"Der Untermensch" is a song by Type O Negative, included on their first album Slow, Deep and Hard, released in 1991. This song, whose title is German for "The Subhuman", has self-explanatory lyrics. The lyrical nature of this song led Germany to ban playing Type O Negative in concerts.
"Der Untermensch", the previous track "Unsuccessfully Coping with the Natural Beauty of Infidelity", and "Some Stupid Tomorrow" of the later album Dead Again are the only songs in the Type O Negative catalog that comprise five cantos, but in this song it only uses two names as the one plays on three occasions and the other two occasions—they are "Waste of Life" and "Socioparasite", respectively. "Waste of Life" each begins with factory rod striking sound and are doomy, while "Socioparasite" are thrashy.
Lyrics[]
[Canto I. "Waste of Life"]
[Instrumental]
[Canto II. "Socioparasite"]
Hey, you on public assistance
Why don't you get a job?
Sell some dope and buy some pride
The only thing you couldn't rob
Socioparasite!
Socioparasite!
How does it feel to live for free?
Get off society's back
Skells like you allowed to live
You wonder why we're attacked?
Socioparasite!
Socioparasite!
[Canto III. "Waste of Life" (reprise)]
Waste of life!
You're a waste of life!
[Canto IV. "Socioparasite" (reprise)]
Getting fucked up on Classon Avenue
Smoking crack and drinking booze
Spike in your arm, no money for food
But there's plenty of gas in your BMW
There's a dopewhore waiting at home
Dealing your shit on the telephone
Poor Tawana's got a birth defect
But it only increases your welfare check
Been doing some thinking, I have an answer
To arrest the spreading cancer
Send you back to where you're from
Get the fuck rid of you subhuman scum
If you don't pay taxes, you shouldn't vote
So get in line and get on the boat
I'd love to tear down all the projects
Kiss my ass, Home Relief reject
[Canto V. "Waste of Life" (second reprise)]
Waste of life!
You're a waste of life!
You're a waste of life!
Waste of life
You're a waste of life
Waste of life
You're a waste of life
Personnel[]
Group performers
- Peter Steele – vocals, bass
- Kenny Hickey – guitar
- Josh Silver – keyboards, organ
- Sal Abruscato – drums, percussion
Enginucers
- Peter Steele – writing
- Mike Marciano – engineering, mixing
- Josh Silver – samples, effects
- Michael Sarsfield – mastering
- Type O Negative – production