Sometimes you just have to start an imaginary band, name it after a character in a Toni Morrison novel, and not take things too seriously.

Joe Genaro and a high school buddy formed The Dead Milkmen in Pennsylvania in the early 1980’s as a construct for their homemade cassette recordings. The “band” ended when Genaro left for college in Philadelphia, but he resurrected the name after finding a few like-minded individuals who wanted to start a real band. Ramshackle might be too polished a description of the music made by the real band, but that kind of DIY punk energy along with a healthy dose of irreverent humor leant a certain charm to the proceedings.

By the time of their fourth album, Beelzebubba, The Dead Milkmen had tightened up a little, and this was on full display with their catchiest and most polished song yet, “Punk Rock Girl.” The song actually originated years before when a friend mentioned in passing to Genaro that he wanted to write a rock nursery rhyme, and Genaro — with some lyrical assistance from bandmate Dave Schulthise — took that seed, planted it, and grew himself a beanstalk.

The only problem was that the resulting song didn’t sound like the rest of the band’s catalog, which often contained lyrics filled with sophomoric humor (much of which would be considered problematic today) and sometimes sounded made up on the spot. Genaro occasionally played “Punk Rock Girl” with a side project, but many years passed before the band felt comfortable enough to record something that sounded so professional. Except, that is, for the demented guitar solo — that little instrumental break served to keep their ramshackle reputation intact.

Released as a single in late 1988, “Punk Rock Girl” found widespread success on both MTV and college radio. Young kids loved the anarchic spirit and the song proved influential on the pop-punk and alternative scenes that would dominate the 90’s.

So let’s eat fudge banana swirl … with The Dead Milkmen.

My favorite aspect of this song involves the many rhymes they employ for “girl,” but particularly the use of “Minnie Pearl,” a Southern comedian known for her floral dresses and hats with a price tag hanging from the brim who appeared frequently on Hee Haw and in various commercials during my childhood. How-DY!