Hitchhiker’s bLOG – 2021.04.07

I have a confession to make. Back in the day, I was a DEVO fan. Some people only remember these guys for their videos on MTV (yes, MTV used to play music videos) for “Whip It” and “Girl U Want.” But their playlist was quite extensive, including excellent covers of the Rolling Stone’s hit “Satisfaction” and Johnny River’s “Secret Agent Man.”

What made this band with origins at Kent State in the early 70s so unique and interesting was the ethos they built up around themselves. Their lyrics are filled with irony, humor, science fiction, surrealism, sarcasm, and biting satire about the culture. They added theatrics and bizarre variety costumes (like the flowerpot-like hats they donned in the mid-80s), which created this weird and wonderful vibe!

The name DEVO comes from the understanding that humankind was not evolving but instead was regressing as it became increasingly dysfunctional as it slipped deeper and deeper into herd mentality. This sharp critique especially pertained to American and western society, which DEVO claimed was…

De-evolving.

The song that typified their views on de-evolution was “Jocko Homo.” Read the lyrics below and see the satire and irony as they poke fun from all angles, including evolutionists and six-day creationists. But note that they seem to acknowledge Intelligent Design!

They tell us that we lost our tails
Evolving up from little snails
I say it’s all just wind in sails

Are we not men?
We are Devo
Are we not men?
D-E-V-O

We’re pinheads now
We are not whole
We’re pinheads all
Jocko Homo

Are we not men?
We are Devo
Are we not men?
D-E-V-O

Are we not pins?
We are Devo

Monkey men all in business suits
Teachers and critics all dance the poot

Are we not men?
We are Devo
Are we not men?
D-E-V-O

Are we not pins?
We are Devo
Are we not men?
D-E-V-O

Together now, God made man 
But he used a monkey to do it
Apes in the plan 
We’re all here to prove it
I can walk like an ape
Talk like an ape
I can do what a monkey do
God made man 
But a monkey supplied the glue

Are we not men?
We are Devo

Are we not men?
We are Devo

We must repeat
D-E-V-O

We must repeat
D-E-V-O

“Jocko Homo” – DEVO (1977)

Were these guys prophets? In its truest sense, they were. They were not predicting the future but were commenting on their present context, which pointed to a destructive tomorrow if left unchecked. And it appears to me that it has gone unchecked!!!

I believe that it was 42’s intent to create us in an image of his own making, but we despoiled that image. And we continue to soil that image by choosing…

Tribalism instead of Unity

“What to think” instead of “How to think”

Commentary instead of News

Cancel Culture instead of Grace

Screeching instead of Teaching

Hate instead of Love

An anthropocentric worldview instead of theocentric worldview

We seem to be de-evolving

“O LORD, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land… To the LORD our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.”

Daniel’s Prayer to the LORD (Daniel 9:4-6, 9)