Sheena Is a Punk Rocker

"Sheena Is a Punk Rocker" is a song by the punk rock group The Ramones. It first appeared on their third LP, Rocket to Russia, in 1977, and was also included on later pressings of the group's second album, Leave Home. It was released as a single, reaching #81 in the US, and #22 in the UK singles charts, backed with "I Don't Care", which was also included on Rocket to Russia.

The song was written by Joey Ramone, and is one of the Ramones' more popular and enduring songs, showing the band's surf rock influences.

The song is ranked #457 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

The song appears in the Stephen King movie Pet Sematary. In the film, a truck driver about to run over a child is distracted by singing along to the tune. The Ramones also wrote and performed the theme song "Pet Sematary".

The song is adapted by The Horrors with their similarly titled song "Sheena is a Parasite" and by The Cramps with "Sheena's in a Goth Gang".

"Danny Says" on the Ramones 1980 album, End of the Century, includes the lyrics, "Listening to Sheena on the radio".

The song inspired a poem, also called "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker", by Robert Archambeau (poet).

One of the Living Dead Dolls is named Sheena, and is depicted in punk clothing, a reference to the song.

Cover versions

• Rancid covered the song on the We're a Happy Family tribute album.
• Hüsker Dü covered the song on The Living End, a live collection taken from the band's final tour.
• German punk rock band Die Toten Hosen has a live cover version available on their album Im Auftrag des Herrn.
• The Huntingtons covered the song on their Rocket to Ramonia album.
• Serbian punk rock band Goblini recorded a cover version on their 1995 live album KST Live 31.08.'95.
• Comedy band, The Shirehorses, included a brief cover of the song called "Sheena Easton Punk Rocker" on their album The Worst...Album in the World...Ever...EVER!.
• Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore and Be Your Own Pet's Jemina Pearl covered their version of the song for the CW show Gossip Girl.
• Yeah Yeah Yeahs cover the song on the album Heroes, a recording for the War Child charity organization.
• Polish punk rock band DUMBS recorded a cover version on their 2008 album Rocket from Poland.
• New Model Army covered the song during their 2001 tour, shortly after Joey Ramone's death.
• Devin Townsend released the song with different lyrics as Metal Heads are Punk Rockers on his parody punk album Cooked on Phonics. The song shares the same sound as the original but replaces some lyrics.

References