a chance, find them doing this on SNL in 1979 i think it was. it was way cool and what got me to start listening to them way way way back then.
Posted 16 years ago by rickhoran    [ Reply ]
If this song couldn't get the dance floor filled, the friggen party is dead. Saw these guys turn many a venue into one huge dance party.
Posted 16 years ago by Flashdog    [ Reply ]
WTF ?
Posted 16 years ago by Rilynn    [ Reply ]
Peter Griffin's "Rock Lobster" to cheer up Cleveland
Posted 16 years ago by FluorideFreeMN    [ Reply ]
1981, just getting around to enjoying myself on the dancefloor and B52s pull into town with Fred, front and center working it out, not just pogoing or slamdancing but dancing up a frigging storm. Thanks Fred - all my best moves came from you.
Posted 16 years ago by houston    [ Reply ]
Boy, these guys are way out there, aren't they?
Posted 17 years ago by skdenfeld    [ Reply ]
EssexTex wrote:
I like em...in a Devo/kind of way
I don't like 'em in a Devo kind of way
Posted 17 years ago by pushkinjim    [ Reply ]
...and another click of the volume control. Boy, I hope I don't need to hear anything later... Major RP dance party!
Posted 17 years ago by BjornPhrei    [ Reply ]
I like em...in a Devo/kind of way
Posted 17 years ago by EssexTex    [ Reply ]
One Guitar One Drummer Keyboards Great harmonies This song is a masterpiece of frugality yet its such good music.I think along with love shack its the seminal work of the B52's. If you have seen the original film clip, at the end of it they are all shagged from the sheer energy expended. It always amazes me. Who cares if its non sensical.. at least it aint Britteny Enjoy it Marvel at it.
Posted 17 years ago by duderduderini    [ Reply ]
Cool music to do the Batusi to. Yeah, it's annoying kitsch, butit's still damn fun to dance to.
Posted 17 years ago by Harpua    [ Reply ]
danagraves wrote:
Yeah,obnoxious. But it's also silly, toe-tapping fun. Not great art, I agree, but sometimes great fun....
Nope, just obnoxious.
Posted 17 years ago by Smoove_D    [ Reply ]
dpjag wrote:
I never did get this tune
It's a dance thing. It would always get the floor to fill up.
Posted 17 years ago by AvoidingWork    [ Reply ]
huebdoo wrote:
have you tried to do harmonies like those ladies do on roam? dude - do you have any idea on how hard that is?
Actually I do and I'm still not impressed.
Posted 17 years ago by o2bnsv    [ Reply ]
Smoove_D wrote:
I just don't understand the love for these guys or this song. Obnoxious.
Yeah,obnoxious. But it's also silly, toe-tapping fun. Not great art, I agree, but sometimes great fun....
Posted 17 years ago by danagraves    [ Reply ]
dpjag wrote:
I never did get this tune
Um, there's nothing to GET. That's the point!
Posted 17 years ago by cc_rider    [ Reply ]
o2bnsv wrote:
The B-52s proove that you don't need any talent to have a music career anymore.
have you tried to do harmonies like those ladies do on roam? dude - do you have any idea on how hard that is?
Posted 17 years ago by huebdoo    [ Reply ]
o2bnsv wrote:
The B-52s proove that you don't need any talent to have a music career anymore.
You need to bake a potato, Mr. NoFun
Posted 17 years ago by siandbeth    [ Reply ]
This song is even better if you were ever dancing your brains out at a college kegger with half a chance of getting laid
Posted 17 years ago by sfListener    [ Reply ]
I'll bet Bill grinned from ear to ear as he spun this one up to speed.
Posted 17 years ago by rluking    [ Reply ]
The B-52s proove that you don't need any talent to have a music career anymore.
Posted 17 years ago by o2bnsv    [ Reply ]
squidish wrote:
(house party) ...DOWN! ...DOWN! ...DOWN! (everyone collapsed on the floor laughing) good times, good times.
Posted 17 years ago by gumby    [ Reply ]
I would totally recommend that if you have that crappy kids music that you for some reason were drawn to like a lemming that you recycle it all into something neat (cd-mobile is nice) And play this music for your kids ... I have a 6 year old and 4 year old that jump around (pogo style) to this stuff like they are crazed ... I think I enjoy it even more seeing how my little ones react to this stuff Somebody has to make a cd-collection of good music for kids
Posted 17 years ago by huebdoo    [ Reply ]
My highschool band did an awesome cover of this back in the early 80's - it was our encore!
Posted 17 years ago by rocco1207    [ Reply ]
I just don't understand the love for these guys or this song. Obnoxious.
Posted 17 years ago by Smoove_D    [ Reply ]
I never did get this tune
Posted 17 years ago by dpjag    [ Reply ]
THANK YOU!
Posted 17 years ago by GChevy410    [ Reply ]
nice!!!
Posted 17 years ago by enidualc    [ Reply ]
One of my all-time favs. 9.
Posted 17 years ago by trekhead    [ Reply ]
Posted 17 years ago by Nabla    [ Reply ]
Lock robster!
Posted 17 years ago by 54-40    [ Reply ]