If the ideal of California is a dream, then the reality of California can be a nightmare.
Sung from the perspective of then California Governor Jerry Brown, California Über Alles imagines a nightmare world where Brown's "suede denim secret police" exterminate people with politically-correct "organic poison gas" for not being "cool". It is a scathing, sarcastic attack on hippies, politicians, and the abuse of power.
As such, it is also one of the coolest songs about California ever.
One of the testaments to this songs coolness is in it's flexibility.
DK frontman Jello Biafra has updated this song several times since it was the DK's first single in 1979. In 1984, this song was re-released on the Dead Kennedys album In God We Trust, Inc., which is about then-president Ronald Reagan. The song was re-titled, "We've Got A Bigger Problem Now."
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy then did a cover of this song in 1991 skewering then California Governor Pete Wilson.
Most recently Jello Biafra has focused on the current California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and his alleged pro-Nazi viewpoints. Kali-Fornia Uber Alles 21st Century cranks up the Nazi symbolism and Schwarzenegger parody to 11, thus invalidating most of the satire and poignancy of the original song.
That said, the take over of government by fascists and their extreme abuses of power that was imagined in the original song have come to bear some resemblance to reality in this newer version:
Mandate: Two-Thousand-und-four
Knock knock at your bedroom door
It's the Homeland Security Police
You're a terrorist, and so is your niece
Maybe we'll all look good as draw string lamps eventually.
