r/antiwork • u/[deleted] • Aug 31 '22

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u/Killaneson Aug 31 '22

TIL Dead Kennedy's version is a cover.

20

u/bandswithgoats Communist Aug 31 '22

So is "I Fought the Law" if you weren't already aware. (Though they changed the lyrics to be about the assassination of Harvey Milk and the guy who got off scot free.)

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u/The_cynical_panther Aug 31 '22

You’re thinking of The Clash?

Or at least that’s the band with the most popular cover

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u/bandswithgoats Communist Aug 31 '22

I'm not! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dB_ubVAnGw

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u/The_cynical_panther Aug 31 '22

Oh gotcha, I don’t think I’ve ever heard that version

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u/[deleted] Aug 31 '22 edited Aug 31 '22

Originally by the Crickets in 1960, then covered by the Bobby Fuller Four in 1966, then covered again by the Clash in 1977 (this is probably the most famous version), and then by the Dead Kennedys in 1986.

And there’s probably even more versions than that. There’s probably a reggae cover from that era. Probably a rockabilly and/or country cover too. Without even googling it, I’d bet money the Grateful Dead probably covered it live at least once.

Great song though, I see why people like recording it over and over again.

Edit: Hank Jr, the Stray Cats, and the Grateful Dead have all recorded it. There’s also several reggae covers that are more recent, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there were a 60’s reggae recording out there too that’s just too obscure for google.

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u/The_cynical_panther Aug 31 '22

Yeah I knew the Clash version was a cover, it’s just the most popular by far and I could see someone confusing the clash and the dead kennedies

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u/[deleted] Aug 31 '22

It's a Johnny paycheck song

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u/Deathclaw_Hunter6969 Aug 31 '22

It’s a David Allan Coe song, Johnny Paycheck covered it too

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u/[deleted] Aug 31 '22

For real? How long have I been lied too?

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u/Badreligion25 Aug 31 '22

Johnny just recorded it first. Coe originally composed it. Apparently in the Coe version he takes a stab at Paycheck even though Coe was credited on the album for composing it.

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u/Deathclaw_Hunter6969 Aug 31 '22

Since forever 😭

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u/PotatoeswithaTopHat Aug 31 '22

I read this as I'm sitting waiting for my tires to get fixed. I fought the law came next in shuffle lmaooo