You're wasted
Kept it on the tip of your tongue
You can taste it
Never thought you'd play with a gun
But it's pleasing
At least you can feel something
The burning of your flesh hits your nose
Now you're bumping

When you are dealing
Back spinning wheels
And doing that grind
All of the time
Some will a getcha
Know they'll out betcha
Swipe away your dime
Find you're bottom line

You're cruisin'
Don't even care about what you're losing
You're using anything that comes your way
Here today, gone tomorrow all about
Beg, steal, and borrow
Can't stop, won't stop
Til there's nothing left but sorrow

You're cruisin'
Don't even care about what you're losing
You're using anything that comes your way
Here today, gone tomorrow all about
Beg, steal, and borrow
Can't stop, won't stop
Til there's nothing left but sorrow

The palace became a prison
The phoenix within you risen
Shot by your own device
You pay the price
And so you give in to the
Pity party, party of one
No one shows up
Another sip of poison
Slow death fills your cup

Your head's wrecked from the neck down
It's out of your hands
Your arms feel tied down
And you can't understand
And when you try to stand up
Your legs have other plans
Oh man, damn, you can't get out of this jam

You're cruisin'
Don't even care about what you're losing
You're using anything that comes your way
Here today, gone tomorrow all about
Beg, steal, and borrow
Can't stop, won't stop
Til there's nothing left but sorrow

You're cruisin'
Don't even care about what you're losing
You're using anything that comes your way
Here today, gone tomorrow all about
Beg, steal, and borrow
Can't stop, won't stop
Til there's nothing left but sorrow


Lyrics submitted by jbond311

Rock On Lyrics as written by Douglas Martinez Chad Sexton

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Rock On song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

2 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment

    Its about just living for today and not for tomorrow. The subject is partying/living an objectable lifestyle without a care in the world, abusing himself and it eventually will catch up with you is the message. Lots of times karma is a theme 311 uses and believes in and it comes in to play here. Nick said it best "when the day is done what you receive is the sum of what you put in from what you took out".

    mallorypmmon July 18, 2012   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Album art
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Album art
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version. Great version of a great song,
Album art
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Album art
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.