It's My Job To Keep Punk Rock Elite

NOFX's song "It's My Job To Keep Punk Rock Elite" is a defiant anthem that underscores the band's commitment to preserving the authenticity and integrity of punk rock. The lyrics reflect a disdain for mainstream commercialization and a determination to maintain the genre's rebellious spirit. The opening lines, "Indiscriminate I'd rather be elite / I'll choose my own shit scene," set the tone for the song, emphasizing the band's preference for a self-selected, genuine community over a homogenized, commercialized one.

The song also addresses the spread of rumors and the band's unapologetic stance on their actions and beliefs. Lines like "Unsubstantiated rumors flown are true / I'm here for me not you" highlight a sense of individualism and a rejection of external validation. This sentiment is further reinforced with the declaration, "Nonconglumurate I mean what I say / I'm not your fucking scape / Goat apparently I've alienated some / It seems my job's half done." Here, NOFX acknowledges that their uncompromising attitude may alienate some, but they see this as a necessary part of their mission to keep punk rock pure.

The chorus, "You'll never understand it / Try to buy and brand it / I win, you lose, cause it's my job / To keep punk rock elite," serves as a rallying cry against the commodification of punk rock. NOFX asserts that the essence of punk cannot be bought or branded, and they take pride in their role as gatekeepers of the genre's authenticity. The final line, "This music ain't your fuckin' industry," is a powerful statement that punk rock belongs to the community that lives and breathes it, not to the corporate entities that seek to profit from it.