I'm Telling Tim

NOFX

You better watch out you better not cry
You better put out records DIY
Cause it's not what you've done it's what you've been
If you fuck up I'm telling Tim

Take you out of book your own life part six
You won't play again at ABC
You're gonna get ostracized like Lawrence
When I tell Time I'm telling Tim
I'm telling Tim telling Tim


Lyrics submitted by a scar in the sky

I'm Telling Tim Lyrics as written by Mike Burkett

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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I'm Telling Tim song meanings
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16 Comments

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  • +3
    General CommentThe Tim he is refering to is the late Tim Yohanan, founder of Maximumrocknroll, which has a strict policy of not allowing ads/reviews from corporate groups [ie. DIY only].
    "You're gonna get ostracized like Lawrence"
    Lawrence Livermore, head guy at Lookout Records, used to be a columnist for MRR, but there was a falling out with the zine over an incident where he screwed George Tabb and his band Furious George over in a contract dispute.
    "You won't play again at abc"
    ABC = DIY punk venue in NYC.
    Nexus7on November 21, 2004   Link
  • +1
    My OpinionI have certain facts that may lend credence to a new theory about the meaning of "Telling Tim".

    I have a friend who was in an unsigned DIY punk band named "Johnny Crackeye" out of Chicago. They had a listing for an upcoming show in Volume 6 of the magazine. The listing described them as:

    "in the vein of NOFX, with much bigger balls."

    If listened to closely, the second verse may have the following lyrics vaguely audible shouted in the background after the "Take you out of book your own life vol. 6" lyric:

    "I'm not Crackeye"

    A couple reasons why they would've bashed JohnyCrackeye in a song:
    --the magazine said they had bigger balls than NOFX
    --they some letters to NOFX bad-mouthing the band after not receiving a response about their press kit.

    According to my source, he met Fat Mike years later who "circumvented" the question.
    georgek1276on October 06, 2014   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThis song is NOT about Tim Armstrong kids...

    Nexus7 has it all right, it is about the late Tim Yo.
    machomanandysavageon February 11, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI dont know if there is another version of this song but I believe these lyrics are wrong..hes definitely saying "you wont play again at Gilman Street"..i think this song is about Green Day
    Paralesson May 27, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General CommentYes, again, Nexus7 has hit the nail on the head. This song is not about Rancid, or Green day. It's referring to Tim from MRR, and the venue ABC. Read some old Maximum Rock & Roll and George Tabb columns, they're amazng. ;)
    Unknown81on June 19, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThe Original version of this song, had a line referring to Jello Biafra. "Your gonna get 86'd like Jello".
    Though I think this was before his band mates sued him, so not to sure why he was added in the song. On a side note, if you watch GG Allin's dvd Live and Pissed, towards the end of the show you can see Jello and Mike hanging out in the crowd, then again talking to GG.
    ClownBabyon June 05, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI think this song is actually a little tongue-in-cheek. Tim Yohannan had a somewhat arbitrary way of controlling access to the magazine. He didn't allow advertising if he decided it didn't fit, even if it was completely diy, for instance from an underground press. Long live positive memories of Tim, but there hundreds of dudes out there that carry memories that are a bit on the bittersweet side. I think Fat Mike is singing about this.
    mikewofseyon June 25, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI think Nexus7 nailed it.
    well done.
    erichitz79on October 26, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General CommentWow nobody noticed that TIM Allen was the most famous Santa EVER. I think THAT Tim is going along nicely with the first line but also the rest of the song.
    WooddieBoneon October 12, 2011   Link
  • -1
    General Commentone of the songs that started it all, d.i.y records suck, suck like butter and cake
    rush68on April 18, 2003   Link

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