Mongoloid

Mongoloid is a song by Gerald Casale, performed with his group DEVO. It was the A-Side to the group's first single.

Lyrics
Mongoloid, he was a mongoloid Happier than you and me Mongoloid, he was a mongoloid And it determined what he could see Mongoloid, he was a mongoloid One chromosome too many Mongoloid, he was a mongoloid And it determined what he could see

And he wore a hat And he had a job And he brought home the bacon So that no one knew

He was a mongoloid, mongoloid His friends were unaware Mongoloid, he was a mongoloid Nobody even cared Mongoloid, he was a mongoloid One chromosome too many Mongoloid, he was a mongoloid And it determined what he could see

And he wore a hat And he had a job And he brought home the bacon So that no one knew

He was a mongoloid, mongoloid Happier than you and me Mongoloid, he was a mongoloid And it determined what he could see Mongoloid, he was a mongoloid One chromosome too many Mongoloid, he was a mongoloid And it determined what he could see

And he wore a hat And he had a job And he brought home the bacon So that no one knew

Mongoloid, he was a mongoloid

Interpretations
The leading interpretation of the song is that it is very likely about a man with Downs Syndrome attempting and succeeding in living a normal life in a devolved world. The song suggests that the world has devolved so much that a man with a severe mental handicap can fit right in and lead a successful life.

Interestingly, a less cynical interpretation can be gathered in that it is instead commending the subject of the song for his success despite his handicaps, and that him leading a simple life based on "what it was determined he could see" makes him happier and plain better off than the average man. This puts the song more in line with something like "37," however severely less tongue-in-cheek.

Credits
1977 - 1978 Studio Versions, 1980 - 1981 Live Versions


 * Gerald Casale: Vocals, Bass Guitar
 * Bob Mothersbaugh: Backing Vocals, Lead Guitar
 * Bob Casale: Rythm Guitar
 * Mark Mothersbaugh: Synth
 * Alan Myers: Drums

1996, 2004, 2009, 2012 Live Versions


 * Gerald Casale: Vocals, Bass Guitar
 * Bob Mothersbaugh: Backing Vocals, Lead Guitar
 * Bob Casale: Rythm Guitar
 * Mark Mothersbaugh: Synth
 * Josh Freese: Drums

2003 Live Version


 * Gerald Casale: Vocals, Bass Guitar
 * Bob Mothersbaugh: Backing Vocals, Lead Guitar
 * Bob Casale: Rythm Guitar
 * Mark Mothersbaugh: Synth
 * David Kendrick: Drums

Apperances

 * Mongoloid / Jocko Homo (1977)
 * B Stiff (1978)
 * Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! (1978)
 * Dev-O Live (1980)
 * EZ Listening Muzak Cassette (1981)
 * Shout EP (1985)
 * Best Of Devo (1986)
 * E-Z Listening Disc (1987)
 * Hardcore Devo (1990)
 * Greatest Misses (1990)
 * Live: The Mongoloid Years (1992)
 * Hot Potatoes: The Best Of Devo (1993)
 * Dev-O Live (1999)
 * Pioneers Who Got Scalped - The Anthology (2000)
 * The Essentials (2002)
 * Whip It and Other Hits (2003)
 * Live (2003)
 * Live In The Land Of The Rising Sun (2003)
 * The Complete Truth About De-Evolution (2003)
 * Live in Central Park (2004)
 * Live 1980 (2005)
 * This Is The Devo Box (2008)
 * The Ultra Devo-lux Ltd. Edition (2009)
 * Devo Battles Live: 2012 Tour (2012)
 * New Traditionalists - Live 1981 Seattle (2012)
 * Miracle Witness Hour (2014)
 * Butch Devo And The Sundance Gig (2014)
 * Live At Max's Kansas City - November 15, 1977 (2014)
 * EZ Listening Muzak (2016)

Versions


Notable Covers

 * Laid Thenardier, 1987 (Alternative Rock)
 * Claw Hammer, 1991 (Avant-Punk)
 * Astroburger, 1993 (Power Pop)
 * Demented Are Go, 1993 (Psychobilly)
 * Demolition Hammer, 1994 (Death Metal)
 * Mean Red Spiders, 1996 (Rock)
 * Custard, 1996 (Indie Rock)
 * Siniestro Total, 1997 (Punk Rock)
 * Terre Thaemlitz, 2001 (Contemporary classical)
 * Layo & Bushwacka!, 2002 (Downtempo)
 * Sampled on 'Love Story'
 * Schneider TM & Christian Dabeler, 2002 (EuroPop)
 * Sepultura, 2003 (Crossover thrash)
 * Washington Dead Cats, 2005 (Psychobilly)
 * Los Mox!, 2006 (Hardcore Punk)
 * Dozer, 2006 (Stoner Rock)
 * Las Kellies, 2007 (Post-Punk)
 * Millionaire, 2007 (Alternative Rock)
 * F.P.B., 2008 (Experimental rock)
 * Rummelsnuff, 2008 (Electronic body music)
 * The Nils, 2009 (Punk rock)
 * O'Death, 2009 (Folk rock)
 * Paranoid Visions, 2009 (Hardcore Punk)
 * The Valkyrians, 2011 (Rocksteady)
 * Alexander Rocciasana, 2012 (Synth-pop)
 * Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät, 2013 (Punk Rock)
 * No One Is Innocent, 2015 (Alternative Rock)