Yakety Yak

by The Coasters

- from The Coasters Greatest Hits
- peak Billboard position #1 for 1 week in 1958
- Words and Music by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller

1. Take out the papers and the trash
Or you don't get no spendin' cash
If you don't scrub that kitchen floor
You ain't gonna rock and roll no more
Yakety yak (don't talk back)

2. Just finish cleanin' up your room
Let's see that dust fly with that broom
Get all that garbage out of sight
Or you don't go out Friday night
Yakety yak (don't talk back)

3. You just put on your coat and hat
And walk yourself to the laundromat
And when you finish doin' that
Bring in the dog and put out the cat
Yakety yak (don't talk back)

chiefly sax instrumental

4. Don't you give me no dirty looks
Your father's hip; he knows what cooks
Just tell your hoodlum friend outside
You ain't got time to take a ride
Yakety yak (don't talk back)

Yakety yak, yakety yak
Yakety yak, yakety yak
Yakety yak, yakety yak
FADE
Yakety yak, yakety yak

Vocabulary Aids

Blablabla

von den Coasters

Deutsche Übersetzung © von Volker Pöhls

1. Bring das Altpapier raus und den Müll
sonst kriegst du dein Taschengeld nicht!
Wenn du den Küchenfußboden nicht schrubbst,
ist Schluss mit dem Rock and Roll!
Blablabla (keine Widerrede)

2. Räum dein Zimmer noch zu Ende auf
Ich will sehen, wie der Staub fliegt mit dem Besen
Bring den Müll weg
oder du gehst Freitag Abend nicht aus!
Blablabla (keine Widerrede)

3. Zieh dir nur schnell Mantel und Hut an
und geh zum Waschsalon
und wenn du damit fertig bist,
geh mit dem Hund Gassi und lass die Katze raus!
Blablabla (keine Widerrede)

4. Guck mich nicht so frech an!
Dein Vater ist in; er weiß, was angesagt ist.
Sag deinem Ganoven-Freund da draußen,
dass du keine Zeit hast für einen Ausflug!
Blablabla (keine Widerrede)

Talking Points

1. Translate the lyrics into contemporary German! a) a close translation b) a translation that rhymes and fits the metre!
2. Compare the different translations! Find out the good and the bad parts!
3. What does the literary I have to do?
4. What are your duties in your household?
5. What does the literary I get in exchange?
6. Would you say that he is exploited by his parents?
7. What does yakety yak stand for?
8. Is the mother fair?
9. Are the lyrics exaggerated?
10. In these liberated days, are young people still not allowed to talk back?
11. Organize a debate For and against children's jobs in the household!
12. Define the boundaries betweeen exploitation of children as cheap labour and normal work as members of the household!
13. Add more stanzas! (First do your homework/ do your violin exercises / put away your dirty laundry / vacuum your floor / do the shopping / write a letter to aunt Mary / take away the empty bottles etc.)
14. Write similar lyrics in German!
15. Write an answer to the lyrics from the parents' point of view! (Your room is always in a mess, we are your servants more or less, you good for nothing lazy one, we do the work and you do none)
16. Write similar lyrics based on the conflict between teachers and students (boss and apprentice)! Proceed as follows: First collect ideas, then look for rhyming pairs.
17. The song was released in 1958. Do you think that the lyrics are outdated? Has the conflict betweeen the generations disappeared or changed?
18. Perform the orginal/your own lyrics! Those of you who cannot sing, draw one poster for each activity!
19. Discuss the lyrics of Eddy Cochran's Summertime Blues!