Revision as of 04:07, 19 September 2009

"Disposable Teens"
Song by Marilyn Manson
Album	Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death)
Released	November 13, 2000
Recorded	1999–2000 at the Mansion in Death Valley, California
Genre	Alternative metal
Length	3:01
Label	Nothing, Interscope
Writer	Marilyn Manson
Composer	John 5, Twiggy Ramirez
Producer	Marilyn Manson, Dave Sardy

"Disposable Teens" is the first single of the fourth album Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death). It is considered a teenage anthem of sorts, echoing what Manson sees as teenagers who act violently in retaliation against parental and social authority.

Analysis

"Say you want an evolution/the ape was a great big hit/you say you want a revolution, man, and I say that you're full of shit". The album's first overt Beatles reference --it even goes "yeah yeah yeah!" -- in a kickass rocker that confirms the cynicism of the Four's original "Revolution", in which they were no more convinced people really wanted change than Manson is now. Self-professed "ape of god" (a term sometimes used as a nickname of Satan, with "ape" in the sense of "imitator"; so the elegant pun brings in Satanic defiance plus the goal of the high magician, and the evolutionary theme) Manson confirms something I was pretty sure of: "I never really hated the one true god, but the god of the people I hated." Dogmatized organized religion, the enemy of evolution from Day One (can you say "Scopes monkey trial"? We can.) --, hand-in-hand with moms and dads to create this crumbling world of throwaway kids. --whose revenge is long overdue. "Don't be surprised when we destroy all of it," spits Manson. (But who is this aimed at? Whose desire for change and a new world does he doubt? Some of us speculated that it's at least partly pointed at those disappointing and disappointed members of his own audience who've dropped out at each step of this journey when it's proved too different from the previous one...)

Appearances

Albums

• Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death)
• Lest We Forget (The Best Of)

Singles

• "Disposable Teens"

Versions

• Disposable Teens — Appears on Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death) and Lest We Forget (The Best Of).
• Disposable Teens (Bon Harris Remix) — Appears on the "The Fight Song" Pt. 2 single.
• Disposable Teens (Live) — Appears on the Guns, God and Government World Tour DVD.

Track listings

UK CD1

1. "Disposable Teens"

2. "Working Class Hero"

3. "Diamonds & Pollen"

UK CD2

1. "Disposable Teens"

2. "Five to One"

3. "Astonishing Panorama of the Endtimes"

UK Picture Disk

A1. "Disposable Teens"

B1. "Five to One"

B2. "Diamonds & Pollen" (wrongly labeled, actually "Working Class Hero")

EU CD1

1. "Disposable Teens"

2. "Working Class Hero"

3. "Diamonds & Pollen"

EU CD2

1. "Disposable Teens"

2. "Five to One"

3. "Astonishing Panorama of the Endtimes"

EU Slipcase

1. "Disposable Teens"

2. "Working Class Hero"

Australia

1. "Disposable Teens"

2. "Five to One"

3. "Working Class Hero"

4. "Diamonds & Pollen"

5. "Astonishing Panorama of the Endtimes"

Japan

1. "Disposable Teens"

2. "Working Class Hero"

3. "Diamonds & Pollen"

Tarot Cards Board

Special edition of this single included a Holy Wood tarot cards Board for proper reading sessions.

Music video

Manson dressed up as the pope in front of a cross with a monkey hanging from it

There were two music videos made for the song, both directed by Samuel Bayer. The original version features prominent symbols of Holy Wood such as Manson playing the pope, and the ape. The alternate version features a basic performance by the band, with police surrounding the stage. Both versions of the video are available on the Lest We Forget (The Best Of) bonus DVD.

Lyrics

    and I'm a black rainbow
    and I'm an ape of god
    I've got a face that's made for violence upon
    and I'm a teen distortion
    survived abortion
    a rebel from the waist down
    
    I wanna thank you mom
    I wanna thank you dad
    for bringing this fucking world
    to a bitter end
    I never really hated the one true god
    but the god of the people I hated
    
    you said you wanted evolution
    the ape was a great big hit
    you say you want a revolution man
    and I say that you're full of shit
    
    we're disposable teens
    we're disposable teens
    we're disposable
    
    you said you wanted evolution
    the ape was a great big hit
    you say you want a revolution, man
    and I say that you're full of shit
    
    The more that you fear us
    the bigger we get
    the more that you fear us
    the bigger we get
    and don't be surprised, don't be surprised
    don't be surprised when we destroy all of it
    
    you said you wanted evolution
    the ape was a great big hit
    you say you want a revolution man
    and I say that you're full of shit
    
    we're disposable teens
    we're disposable teens
    we're disposable

Trivia

• At the beginning of the "Disposable Teens" music video, Manson emerges from the water possibly portraying the Little Horn, a character mentioned in the Antichrist Superstar track "Little Horn". In the Bible, the Book of Daniel references a "little horn": "He arose from the water with large iron teeth that he used to smash his enemies with..." Manson's teeth in this scene appear to be iron-like.
• The line "We're rebels from the waist down" also appears in the 1949 novel Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell, which Manson has mentioned as one of the books that had an influence on him.
• The line "You say you want a revolution man" may have been inspired by the John Lennon songs "Revolution" and "Power to the People", which contain the lyric "Say you want a revolution."
• The song is available to download as a playable track for the Rock Band video game series as part of the Mayhem Tour 2009 pack.