Camper Van Beethoven - Take The Skinheads Bowling (1985)

[MisterKennedy06]

Victor Krummenacher is my cousin! lol

[tfustudios]

"Take the art students to Paris, take them to Paris!"

[Doomstruction1979]

The guitar intro to this and the guitar intro to "Bikeage" by the Descendents I just realized sound almost identical. Check it out!

[trickynic66]

ODD? yes mon ami, odd indeed. Good though, loife is odd.

[dirtydodger]

What an odd song.

[StarCraftWhore]

Odd? Yes but it's a brilliant song and is so much fun to listen to

[dirtydodger]

Yeah, I like it. I didn't mean anything bad by calling it odd. But it certainly is. I used to claim skinhead in my younger years so this is odd squared for me.

[zacht112]

saw Camper and Built to Spill at Humboldt State in Eureka last year. man such a good show

[tthebeatlesss]

your getting off what bitch? this is the best song EVER. so you can suck it

[secutor748]

i'm getting off

[lucinda2005]

I have opportunities to be at a major bowling center ever sat/sun of my life and it is sometimes fun.Bowlers bowling a 300..well,it is exciting.

[thekingofri]

nice

[honeypower]

This is a lost classic, so damn good!

[shadow27b]

Just found out they're coming to DC in January! Very Excited!

[lc1212]

aww what the fuck...what the fuck

[theledzeppguy]

Classic.

[chaucy9]

got big lanes....got big lanes!

[monica9965]

Haven't thought about this song in ages. I always thought the lyricsw offered a great solution to life's problems. Like now, we could say "Take Al-Qaeda Bowling."

What's with the line "Had a dream I wanted to lick your knees?"

[trickynic66]

Ahhh skin heads.....take em bowling....shut the cunts up

[mick2plus2]

Had a dream last night 'bout you my friend

[edmundopechDOS]

everybody is coming home to lunch these days

[dexredland]

crispy.......derson...???...Dr­ifting carpets of orange flowers

Roll down the stairs, down from a star

Where they lie so long, beneath the

seasons dead among the...

Drifting fires of orange flowers

Lift from your eyes, out with a breath

Where they lie so long, beneath the

seasons dead among the flowers growing

[zbelm]

What can I say about Crispy Derson?

[mikeflbiker]

Around 1986, someone spray painted "Take the skinheads bowling" on the side of one of the local bowling alleys.. I was only 11 at the time, I didn't know about the song so it just seemed kind of random :)

[MattMonk]

Everybody's coming home from work these days.

[dandruff71]

GO UTES! WE'RE GOING BOWLING!

[TennesseeToddy]

f..ing brilliant. and they´re so right ;-)

[envika]

i wish i were alive in the 80s, minus all the reagan shit

[StarCraftWhore]

This song is so catchy. I love this song!

[rcknbkr403]

Take the Skinheads Bowling. Got Big Lanes, Got Big Lanes! Use their heads as bowling balls!!

[allanosterm]

Saw them in around '86. Shoulda tripped that night. They were that kinda band. This is still one of my favorites by them.

[rcknbkr403]

One of the funniest vids and coolest tunes evah!

[T4lambdaphage]

holy fuck! I remember this song on radio when I was a kid! great song and I never thought I would hear it again!

[woot21]

There's not a line that goes here that rhymes with anything

[goose1977]

i had a dream i wanted to lick your knees

[pandaeyes42]

Anything! Anything!

[singingsilas]

Cool song.

[charisathen123]

a great lp that can't get old. lyrics kick a**!

[horatioalger17]

I had a dream that I wanted to lick your knees.

[goose1977]

i had a dream i wanted to sleep next to plastic

[magich8ball]

the whole album is good from start to finish! i do however remember John Zorn being in this group though....

[rpupkin77]

This song did more for race relations than the March on Washington.

[neutronhomer12]

this song is so awsome man

[TrippyKitty08]

awesome!!!!

