tappenzee
03-02-2006, 07:48 PM
The theme of moving on and maturing is heavy throughout the whole album. Just like their state-mate Bruce created, this is the ultimate "transition period" album. Whether you're just getting out of college or high school or breaking up with somebody or recently lost someone you love, this is the album. It's all about appreciating the past, learning from what you've gone through, and using that to move ahead into life.
1- Apartment 5F
"Destruction leaves an empty space
In emptiness again I begin to create"
Right off the bat, the song is named after one of the places he used to live. It's all about just saying that final good-bye, accepting that certain things are in the past for a reason, and stepping forward.
2- Kids and Heroes
"Hey, where have I gone?
I used to be the one
Looking for a hero
In some far off place
Blindly ever forward
Never knowing all along
The truth was right here
In my own song"
This one is literally about losing a friend, actually the old drummer Shal. He didn't die, instead he's running around Hoboken now after pretty much denouncing punk rock and everything the band stood for to begin with. On the Bouncing Souls DVD they go into a little more detail about this, and nobody ever realized why he left. Everyone looked up to the guy, then when he just up and left, they came close to scrapping the whole idea of the band. Eventually they decided to push forward and this was their first post-Shal album.
3- New Day
"People tell me they wake up everyday wondering if they'll be here tommorrow.
I say live for today.
Cuz everything you have is just borrowed."
Again, learning to appreciate the here and now. Stopping and smelling the roses a little instead of constantly worrying about the future or the past. Things change, that's the essence of life--appreciate everything while you still can.
4- Sing Along Forever
"I've gotta listen to my radio,
checkin out the airwaves
for something to believe in.
Gimme something to hold true,
gimme something to sing about.
Gimme a reason,
yeah, I'll sing along forever."
This one's a little off the theme, but not completely. It's basically about that search for meaning many of us go to music to find. That search has become harder and harder as more and more pop-fluff is put on the airwaves, but this song shows faith that there's still genuine passionate music out there, and he hasn't given up on finding it.
5- Born Free
"It's easy to get lost, forget who you are
Don't forget that you're born free
It's better to die on your feet
than to live on your knees"
Yeah, its pretty much a generic "stand up for yourself" type song, even down to the kinda cliche'd chorus, but it fits with the theme. It's about sticking to your values and creating your own path, not letting anyone tell you the way to live life.
6- Inside Out
"To feel someone beside you is beautiful in life
But to feel a wholeness inside is the greatest feeling
There is nothing that can take that away
We're never alone"
Again, it's about finding yourself before trying to latch on to another person, or a group (the punk rock subculture), or whatever. You'll never feel completely fulfilled unless you discover what you are to yourself and eventually realize that we're nothing without everyone else. (Some Buddhist philosophy creeping in there)
7- Simple Man
"I wanna be a simple man with a little peace of mind
Live a simple life, in a place thats kind"
What seems like the easiest thing in life is the hardest thing to accomplish. This is like my ****ing theme song. It says it all right there in that quote. Just trying to be a simple man with a little peace of mind. All the **** that goes on around you on a day-to-day basis, it almost seems impossible to just simplify and have a quiet peace.
8- Better Days
"Two lovers walking through life together
Tender kisses and all the sweet things they used to say
Memories from better days
Everything we built
Everything that i believed in...
Just some old fashioned fantasy."
Basically the loss of innocence. Looking back when you were in the middle of it, you would've never guessed in a million years that it would ever turn out like this. Thicken your skin, grow a little colder, get a little more cynical about things.
9- Night Train (I'm quoting the whole song on this one)
"Goodbye to me and you.
Goodbye to the life we knew.
One last long embrace.
Let go and walk on through.
I'm leaving everything behind for a peace that I can't find.
The ghosts that roam this house
like winter air right through our souls.
And it feels like dying.
It just feels like time to go.
Goin down south to dream another dream.
Maybe check out Memphis, Tennessee.
Take the night train and an extra pair of jeans.
Can't think of anything else I really need.
And all my experiences ride with me.
This town is dead to me.
And I can't stop chasing my dreams.
I love you more than anything,
but what you want I could never be.
I love you more than anything,
but only alone can we both be free.
Goodbye to me and you.
Goodbye to the life we knew.
Wipe the tears from your eyes.
Let go and walk on through."
