I finally got to see the latest Ramones documentary End of the Century the other night. I say finally because anyone who knows me knows exactly how much influence the Ramones had on my adolescence, post-adolescence and, well, most of my life, really. I airbanded “Judy is a Punk” in front of my Grade Seven class (looking back on it, I still have no idea what any of my classmates might have thought of a gangly nerd mouthing the lyrics to a punk song in front of them) and over the years my fashion choices generally seem to have come from the wardrobes of one of the band (leather jacket, jeans, shaggy hair). So it’s a little surprising that I didn’t run down to the video store in a spastic fit as soon as it was released, but I didn’t and it somehow passed me by until now.

In any case, it was worth the wait. It’s a remarkably frank and unromantic movie (which is probably as it should be, considering the relationships of the band members), but it’s the most honest and upfront version of their story that you’re likely to hear (especially considering that three of the members are now dead). In fact, according to the quote on the front of the box, it was so accurate it left Johnny “disturbed.” And I suppose that’s fair, because for most of their two decades as a band they semed to generally hate one another. Joey and Johnny in particular shared a special kind of animosity (the kind that can only be achieved from stealing your bandmate’s girlfriend) that went on until Joey died. They went into the studio; they wrote music; they recorded music; they hit the road—year after year, all the while barely being able to stand being in the same room as one another. And that’s astounding. And it’s all on film.

It’s a sad story, but it is important—especially if you’re an armchair historian of punk culture or someone just interested in one of the most influential American rock bands. Gabba gabba hey.

Anyway, in honour of watching this, I thought I’d post some lyrics I think are appropriate. In my hometown, I was known (to a lesser degree) for my Joey Ramone impression. Indeed, a few of my friends (T.T. and LeeLee) and I (Chrissy) have talked for about the last decade or so about forming a Ramones tribute band (called Vindaloo Commando—a reference to both “I Just Want to Have Something to Do” and “Commando”). This hasn’t yet come to pass (although I still think it would be fuckin’ funny), but I still feel the need to share the joy, so—for the first time—here are the lyrics to Vindaloo’s Canadian history lesson “The FLQ Took My Baby Away”.

“The FLQ Took My Baby Away”

She went away for the holidays
Said she was going to Gaspé
But she never got there
She never got there
She never got there they say, yeah
(Repeat)

The FLQ took my baby away
They took her away, away from me
The FLQ took my baby away
They took her away, away from me

I don’t know where my baby can be
They took her from me, they took her from me
I don’t know where my baby can be
They took her from me, they took her from me

Ring me, ring me, ring me up Parliament
Find out where my baby went
Ring me, ring me, ring me up that Trudeau guy
And find out if my baby’s alive

Yeah yeah yeah
Oh oh oh oh oh

(Repeat lyrics as necessary)