Texas Is Forever

personally I think this song, Caraphernelia, and One Hundred Sleepless Nights are all connected (about the same thing) in Caraphernelia it talks about a struggling relationship/a girl who is over Vic and moved on to "so much more" basically cheated. and the line "talking to my mom about this little girl from Texas" brings me to Texas Is Forever which I think is about this same girl who cheated. my only proof is "if Texas is forever where's your home sweet home" / "in sure your southern hospitality won't mind". in one hundred sleepless nights it's kind of obviously it's about Vic's ex girlfriend who cheated and got pregnant and left him. I'm probably not right that these songs are about the same person but idk this is just what I think.

That’s a purely self-indulgent song for us because it’s really fast and that’s what we grew up listening to. We love all of the Fat Wreck Chords artists, NOFX, Lagwagon, and the bands we cut our teeth on when we were in high school. It comes naturally for us. With my brother Mike playing drums, he owns those types of beats. I actually had an interview with John Oates of Hall and Oates. The first thing he said was, ‘I want whatever your drummer is taking because I need some energy!’ [Laughs] He loved how fast it was. Lyrically, it closes the book on a topic I’ve been singing about for the last three records. It’s about a relationship that kept going and had a lot of ups and downs. We were both able to stop thinking about it and have a mutual respect for each other’s lives. That was the end of it, which is nice. ~Vic

That’s a purely self-indulgent song for us because it’s really fast and that’s what we grew up listening to. We love all of the Fat Wreck Chords artists, NOFX, Lagwagon, and the bands we cut our teeth on when we were in high school. It comes naturally for us. With my brother Mike playing drums, he owns those types of beats. I actually had an interview with John Oates of Hall and Oates. The first thing he said was, ‘I want whatever your drummer is taking because I need some energy!’ [Laughs] He loved how fast it was. Lyrically, it closes the book on a topic I’ve been singing about for the last three records. It’s about a relationship that kept going and had a lot of ups and downs. We were both able to stop thinking about it and have a mutual respect for each other’s lives. That was the end of it, which is nice. ~Vic

So i love this song and when i first heard it i didn't know anything about the band, their background, or much of their other songs. so my interpretation is way off from what was intended but i figured id share it because it still seems to loosely fit. This is all what i felt and my opinion so just take it as that. It is rather dark but i thought it was about someone dealing with depression and decided to take their own life by crashing their car one night. They are then found by/ or with their ex significant other. I felt like the song was from the perspective of the dying person as he watched his ex significant other panic, cry, and attempt CPR. There also seemed to be a kind of moral dilemma as the ex significant other tries to overcome past feelings and grief in order to save the victim. I know its a loose extrapolation so ill break down the lines and show my thoughts:

"Here we are" "Can you tell that story it's my favorite one

 so with these lines i imagined were from the future as the subject reflects on this as if it happened in the past. ill also come back to this as it ties in with the rest of my theory.

"You fucking disappointment"

 This felt like a self reflection, an inward negativity that depression may make someone feel.

"I can't entertain you anymore "

 I felt this was also a negative self reflection as well as suicidal thoughts.

"These stupid states of mind "

 This line reminded me of the frustrations one may have with their depression. I feel it also referenced the two previous lines in the same way.

"Everyone punishing me all the time" "Why?"

It can be difficult for people to understand depression and this line reminded me of how it feels when those people make judgments or suggestions without knowing.

"But don't cross your boundaries and think that it's cool"

 Depression is a difficult topic for most and helping someone who has it can be really awkward or uncomfortable situation. This leads to most people not reaching out to those in need. I felt like this line summed up ones feelings when others are unwilling to help.

"Misguided by darkness and lost on the road "

 I got a bit of a double meaning out of this line. I felt like it was not only a self description of the depressed individual but also a stab at those from the previous line who were unwilling to help.

"But I'm such a sucker for the rain "

 This line I felt referenced how some people find comfort or peace in the rain. This is usually depicted rather dramatically so i also thought it could be the individual calling them self dramatic. it also made me think of how some dismiss others sadness as being dramatic. so this line could also be the depressed individual reflecting on how they are treated by others and possibly believing they are just being dramatic despite actually having a problem.

"Here we are" "Crashing once again "

 These lines are part of what made me think the significant other was an ex. It felt as if describing them in this situation as running into each other or back to each other again despite the separation. I also felt as if it was good word play to also mean literally here we are at the car crash.

"Into the center of your moonlit face "

 I imagined this line is from the perspective of the depressed individual as they lay dying looking up at their ex's moonlit face. 

