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.
Born into the middle class
Yeah, all you had to do was ask
And mom and dad would give you what you needed
And though I didn't know you then
I know you'll probably defend
And take the stand in the life that you'd been cheated
So you adopt a punk rock life
A leather jacket, hair with spikes
And join a band
'Cause you must have a say
And though you helped out with it that time
There's those of us, who keep on
Trying to make a living and not sound like Green Day
Trade rags say you're making it, now you're old
You don't give a shit.
Subconsciously fulfilled prophecy you've become your own nemesis
Mr. Brett, we won't pay that fee to keep you
Livin' in luxury
Some say genius, some say mistake
But you've become what you used to hate
So now we're in the 90's and punk's not what it used to be
It's gone downhill since 1982
And though I liked most of your bands
And listen to them all I can
It's fucked up that you think it's 'cause of you
You think that you're still part of the scene
Nail painted black, hair dyed dark green
For you this mid life crisis has come on strong
Now punk rock's been accepted
And they've realized it's not just a fad
Please, stay behind that desk where you belong
Punk rock life's been good to you
Now Corporate punk's the thing to do
Obnoxiously, you raised your fee
You'll see to it we'll all get screwed
Yeah, all you had to do was ask
And mom and dad would give you what you needed
And though I didn't know you then
I know you'll probably defend
And take the stand in the life that you'd been cheated
So you adopt a punk rock life
A leather jacket, hair with spikes
And join a band
'Cause you must have a say
And though you helped out with it that time
There's those of us, who keep on
Trying to make a living and not sound like Green Day
Trade rags say you're making it, now you're old
You don't give a shit.
Subconsciously fulfilled prophecy you've become your own nemesis
Mr. Brett, we won't pay that fee to keep you
Livin' in luxury
Some say genius, some say mistake
But you've become what you used to hate
So now we're in the 90's and punk's not what it used to be
It's gone downhill since 1982
And though I liked most of your bands
And listen to them all I can
It's fucked up that you think it's 'cause of you
You think that you're still part of the scene
Nail painted black, hair dyed dark green
For you this mid life crisis has come on strong
Now punk rock's been accepted
And they've realized it's not just a fad
Please, stay behind that desk where you belong
Punk rock life's been good to you
Now Corporate punk's the thing to do
Obnoxiously, you raised your fee
You'll see to it we'll all get screwed
Lyrics submitted by Lateralus518
Mr. Brett Lyrics as written by John L. Fahnestock James Lynn Strait
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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,
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Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
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Page
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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.
This is about Brett Gurewitz, nicknamed Mr. Brett, the guitarist and a songwriter of Bad Religion. He is also the owner of the music label Epitaph Records. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brett_Gurewitz
interview excerpt taken from snotmerch.com:
Shock to the System- As far as "Mr. Brett", have any Epitaph bands ever retaliated about that?
Lynn Strait- Not that I know of. I'm friends with some people at Epitaph and I know Brett Gurewitz (I haven't talked to him in a long time). No, not that I know of. I told, before the album came out, a couple of people from Epitaph about it and I told the guys in NOFX about it. And it says in the song that I like Epitaph bands and it's nothing about them. It's a punk song and punk songs have to be about talkin' shit and he was just a candidate, he was just there.