Parasites - Hang Up

  Today is Dave-Parasite MacKenzie's birthday so it's about time his band had a song featured on this blog.

  Formed way back in the mid 80's in New Jersey by vocalist/guitarist Dave and bassist Ron Nole (Ronnie Parasite), The Parasites released their debut, the Lost In The 80's ep in 1987 on Electrified Hair Records.

  Pop punk tunes aplenty followed as did numerous line up changes, a move to Berkeley, California and gigs with pretty much everyone that was worth sharing a stage with (Nofx, Rancid, Lillingtons, Teenage Bottlerocket, Queers, Buzzcocks, Green Day, Swingin' Utters, Ben Weasel etc etc etc.....).

  Nowadays, they're based in Chicago and alongside Dave in the band are Charlie Crane, Tony Trenkler and Pat Holland. Their most recent album was Non-Stop Power Pop Volume 1 which was released on Eccentric Pop in 2013 and is streaming here :   https://eccentricpoprecords.bandcamp.com/album/non-stop-power-pop-volume-i-12-lp.   Dave also runs his own Kid Tested Records which all pop punk fans should check out : http://www.kidtestedrecords.net/

  The song I'm posting today was originally a single in 1997 on Lookout Records and featured on the Rat Ass Pie album. This version appeared in 2006 on the Retro-Pop Remasters Compilation. It's called Hang Up......


I really didn't want to go to another show, but I got in for nothing
I saw you from across the room and I knew why I was there
After the second crappy band you grabbed my left hand and wrote your number on it
and ever since you walked away, I need psychiatric care

I've got a hang up, I can't hang up when I talk to you, woah! [x2]

I've called you up at thousand times, spent a thousand dimes, but you don't have an answer
I wish that you'd try to decide, is it him or is it me
You're always putting me on hold, and that's kind of cold, but I can wait forever
And if it takes a million dimes, I'll get you eventually

I've been in love before, a couple other times, but you're the one that I need
And though I sometimes say things you don't want to hear, I'll whisper in your ear until you see,
'cause

I've got a hang up, I can't hang up when I talk to you, woah! [x2]

I really didn't want to go to another show, but I had to do something
I quickly did a double take when I saw both of you there
After the second crappy band you grabbed his left hand and walked right by me, smiling
and ever since you walked away, you need psychiatric care

and though I know right now that you can't be with me, I hope someday you see you're wrong
And though I sometimes say things you don't want to hear, I want to make it clear, my love goes on,
'cause

I've got a hang up, I can't hang up when I talk to you, woah! [x3]