[lucinda2005]

wish someone with doe ray me. would take me bowling. it is expensive these days 4.55 to bowl ten frames. per person. 4 buck shoe rental.

[WhiteBoy41]

this always taps the toe's ..,man i like this.

[Oilisdeathtomany]

Prior to this song, I used to look at some of the skin/shave heads around my town and think how much they looked like bowling balls. When I eventually heard this song it just had me in fits of laughter. There was more than one skinhead I wanted to see used as a bowling ball, plowing through the pins and then appearing in the ball delivery device

[RHutton2710]

Presumably not in a sexual way?

[Oilisdeathtomany]

Not these skinheads - this is Christchurch NZ where we had two skinhead "clubs", one being even more cringe-inducing than the other. Fun times for a punk rocker but could never get my head around the need to wear a uniform, which these two groups did.

[TallFastLoud]

Such a perfect song.

[justanotherdeadhead]

CVB=horribly underrated

love these guys

[OSCAR588888]

what....the fuck....was that

what the fuck are they on?

[wg05a]

NO!

[zulubeat]

Michael Moore used this for the movie Bowling for Columbine. Those 2 psychos actually went bowling before they shot up that school.

[drinkyourtea]

wonder who won

[IHATEPRINCETON]

good song

[frankfur666]

weird video

[DissentDispute]

i have heard this song in the past, but now i've been reintroduced...and i appreciate it...great music! History Repeats!

[lucinda2005]

Long live Beechwood lanes on Alps Rd. Athens. Fun Fun,had a dream about you last night my friend!!

[ihateoly]

I also love this video and have to agree that this is one of the best songs ever. And it is weird shit. That's the beauty of it, you see.

[VilliersTerrace]

I love this so much.

[extremelykoolio]

this is some weird shit

[bartleby2007]

I will argue that this is the greatest song of all time.

Got big lanes.

Look the same.

Anything, anything.

What it was, what it was.

[heywally]

You are correct, sir. Great lyrics, catchy melody, perfectly played.

[haskel420]

wouldnt you think skinheads would rather use a White ball and Black pins..??

[rudeboy0013]

study up on your history.

[haskel420]

..??

[frankfur666]

what?

[wildanimalboy]

you're weird

[notsomadmartin]

f@#king great song ! Thanks for loading this, by the way, anyone got it on vinyl that they wanna sell ?

[jbarry716]

man i wish i had it on vinyl...i dont think anyone would sell

[takelondon]

you right,never *g*.

[mothball50]

You'll probably find the vinyl at that exact bowling alley in the vid...because it's an Amoeba records store now(the one in the Haight/Ashbury).

[enzytebob]

Someone has the EP on eBay on vinyl sealed. Just search Camper Van Beethoven Skinheads and you'll see it. $29 I think. Good luck!

[SPRMSSVBLCKFOTSEN]

reading bowling ally xmas 01 uttoxeter lads all skinheads had there lanes turned off for being to pished there were balls everywhere i got a strike in lane 22 bowling from lane 6 the song and the experience are highly recommended

[hoopoe36]

flashpoint, the vocalist is david lowery and he did end up fronting cracker. and camper is still around too. he fronts both.

[Flashpoint922]

Isn't this the vocalist who would end up in Cracker?

[chloroxjello]

That bowling alley is now Amoeba records.

[MyThrillKillKult]

Obamas a black skinhead?

[MyThrillKillKult]

kickass song kickass group

[JenJenEL]

Such an outrageous idea..skinheads going bowling. I feel the smile curling up on my face as I type.

[dowling1981]

Yes that is funny lol

[perframordor]

Why? I'm a skinhead. I love bowling!

[dowling1981]

Yes, and that is funny

[coolnewkids]

I need this song.

[OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSONIC]

lol the chinese lookin place says J I Z

[pedrovilar]

Funny video! Lovely Song. I find Camper Van Beethoven's sincretism quite admirable - camper's roots come from many diferent places in the world, if i´m not wrong....