This is the quintessential "growing up/maturing/moving on" song on the quintessential "growing up/maturing/moving on" album. It's a moment in time--on the train at night, literally looking back on the town and relationship of the past, recollecting the memories, learning lessons from past exeriences, wiping the tears away, and moving on.
10- Todd's Song
"I grab into my sixpack and raise a can
to another fallen friend.
The news came on the phone today.
Did you know you weren't alone?
I'll see you when we all come home."
Losing another friend, this time to death. There's both a sadness at his loss, and kind of a rejoicing at the thought that we're all gonna meet again at some point.
11- Blind Date
"I read your thoughts in your eyes
when you look at me.
I see the real you when you smile.
I see the real beauty.
I see the real beauty."
Okay, this one doesn't really fit in with the whole theme as well as the others. It's just about witnessing beauty in someone who doesn't see the beauty in herself. No amount of convincing or compliments change that.
12- Highway Kings
"What are dreams for, anyway,
without the guts to live your life that way?
What are songs for, anyway,
without the guts to live your life that way?"
How does the punk rock life translate to old age? This song reaffirms that lifestyle as they're growing up and they're not turning their back on the life that they set out to lead.
13- Anchors Aweigh
"Anchors Aweigh my friends, I'll see you another day
I'm going away, expierences have to come
and the past has got to go
back into our dreams, back into our dreams"
Stop believing that things are just going to fall into place by going through your everyday routine. You have to try new things, experience things that might make you feel uncomfortable. Anchors Aweigh, sail off, find the life that fits you, and don't regret a second of the path.
14- I Get Lost
"I don't want anything this world can give me.
A lot of stuff makes me feel so empty.
Every time I try, every time I chase,
something I want from you.
I get lost in my mind.
I get lost in that lie.
I get lost with the idea I have something to lose."
They're really driving the same point home here. You can't be timid about life. You can't fear losing something, if there's a possibility of getting something better. Do the best with whatever comes your way, you'll learn through your mistakes.
15- The Day I Turned My Back On You
"I created this thing in my mind.
Looking at it now I don't see why.
I threw away everything I had
and greener pastures is just a lie."
Plot twist? Placed appropriately at the end of the album, this song seems to be in contradiction to everything leading up to it. It's filled with regret and sorrow. It serves as a nice dose of harsh reality after so many songs romanticizing life on this attitude of constantly pressing forward. It's possible to get too caught up in ideals and sometimes it takes losing a connection with someone close to you to make you realize it.
1- Apartment 5F
"Destruction leaves an empty space
In emptiness again I begin to create"
Right off the bat, the song is named after one of the places he used to live. It's all about just saying that final good-bye, accepting that certain things are in the past for a reason, and stepping forward.
2- Kids and Heroes
"Hey, where have I gone?
I used to be the one
Looking for a hero
In some far off place
Blindly ever forward
Never knowing all along
The truth was right here
In my own song"
This one is literally about losing a friend, actually the old drummer Shal. He didn't die, instead he's running around Hoboken now after pretty much denouncing punk rock and everything the band stood for to begin with. On the Bouncing Souls DVD they go into a little more detail about this, and nobody ever realized why he left. Everyone looked up to the guy, then when he just up and left, they came close to scrapping the whole idea of the band. Eventually they decided to push forward and this was their first post-Shal album.
3- New Day
"People tell me they wake up everyday wondering if they'll be here tommorrow.
I say live for today.
Cuz everything you have is just borrowed."
Again, learning to appreciate the here and now. Stopping and smelling the roses a little instead of constantly worrying about the future or the past. Things change, that's the essence of life--appreciate everything while you still can.
4- Sing Along Forever
"I've gotta listen to my radio,
checkin out the airwaves
for something to believe in.
Gimme something to hold true,
gimme something to sing about.
Gimme a reason,
yeah, I'll sing along forever."
This one's a little off the theme, but not completely. It's basically about that search for meaning many of us go to music to find. That search has become harder and harder as more and more pop-fluff is put on the airwaves, but this song shows faith that there's still genuine passionate music out there, and he hasn't given up on finding it.
5- Born Free
"It's easy to get lost, forget who you are
Don't forget that you're born free
It's better to die on your feet
than to live on your knees"
Yeah, its pretty much a generic "stand up for yourself" type song, even down to the kinda cliche'd chorus, but it fits with the theme. It's about sticking to your values and creating your own path, not letting anyone tell you the way to live life.
