Parasite Rock

In a couple weeks I head to Texas to the annual meeting of the American Society of Parasitologists to talk about parasites in pop culture. The symposium is called, “Parasitology: Public awareness through literature, art, and film.” Our panel has lots of creepy movie clips in store, plus other sorts of media including books and this humble blog. But maybe we’ll need to tack on “music” to the end of that list in the symposium title. Inspired by a post of mine on the gorey glam of Ampulex compressa , the emerald cockroach wasp, a band called Super Duper has composed a song. The video is below, and the lyrics below that…

“Ampulex compressa”

I’d like to know what you do with yourself when you’re not deconstructing
I’d like to know just exactly what it takes to set your wings to waxing
You’re always stinging with your rapier wit
You speed-dial me just to call me on my shit
My only defense is this paper-thin exoskeleton

Even though you bug me, I still want to impress ya
You get inside my head like an ampulex compressa
Come on and lay into me

So when you win, do you fly into the sunset, crying victory
Or do you cry yourself to sleep, or somewhere in between?
Before you land on me kindly buzz the tower
Are you just playing with your mesmerizing power?
What are the terms of surrender if I decide to let you win?

I’m Gregor Samsa, you’re Delilah
My sweet contessa
You get into my head like an ampulex compressa
Come on and lay into me

You lead me – like a zombie
What is this feeling – gnawing at me
One minute – I see you bat your lids
Then I wake up — I’m the father to your waspy kids

I get it — it’s the trickster-rube scenario
I’m falling prey to a hipster YouTube impresario
Thousands of insects like you swarming former barrios
Servicing nostalgia for pop rocks and Super Mario

Defiler!!! I still want to caress ya
You get into my head like an ampulex compressa

[Courtesy of John Jackson/SuperDuper]