[Quickstoptim]

Greatest ... song ... EVER! As the arts and entertainment editor of the student newspaper, I ranked 'Telephone Free Landslide Victory' as one of the ten best LPs of the year. Saw them in Orlando in 1985 or '86.

[parkdale420]

Used to hear this on CFNY..LOL

[AIFL]

Thank god for John Peel. I never would have heard this classic indie track if not for the great man. I DJ out a lot and nearly always drop this into a set.

[oldgreg75]

Quality!!! Manic Street Preachers also do a version of this.......GOT BIG LANES, GOT BIG LANES!!

[johnyoungstewart]

Bought this indy record 23 years ago.

In Toronto!

[pasyr]

whos jah?!?!?!

[johnyoungstewart]

Rasta God.

[dobberman88]

WOW!!!!!!!!!! THIS SONG IS SO CUTE!!!

[bokesnmokes]

TTSHB man I have loved this song for more than 20 years...

[chung6435]

Al Bentley is in this

[tfustudios]

The skinhead on the right is none other than Sean Clare!

[timlooney]

Everybody's going home for lunch theses days.

[akaken23]

One of my fave tunes. Great lyrics.

[ggaaeell]

preety cool song

love indy music

[Langemarck44]

nice song !

[fooeyusa]

When I bought this album in the 80's I listened to this song about 100 times in a row until my mom DEMANDED I stop.

[etuberalism]

dude, the song is the opposite of that sentiment...

[etuberalism]

that was for employee turd.

[breeeegs]

Its funny how just mentioning the word "skinhead" can provoke racist comments

[742Productions]

its funny how stupid rascists are

[breeeegs]

thats also funny

[742Productions]

most definately!

[Tracymmo]

I got to see them play a show in Cleveland in 1989, and when they got onstage they said they were freaked out because the freeway in front of their recording studio had just collapsed. That's how I found out about the San Francisco earthquake. They did a great show, which is amazing considering how anxious they must have been.

[philprice2007]

dont be a prick.its an anti-nazi anthem

[MyThrillKillKult]

Good song

[borishawthorn]

I bowled once. I don't have a skinhead though! Just a normal, run of the mill, shoulder length cut, like Liam Neeson.

[michaelscreen]

I love this song. Its Velvet Underground meets nerd rock.I didnt realise it was made in 1985. Amazing name for a band. blows the cobwebs out after a shit day at work.

[quadraphone]

The song refers to the Revolutionary Anarchist Bowling League, which included a lot of Anti-Rascist skins called the "Baldies"... the first anti-rascist skinhead crew in the US, and the precursor to the international organization the SHARPs - SKinheads Against Racial Prejudice. The Baldies and the RABL are both from Minneapolis, MN as is one of the members of Camper Van Beethoven. So there you go. Obviously they shot the video in San Francisco, not sure why.

[patdlover1916]

Nice info.

[annsontheman]

they're from the bay area so i suppose thats why it was shot in san francisco.

[tannerwilleford]

yeah thx 4 that

[onico68]

They shot in SF because they're from Santa Cruz, about 75 miles South of SF.

[GermanStel]

i discovered the song because i watched "Bowling for columbine" xD

[patdlover1916]

Me too.

[bronzefist16]

same here.

[bowiefan517]

my fiance is a skinhead, and i took him bowling, lol and then about a month later i discovered this song

[monolithtweak]

Great song very great.

[Sesquipedaliantique]

I can really relate to this song. On Monday I was at a concert full of skinheads who said they'd just been bowling. They recommended a really good bowling alley and I went there tonight. It was fun, but there weren't any skinheads there this time.

I live such an exciting life.

[littlevolcano]

"I had a dream, I wanted to lick your knees."

That line always used to make me think of my dog, who licked my legs constantly. Mostly, this song reminds me of high school and bonfire parties!

