Detachable Penis

Did You Know?

• The music consists largely of a distorted electric guitar riff fed through a noise gate and delay, backed by organ and drum grooves.
• The riff provides a harmonic ground of C♯ minor - G major - A major, unchanged throughout the song.
• The music video was directed by Richard Kern at the suggestion of drummer Roger Murdock.

Lyrical content

Frontman John S. Hall recites a deadpan monologue as the owner of the titular penis. After heavy drinking, the narrator awakens to find his penis missing, a recurring event. He searches his apartment, calls the party venue, and asks attendees, but cannot recover it. Depressed, he goes to Kiev Restaurant for breakfast, then encounters a street vendor with the missing penis. He negotiates and buys it back for $17, then cleans and reattaches it at home.

Commercial performance and effect on band

In a 2003 interview, Hall stated that the commercial success of "Detachable Penis" led to a commercial backlash, with reduced airplay after Happy Hour. He noted that the hit drew in casual fans who did not care for the band's other material. Consequently, the band began playing the song early in their set so that uninterested listeners could leave, which Hall said worked well and people did leave.