Mongoloid

***Mongoloid*** is a song by Gerald Casale, performed with his group Devo. It was the A-Side to the group's first single.

## Lyrics

```
Mongoloid, he was a mongoloid
Happier than you and me
Mongoloid, he was a mongoloid
And it determined what he could see
Mongoloid, he was a mongoloid
One chromosome too many
Mongoloid, he was a mongoloid
And it determined what he could see

```

```
And he wore a hat
And he had a job
And he brought home the bacon
So that no one knew

```

```
He was a mongoloid, mongoloid
His friends were unaware
Mongoloid, he was a mongoloid
Nobody even cared
Mongoloid, he was a mongoloid
One chromosome too many
Mongoloid, he was a mongoloid
And it determined what he could see

```

```
And he wore a hat
And he had a job
And he brought home the bacon
So that no one knew

```

```
He was a mongoloid, mongoloid
Happier than you and me
Mongoloid, he was a mongoloid
And it determined what he could see
Mongoloid, he was a mongoloid
One chromosome too many
Mongoloid, he was a mongoloid
And it determined what he could see

```

```
And he wore a hat
And he had a job
And he brought home the bacon
So that no one knew

```

```
Mongoloid, he was a mongoloid

```

## Interpretations

The leading interpretation of the song is that it is very likely about a man with Downs Syndrome attempting and succeeding in living a normal life in a devolved world. The song suggests that the world has devolved so much that a man with a severe mental handicap can fit right in and lead a successful life.

Interestingly, a less cynical interpretation can be gathered in that it is instead commending the subject of the song for his success despite his handicaps, and that him leading a simple life based on "what it was determined he could see" makes him happier and plain better off than the average man. This puts the song more in line with something like "37," however severely less tongue-in-cheek.

## Credits

***1977 - 1978 Studio Versions, 1980 - 1981 Live Versions***

* Gerald Casale: Vocals, Bass Guitar
* Bob Mothersbaugh: Backing Vocals, Lead Guitar
* Bob Casale: Rythm Guitar
* Mark Mothersbaugh: Synth
* Alan Myers: Drums

***1996, 2004, 2009, 2012 Live Versions***

* Gerald Casale: Vocals, Bass Guitar
* Bob Mothersbaugh: Backing Vocals, Lead Guitar
* Bob Casale: Rythm Guitar
* Mark Mothersbaugh: Synth
* Josh Freese: Drums

***2003 Live Version***

* Gerald Casale: Vocals, Bass Guitar
* Bob Mothersbaugh: Backing Vocals, Lead Guitar
* Bob Casale: Rythm Guitar
* Mark Mothersbaugh: Synth
* David Kendrick: Drums

## Apperances

* Mongoloid / Jocko Homo (1977)
* B Stiff (1978)
* Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! (1978)
* Dev-O Live (1980)
* EZ Listening Muzak Cassette (1981)
* Shout EP (1985)
* Best Of Devo (1986)
* E-Z Listening Disc (1987)
* Hardcore Devo (1990)
* Greatest Misses (1990)
* Live: The Mongoloid Years (1992)
* Hot Potatoes: The Best Of Devo (1993)
* Dev-O Live (1999)
* Pioneers Who Got Scalped - The Anthology (2000)
* The Essentials (2002)
* Whip It and Other Hits (2003)
* Live (2003)
* Live In The Land Of The Rising Sun (2003)
* The Complete Truth About De-Evolution (2003)
* Live in Central Park (2004)
* Live 1980 (2005)
* This Is The Devo Box (2008)
* The Ultra Devo-lux Ltd. Edition (2009)
* Devo Battles Live: 2012 Tour (2012)
* New Traditionalists - Live 1981 Seattle (2012)
* Miracle Witness Hour (2014)
* Butch Devo And The Sundance Gig (2014)
* Live At Max's Kansas City - November 15, 1977 (2014)
* EZ Listening Muzak (2016)

## Versions

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1977 Single Version (3:35)
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 1978 Studio Version (3:42)
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 1980 August 19th Live Version (2:50)
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 1978 EZ Listening Version (5:05)
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 1977 November Live Version (3:26)
6. ↑ 1996 August Live Version
7. ↑ 2003 Live Version
8. ↑ 2004 Live Version
9. ↑ 1980 August 17th Live Version (3:27)
10. ↑ 2009 Live Version (4:54)
11. ↑ 2012 Live Versions
12. ↑ 1981 Live Version (3:36)
13. ↑ 1977 May Live Version
14. ↑ 1996 January Live Version

## Notable Covers

* Laid Thenardier, 1987 (Alternative Rock)
* Claw Hammer, 1991 (Avant-Punk)
* Astroburger, 1993 (Power Pop)
* Demented Are Go, 1993 (Psychobilly)
* Demolition Hammer, 1994 (Death Metal)
* Mean Red Spiders, 1996 (Rock)
* Custard, 1996 (Indie Rock)
* Siniestro Total, 1997 (Punk Rock)
* Terre Thaemlitz, 2001 (Contemporary classical)
* Layo & Bushwacka!, 2002 (Downtempo)
	+ Sampled on 'Love Story'
* Schneider TM & Christian Dabeler, 2002 (EuroPop)
* Sepultura, 2003 (Crossover thrash)
* Washington Dead Cats, 2005 (Psychobilly)
* Los Mox!, 2006 (Hardcore Punk)
* Dozer, 2006 (Stoner Rock)
* Las Kellies, 2007 (Post-Punk)
* Millionaire, 2007 (Alternative Rock)
* F.P.B., 2008 (Experimental rock)
* Rummelsnuff, 2008 (Electronic body music)
* The Nils, 2009 (Punk rock)
* O'Death, 2009 (Folk rock)
* Paranoid Visions, 2009 (Hardcore Punk)
* The Valkyrians, 2011 (Rocksteady)
* Alexander Rocciasana, 2012 (Synth-pop)
* Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät, 2013 (Punk Rock)
* No One Is Innocent, 2015 (Alternative Rock)