Song analysis, part 2: "Don't call me white"

Following the discussion of the first song (see other post), in our session on song analysis we spoke about a punk song from the early 1990s. The band NOFX from the West coast of the USA is singing "Don't call me white". In our discussion we came to agree that this song, like "People are people", is an appeal against labelling and negative stereotyping directed at individual people. At the same time, however, it is not at all free of stereotypes itself.

  

Here are the complete lyrics:

Don't call me white,

Don't call me white

The connotations wearing my nerves thin

Could it be semantics generating the mess we're in?

I understand that language breeds stereotype

But what's the explanation for the malice, for the spite?

Don't call me white,

Don't call me white

I wasn't brought here, I was born

Circumsized, categorized, allegiance sworn,

Does this mean I have to take such shit

For being fairskinned? No!

I ain't a part of no conspiracy,

I'm just you're average Joe.

Don't call me white,

Don't call me white 

Represents everything I hate,

The soap shoved in your mouth to cleanse the mind

The vast majority of sheep

A buttoned collar, starched and bleached

Constricting veins, the blood flow to the brain slows

They're so fuckin' ordinary white

Don't call me white,

Don't call me white

We're better off this way

Say what you're gonna say

So go ahead and label me

An asshole cause I can

Accept responsibility, for what I've done

But not for who I am

Don't call me white,

Don't call me white,

Don't call me white