The KKK Took My Baby Away

Infobox Single
Name = The KKK Took My Baby Away


Caption =
Artist = Ramones
from Album = Pleasant Dreams
A-side = "We Want the Airwaves"
Released = 1981
Format =
Recorded =
Genre = Punk rock
Length = 2:32
Label = Sire
Writer = Joey Ramone
Producer = Graham Gouldman
Chart position =
Last single = "Rockaway Beach"
(1977)
This single = "The KKK Took My Baby Away"
(1981)
Next single = "Pet Sematary"
(1989)"The KKK Took My Baby Away" is a song written by Joey Ramone. It appears on the Ramones' 1981 album "Pleasant Dreams".

Many Ramones fans claim that the song was penned by Joey after Ramones' guitarist Johnny Ramone "stole" Joey's ex-girlfriend Linda from him, although he claims that he wrote the song years before the incident. The KKK supposedly refers, in an extremely exaggerated fashion, to Johnny Ramone's politically conservative views. Johnny first started to cheat on his girlfriend at the time, to see Linda. When he wanted to see one girl he would claim to visit his uncle in Philadelphia. To add insult to injury, Johnny eventually married Linda, while his relationship with Joey never recovered—even when Joey was stricken with cancer.

Cover versions

"The KKK Took My Baby Away" was covered by Marilyn Manson on the "We're a Happy Family" tribute album. The song has also been covered by The Datsuns, Pearl Jam, Face to Face, Relient K, Dead Kennedys, The Ordinary Boys, The Misfits, Dragonfly, The Huntingtons, Die Ärzte, Beatsteaks, The Ataris, Guttermouth, NOFX, MXPX, Rough Bullet and Fact|date=April 2008.