Bullet
Misfits
A Dark Satire on Tragedy and Exploitation
The Misfits' song "Bullet" is a raw and provocative piece that delves into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The lyrics are graphic and unflinching, painting a vivid picture of the tragic event. The repeated lines, "President's bullet-ridden body in the street" and "Kennedy's shattered head hits concrete," serve to emphasize the brutality of the assassination. The refrain, "Ride, Johnny ride," can be seen as a dark, almost mocking chant, highlighting the chaos and horror of the moment.
The song also focuses on Jackie Kennedy, the First Lady, in the aftermath of the assassination. Lines like "Johnny's wife is floundering, Johnny's wife is scared" and "Run, Jackie run" depict her as a figure of vulnerability and desperation. The repeated phrase, "Texas is an outrage," points to the location of the assassination and suggests a sense of betrayal and anger. The line, "You gotta suck, suck, Jackie suck," is jarring and offensive, likely intended to shock and provoke the listener. It can be interpreted as a commentary on the exploitation and objectification of public figures, even in their moments of greatest suffering.
The latter part of the song takes a more surreal and disturbing turn, with references to Jackie Kennedy as "Jackie O" and graphic sexual imagery. This section can be seen as a grotesque metaphor for the way society consumes and degrades its icons. The lines, "The dirt's gonna be your dessert, My cum be your life source," are deliberately shocking, pushing the boundaries of taste to make a point about the dehumanizing effects of fame and tragedy. The Misfits use these extreme images to critique the voyeuristic and exploitative tendencies of the media and the public.
Overall, "Bullet" is a song that uses shock value and graphic imagery to make a statement about violence, exploitation, and the dark side of human nature. It challenges the listener to confront uncomfortable truths about society's fascination with tragedy and the ways in which we dehumanize those in the public eye.