6- Inside Out
"To feel someone beside you is beautiful in life
But to feel a wholeness inside is the greatest feeling
There is nothing that can take that away
We're never alone"
Again, it's about finding yourself before trying to latch on to another person, or a group (the punk rock subculture), or whatever. You'll never feel completely fulfilled unless you discover what you are to yourself and eventually realize that we're nothing without everyone else. (Some Buddhist philosophy creeping in there)
7- Simple Man
"I wanna be a simple man with a little peace of mind
Live a simple life, in a place thats kind"
What seems like the easiest thing in life is the hardest thing to accomplish. This is like my ****ing theme song. It says it all right there in that quote. Just trying to be a simple man with a little peace of mind. All the **** that goes on around you on a day-to-day basis, it almost seems impossible to just simplify and have a quiet peace.
8- Better Days
"Two lovers walking through life together
Tender kisses and all the sweet things they used to say
Memories from better days
Everything we built
Everything that i believed in...
Just some old fashioned fantasy."
Basically the loss of innocence. Looking back when you were in the middle of it, you would've never guessed in a million years that it would ever turn out like this. Thicken your skin, grow a little colder, get a little more cynical about things.
9- Night Train (I'm quoting the whole song on this one)
"Goodbye to me and you.
Goodbye to the life we knew.
One last long embrace.
Let go and walk on through.
I'm leaving everything behind for a peace that I can't find.
The ghosts that roam this house
like winter air right through our souls.
And it feels like dying.
It just feels like time to go.
Goin down south to dream another dream.
Maybe check out Memphis, Tennessee.
Take the night train and an extra pair of jeans.
Can't think of anything else I really need.
And all my experiences ride with me.
This town is dead to me.
And I can't stop chasing my dreams.
I love you more than anything,
but what you want I could never be.
I love you more than anything,
but only alone can we both be free.
Goodbye to me and you.
Goodbye to the life we knew.
Wipe the tears from your eyes.
Let go and walk on through."
This is the quintessential "growing up/maturing/moving on" song on the quintessential "growing up/maturing/moving on" album. It's a moment in time--on the train at night, literally looking back on the town and relationship of the past, recollecting the memories, learning lessons from past exeriences, wiping the tears away, and moving on.
10- Todd's Song
"I grab into my sixpack and raise a can
to another fallen friend.
The news came on the phone today.
Did you know you weren't alone?
I'll see you when we all come home."
Losing another friend, this time to death. There's both a sadness at his loss, and kind of a rejoicing at the thought that we're all gonna meet again at some point.
11- Blind Date
"I read your thoughts in your eyes
when you look at me.
I see the real you when you smile.
I see the real beauty.
I see the real beauty."
Okay, this one doesn't really fit in with the whole theme as well as the others. It's just about witnessing beauty in someone who doesn't see the beauty in herself. No amount of convincing or compliments change that.
12- Highway Kings
"What are dreams for, anyway,
without the guts to live your life that way?
What are songs for, anyway,
without the guts to live your life that way?"
How does the punk rock life translate to old age? This song reaffirms that lifestyle as they're growing up and they're not turning their back on the life that they set out to lead.
13- Anchors Aweigh
"Anchors Aweigh my friends, I'll see you another day
I'm going away, expierences have to come
and the past has got to go
back into our dreams, back into our dreams"
Stop believing that things are just going to fall into place by going through your everyday routine. You have to try new things, experience things that might make you feel uncomfortable. Anchors Aweigh, sail off, find the life that fits you, and don't regret a second of the path.
14- I Get Lost
"I don't want anything this world can give me.
A lot of stuff makes me feel so empty.
Every time I try, every time I chase,
something I want from you.
I get lost in my mind.
I get lost in that lie.
I get lost with the idea I have something to lose."
They're really driving the same point home here. You can't be timid about life. You can't fear losing something, if there's a possibility of getting something better. Do the best with whatever comes your way, you'll learn through your mistakes.
15- The Day I Turned My Back On You
"I created this thing in my mind.
Looking at it now I don't see why.
I threw away everything I had
and greener pastures is just a lie."
Plot twist? Placed appropriately at the end of the album, this song seems to be in contradiction to everything leading up to it. It's filled with regret and sorrow. It serves as a nice dose of harsh reality after so many songs romanticizing life on this attitude of constantly pressing forward. It's possible to get too caught up in ideals and sometimes it takes losing a connection with someone close to you to make you realize it.