[ValkyrieVoice]

To hear you tell it! Wake up and study!

[tronxcore]

no

skinheads are the guys who dig reggae and were working class normal guys and were big fans of ska way back when

then the asshole neo-nazis came along and shaved thier stupid fuckin heads and called themselves skinheads

[h8tank88]

Yeah thats the frisco bash boys in the video. Bash boys = Racial skinheads. Why dont you go get a history book and find out the truth before you go running out the side of your mouth.

[rladngus24]

aren't skinheads supposedly racists? wtf is this?

[LinkScFi]

No look it up

[xxxfiretear]

LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT!

[heartinakiln]

i adore this song.

lol.

[bowiefan517]

i love skinheads, this song makes them look more benine, which is hillarious i love it!

[egolayer13]

lol, win

[SparrowhawkFilms]

Great song. I first heard it about 1986 on the John Peel (RIP) show.

[sneha1965]

Thanks for posting. I saw these fellas at Sonoma State University back in the day. Sure brings back memories.

[xXxUltraVioletxXx]

omg! its san francisco

[BlueStorm297]

Save to Favorites OK !

[wickedwickedwest]

Excellent. thanks for posting. I haven't heard this song in so long. And it looks like all the locations in the video are filmed in San Fran. I wonder if the bowling alley shots are in the space where Amoeba records is currently located. Any SF natives know for sure?

[mothball50]

yes it is . . . My cousin works at Amoeba Records. And back in the day, the Haight was crawling with skins, punks, and mods etc . . . After the skinheads were chased out, the Haight gradually changed to the mall poseur I wanna be hip emo atmosphere it is today. I miss the good ol' days

[Yellowcatz]

'everybody's coming home for lunch these days!' Classic song!!

[loureed78]

das ist die inoffizielle zusammenfassung von big lebowski

[Quickstoptim]

Greatest song EVER

[flogging8molly8chick]

I love this song. =D

[mikevid]

the manic street preachers version is 100 times better

[JusticeTruncheon]

God you're an idiot.

[soupcanthrowingstar]

Yup, a complete idiot.

[LeeGrasswalker]

didn't know they did one

[iamsoelectricbugaloo]

i never knew it was this old

[crimsonwhite1]

f*cking awesome band from back in the day!

[Ninyae1]

These guys were brilliant. There's not a rhyme that goes here that rhyme's with anything!

[KillWill3]

Line.

[boilingblacksea]

Thank you!

[truebootsyes]

This is how I found CVB....changed my life for the weirder, thanks dudes.

[NinjasInPajamas]

this song is just amazing

[djmskat]

this was in bowling for coumbine. nice song.

[sugarSystem514]

I think they used the video as an influence on the DVD's menu, too

[TouringMars]

The version used as the intro music to 'Bowling For Columbine' is actually a cover version by Teenage Fanclub ;o)

[Speedburner899]

awesome song, awesome vid. Never gets old, never sounds dated. Simply classic. Thanks 4 posting

[coolisrem]

GOT BIG LANES! GOT BIG LANES!

[markdcarter]

Someone's been listening to the Go-Betweens!! (Also to the Clean and REM.) A most enjoyable track! =D

[glazik]

Haha, Camper Van's best song!

[karaloyal]

I miss that the Park Bowl. It became an Amoeba Records. Ah the Haight in the 80s.

[Pesto2]

Wasn't that next to the Nightbreak?

[karaloyal]

yep. The director was Peter Moody who was a neighbor of my husband's in the Haight. It was a pretty fun time, then. For that matter, CVB was a great great live band.

[Neelo5000]

120 Minutes... I had forgotten about that show. They actually used to play a lotta good stuff on it. Too bad MTV went downhill.

[brianberrodin]

haha the best part is when he is actually licking the chicks leg and she hits him in the head

[mdelrossi1]

after all these years im still in love with the girl in this video

[theallegory]

i love this song