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.
Ah, it's burning up!
The common man doesn't suffer pain like this
Only the soul that has never been kissed
Let us adore our beautiful son
He's ridin' on the river of Babylon
Oh, burn it up, ah shoot it up, bring on the brightness
See the son of god is comin' up and I see a likeness
Internalize the lunacy of the misery is showin'
When you're brought up you're caught up in a system that's goin'
No one answers no one takes that call from you
No one answers no one takes that call from you
No one answers no one takes that call from you, you, you, you
Junkie man tell me what your story is
Junkie man tell me what your story is
Junkie man tell me what your story is
Junkie man tell me what your story is
What do, what do, what do, what do I desire
Some parent's house is on fire
Oh slowly the house gonna burn to the ground
The neighborhood will watch without a sound
Will someone be a witness please tell me that he's crazy
But he's not and they know that, they can't get him, he's not crazy
Beat lock him knock him take him away his authority
Hit 'em, ship 'em, club 'em submitted conformity
No one answers no one takes that call from you
No one answers no one takes that call from you
No one answers no one takes that call from you, you, you, you
Junkie man tell me what your story is
Junkie man tell me what your story is
Junkie man tell me what your story is
Junkie man tell me what your story is
My hand went blind
You were in the vein clairvoyant
You were in the vein clairvoyant
My hand went blind
I make love to my transistor, my transistor
And my transparency from the balcony
I looked out on the big field, on the big field
It opens like the cover of an old bible
And out come the wolves, out come the wolves
Their paws trampling in the snow the alphabet
I stand on my head and watch it all go away
Burnin' up, shootin' up bring on the brightness
See the son of god is comin' up and there is a likeness
Internalize the lunacy the misery is showin' when
You're brought up and caught up in a system that is goin'
No one answers no one takes that call from you
No one answers no one takes that call from you
No one answers no one takes that call from you, you, you, you
Junkie man tell me what your story is
Junkie man tell me what your story is
Junkie man tell me what your story is
Junkie man tell me what your story is
The common man doesn't suffer pain like this
Only the soul that has never been kissed
Let us adore our beautiful son
He's ridin' on the river of Babylon
Oh, burn it up, ah shoot it up, bring on the brightness
See the son of god is comin' up and I see a likeness
Internalize the lunacy of the misery is showin'
When you're brought up you're caught up in a system that's goin'
No one answers no one takes that call from you
No one answers no one takes that call from you
No one answers no one takes that call from you, you, you, you
Junkie man tell me what your story is
Junkie man tell me what your story is
Junkie man tell me what your story is
Junkie man tell me what your story is
What do, what do, what do, what do I desire
Some parent's house is on fire
Oh slowly the house gonna burn to the ground
The neighborhood will watch without a sound
Will someone be a witness please tell me that he's crazy
But he's not and they know that, they can't get him, he's not crazy
Beat lock him knock him take him away his authority
Hit 'em, ship 'em, club 'em submitted conformity
No one answers no one takes that call from you
No one answers no one takes that call from you
No one answers no one takes that call from you, you, you, you
Junkie man tell me what your story is
Junkie man tell me what your story is
Junkie man tell me what your story is
Junkie man tell me what your story is
My hand went blind
You were in the vein clairvoyant
You were in the vein clairvoyant
My hand went blind
I make love to my transistor, my transistor
And my transparency from the balcony
I looked out on the big field, on the big field
It opens like the cover of an old bible
And out come the wolves, out come the wolves
Their paws trampling in the snow the alphabet
I stand on my head and watch it all go away
Burnin' up, shootin' up bring on the brightness
See the son of god is comin' up and there is a likeness
Internalize the lunacy the misery is showin' when
You're brought up and caught up in a system that is goin'
No one answers no one takes that call from you
No one answers no one takes that call from you
No one answers no one takes that call from you, you, you, you
Junkie man tell me what your story is
Junkie man tell me what your story is
Junkie man tell me what your story is
Junkie man tell me what your story is
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
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
i love tim armstrong's vioce its awsome and cool lol that doesn't make sense but oh well
fairly convinced that the song is about the way people view the world. When you see a homles person you dont ask them what their story is; people would rather run away than be asked for 35 cents for a beer. Its a sad truth that if god was in the world we live in now, he would be dismissed as a drugie or a hopless failure in life for not endulging in the pleasures we all do.
This was the first punk song i ever liked my bf let me borrow the cd now I love rancid this song is the shit.
who does the speaking part, where it says "and out come the wolves" ? is it from something?
Tim does the speaking part, but I don't know if its from anything. All it really sounds like to me is something someone on drugs would see or think up. Hence the song's title; Junky Man.
Tim doesn't do the speaking part tim talks how he sings he's dislexic. They found that part in an old poem book dating back to the 1800's. Bret does the speaking.
the talking part is actully writen and spoken by jim carroll who is a singer/poet whos life is the insparation 4 basket ball diaries o and terraryzin just cos some1 i DYSLEXIC(spell it rite) doesn't mean they can't speak well
Actually I'm pretty sure the speaking part was done by Artie from Pete and Pete. That man is awesome, and talented.
Tim doesn't talk like he sings, sorry, he has a weird accent/speach pattern thing......but it has nothing to do with his being dyslexic................and the speaking part is done by JIM CARROLL sorry every thats who does it......its not any of the randoms you said it was it is 100% Jim Carroll I think he even has a websiteso if you don't belive me Im sure it is there..........Im right you are all wrong sorry..... this song rules by the way.
DUH this is about the meanings not all the crap your talking about. Its obviously about a druggie for those of you who cant figgure that out, whose parents house burnt down and he went homeless and got hooked on drugs. And teh lyrics are off. The speaking part is not "trance sisters" and "trance parents see" its a play on words! the words are transistor and transparency. Its definitly written and read by jim caroll, a quote from his website, "Meanwhile, Rancid invited Carroll to write part of their song "Junky Man" and record it with them. "Junky Man" earned Carroll a gold record." terraryzin is a bullshitter