The Many Covers of GG Allin's "Don't Talk To Me"

Dan Zettwoch

The song starts out simply enough with guitar, bass and drums all locked into a staccato three-chord pattern. Then the vocals come in. The singer can carry a tune well enough, with a hint of a provincial New England accent. The lyrics are Ramones-cartoony, advising a self-absorbed love interest to "just button your lip" and "shut your mouth, stop acting like a twit!" The chorus is rousing: "Don't talk to me! You don't talk to me!"

Fast, catchy and easy to play: It's understandable that this song has become a much-covered punk classic. Where did it come from? A compilation of punk obscurities? An unreleased Dead Boys session? A regional sampler?

No, no and no. The singer is the late GG Allin, and the song, "Don't Talk to Me," is from his first album, 1980's Always Was, Is and Always Shall Be.

Among the bands that have tackled the song are Queens of the Stone Age, Dum Dum Girls, Ty Segall and St. Louis' own Doom Town. Watch some of our favorite versions below, and let us know which ones we missed in the comments.

GG Allin & the Jabbers (Original Recording)

GiGi Howlin & the Murderhunkies (Doom Town)

GiGi Howlin & the Murderhunkies - "Don't talk to me" live @ The City Museum from Chizmo.tv on Vimeo.

Queens of the Stone Age