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.
I was only 15, standout on the Ave.
You're chasing a bad dream, a luxury I never had
Living my life in the box, or sleepin in the trash
Taking girls for the things I need, like booze, drugs and ass
Get stoned, daily survival in the war zone
Yeah our teens meant everything, alright
Half rack, smoking out till it's all black
Death trap, watch me going blind, oh
I don't care what you say, I
Or what you do
Chemical addiction is
Getting rid of you
So high, colors turn to sound
Goodbye, let us in and we'll lay you in the ground
Chosen on the floor, take another drag
Bought a bunch of valiums from skinny broadway bag
I don't know much about heroin but I, I wanna try
Just about everything once before I die
Get stoned, daily survival in the war zone
Yeah our teens meant everything, alright
Half rack, smoking out till it's all black
Death trap, watch me going blind, oh
I don't care what you say, I
Or what you do
Chemical addiction is
Getting rid of you
So high, colors turn to sound
Goodbye, let us in and we'll lay you in the ground
Now Jerry do me like this...
Get stoned, daily survival in the war zone
Yeah our teens meant everything, alright
Half rack, smoking out till it's all black
Death trap, watch me going blind, oh
You're chasing a bad dream, a luxury I never had
Living my life in the box, or sleepin in the trash
Taking girls for the things I need, like booze, drugs and ass
Get stoned, daily survival in the war zone
Yeah our teens meant everything, alright
Half rack, smoking out till it's all black
Death trap, watch me going blind, oh
I don't care what you say, I
Or what you do
Chemical addiction is
Getting rid of you
So high, colors turn to sound
Goodbye, let us in and we'll lay you in the ground
Chosen on the floor, take another drag
Bought a bunch of valiums from skinny broadway bag
I don't know much about heroin but I, I wanna try
Just about everything once before I die
Get stoned, daily survival in the war zone
Yeah our teens meant everything, alright
Half rack, smoking out till it's all black
Death trap, watch me going blind, oh
I don't care what you say, I
Or what you do
Chemical addiction is
Getting rid of you
So high, colors turn to sound
Goodbye, let us in and we'll lay you in the ground
Now Jerry do me like this...
Get stoned, daily survival in the war zone
Yeah our teens meant everything, alright
Half rack, smoking out till it's all black
Death trap, watch me going blind, oh
Lyrics submitted by Ice
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i thought it was "chasing a PIPE dream" not a "BAD dream"... pipe having a double meaning - the pipe used to smoke drugs through, or a pipe dream, a fantastic hope that is nearly impossible. The idea being, of course, that both drug taking and wishful thinking are both unproductive activities that make us feel good about ourselves but don't lead anywhere.
I think the song is about teenage experimentation. I don't agree that its to deal with any specific problems, the song is too upbeat for that. its just about "daily survival" during the teenage years, which are fucked up for everyone no matter what your background.
"Taking girls for the things I need, like booze, drugs and ass"
that's how it was for me anyway, when you become a teenager you are suddenly exposed to a world of opportunity for experimentation, i certainly wanted to try "everything once before I die". and even though you're aware what you're doing is self destructive, there's such an excitement associated with it. "our teens meant everything" = and you don't really give a crap about the future, you feel immortal and if you aren't you couldn't care anyway.
I don't think its about any specific vice, lots are mentioned in this song, sex ("ass"), booze, pot "get stoned", valiums, heroin, "drugs" in general.
theres lots of other things i wana quickly point out "Living my life in the box" = Wasting your life watching TV "sleepin in the trash" = getting wasted and passing out in alleys (ooh who hasn't been there...) "smoking out till it's all black" = getting fucked to the point of passing out.
Although this is mostly a song about the enjoyment and excitement of experimentation, they're not under any illusions about where it leads, and as was said, its very prophetic... "Goodbye, let us in and we'll lay you in the ground"