"Our caved-in ribs "

 I got a couple of meanings from this and for that i felt it was good word play. I felt it meant not only a literal crushed rib cage from the impact of the crash but also the feelings both the suicidal individual as well as the ex significant other were feeling. A reference to the empty void in your chest one feels with heart ache.

"Your tears they fall on my tongue "

 I took this as literal imagining the ex crying over the suicide victim. This being part of the chorus made me think of repetition, so something like how they kept tasting the ex's tears as they attempted CPR.

"And our lips are letting go "

 I wasn't sure what to think about this line but it felt like perhaps the suicide victim longing for the contact of a kiss as the ex performed CPR.

"As we laid on the side of the road "

 I felt this was also quite literal to add to the painting of the setting.

"Pull the trigger tight and watch our distances explode "

 This line felt like both a reference to when the ex decided to break up as well as the suicide victim "pulling the trigger" and following through with the attempt on their life.

"If Texas is forever, where's your home sweet home? "

 This seemed to me like a question from the victim to the ex wondering about past promises and where their heart is, referring to the phrase "home is where the heart is". 

"If anything should happen to me I want you to know " "I've loved you since ever since then "

 I felt like these were some kind of feelings of closure the victim directed toward their ex in the final moments. possibly something like a suicide note.

"Don't dance around me I know what it means "

 I got a bunch of meanings from this line and I'm still not totally sure what to make of it but i feel they all fit. I first thought of the panicked feelings of the ex after they found the victim. The victim accepting that they are going to die as the ex "dances" around in panic looking for help. The second thought was that it is a reference to the people who ignored or avoided the signs that they needed help. something like the victim saying "Stop trying to avoid the subject so hard, i get it, you don't want to deal with it.". After some thought i came to the idea that maybe its just a reference to how the ex handled the break up. Avoiding the subject despite the clear signs. And lastly it felt like the ex could have possibly been fighting internally with their emotions as they were presented with the dilemma to go look for the victim after possibly receiving the suicide note, message for help, or alert that the victim may be missing/in danger.

"No communication, cannot be received"

This line tied in to the last line quite obviously for me. It was the victim telling everyone "I'm not stupid, I get the message, you cant hide your intent." In all 3 of those scenarios, 1. "I'm going to die", 2. "I get it you don't want to deal with me", 3. "I can tell you don't love me anymore", and 4. "I don't know you care if you don't respond"

"But I'm such a sucker for the rain " "Here we are" "Crashing once again " "Into the center of your moonlit face " "Our caved-in ribs " "Your tears they fall on my tongue " "And our lips are letting go " "As we laid on the side of the road "

Same chorus again driving home the repetition of the feelings during the situation.

"Don't chase your nightmares "

This kind of felt like a message to the audience saying something like suicide isn't the answer, don't let your depression spiral out of control, or seek help.

"Here we are..." "Crashing once again " "Into the center of your moonlit face " "Our caved in ribs " "Your tears they fall"

 So here is the chorus again but it is a bit different now. This gives me the impression that the victim has passed away or at least fully lost consciousness since there is the absence of "on my lips". Implying that they no longer get the taste or sensation.

"Our lips are locked in lemon groves "

 At this point I felt the ex is starting to give up on CPR since the victim is unresponsive. I imagined the ex went in to give a breath but ended up kissing the victim out of grief and emotion.

"And I can never let them grow"

 More word play for the victim being unable to return the kiss due to being unconscious or passed away.

"On the side of the road " "So take a deep breath and chase it with mine"

 This was big for me. I felt that it was the last moments of the victim where they are suggesting that the ex don't give up on CPR, suggesting that the victim doesn't really want to die but rather they just want help and/or support. 

"Your southern hospitality won't mind"

 This and the last line definitely feel like they drive home the message of be there for those that need it as its the right thing to do. It felt like the victim was saying "give me another breath, don't give up, its the right thing to do. And if it was the right thing to do ending the relationship then 'your southern hospitality' or doing the right thing/being generous 'won't mind' if you save me."

 I loved how (i thought) this song ended. It was open ended not telling you whether or not the victim lived, leaving it up to your imagination. And this is where I come back to those first two lines, feeling like they were from the future reflecting on that moment. either the two of them together reflecting or perhaps the victim talking to the ex as they visit the grave or something. I felt it really tied the narrative together. Either way I felt like it had a powerful message throughout that depression and suicide are no joke, its tough to deal with for all involved,  and always be there for and reach out to those suffering.

 Like i said in the beginning these are just some of my original thoughts, feelings, and opinions about the song. I'm not at all disappointed with the actual meaning and i still love rocking out to this song all the time.