Linoleum

Ok bitches. My interpretation of my favourite song.

The song starts off outlining the cynic / stoic nature of his life (possessions never meant anything to me). The pockets full of kleenex bit - cant grasp his hopes / dreams / desires and those two parts are presented in a real way that is kind of showing the harsh truth of his life while at the same time its not so bad, it's who he is.

The next part is really where things kick off from "Thats me on the beach". It outlines a bunch of people who are sad cases. The weird guy combing the sand with a metal detector who only seems to get shit for his efforts, The crazy guy who plays violin, the rebel on the back of the bus, the prisoner in the cell.

He is saying he sees himself in all of those dregs, all those crazy and damaged people. That side of humanity is in him too and you know what its also in you the listener (Thats me inside your head).

Sometimes I literally need this song. Fat Mike if you ever read this man. You and the other punkers saved me.

Seeing some really stupid answers here. I'll break it down.

Possessions never meant anything to me- he doesn't care about material possessions. I'm not crazy (Cause I got none) - this doesn't make him crazy Well that's not true, I've got a bed and a guitar - he does have a couple things he loves. And a dog named Bob who pisses on my floor - he has a shitty dog That's right, I've got a floor - i think here he is speaking to listeners who may call NOFX sellouts or not real punk. So what, so what, so what? - who gives a shit if i have a place to live?

I've got pockets full of Kleenex and lint and holes - all his pants have holes and lint and kleenex. he doesn't care enough to get new ones or take care of his clothes. Where everything important to me just seems to fall right down my leg - "everything important" suggests that the shit in his pockets is his most important possessions, which isn't saying much for him. And on the floor My closest friend linoleum - he spends a lot of time on linoleum floors, probably due to alcohol or drug use.

Linoleum Supports my head, gives me something to believe - he lays on it and it reassures him of reality. once again, definitely alcohol or drug use here.

now for the last "that's me" part. I think it's just saying that he could be anyone really, and that anyone could be anyone. it's a way of saying we're all really alike, even if our problems or our lifestyles set us apart.

This song means a lot to me. I don't see it about as being a song for the homeless or even teenagers. This is about a young adult who is lonely, depressed and sinking deeper and deeper into a rut. Sleeping (on his floor) is something he finds himself doing fat too often and failing at life is something we all fear: that's me inside your head.....

Musically and lyrically this song is perfection and a fine example of early 90s Californian Punk, before it became corrupted by the industry executives and their pop-punk cross over bands.

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!

The meaning of this song is that Fat Mike loves linoleum floors.

Here I break it down line by line

Possessions never meant anything to me - i don't need things like other people do. I'm not crazy - This fact does not make me insane. Well that's not true, I've got a bed, and a guitar - Actually, my bed and my guitar are pretty important to me. And a dog named Bob who pisses on my floor - I also like my dog who pisses on my floor (???) That's right, I've got a floor - You know it sucka, I got a floor. So what, so what, so what? - So what? so what? so what? I've got pockets full of Kleenex and lint and holes - I have pants with pockets. In the pockets are kleenex, lint, and holes. Where everything important to me - ??? Just seems to fall right down my leg - he lost me here. And onto the floor - So he peed? My closest friend, linoleum - thank god i have a linolium floor Linoleum - Supports my head, gives me something to believe - Ok so, admittedly material posessions are important That's me on the beachside combing the sand - Pickture this, I'm on the beachside, combing the sand Metal meter in my hand - looking for money with a metal meter Sporting a pocket full of change - There's my change That's me on the street with a violin under my chin - Wait, now I'm playing violin like if I had violin lessons Playing with a grin, singing gibberish - Playing with a smile, singing gibberish (why?) That's me on the back of the bus - I'm in the back of the bus cause I suck That's me in the cell - I'm in the cell (what kind of cell? a jail cell perhaps. people with tattoos come to mind.) That's me inside your head - I'm inside your head That's me inside your head That's me inside your head

First of all everybody has their opinion and there aren't right or wrong answers. Some just fit more, so share your opinion. I will say mine step by step...

In the first part he tells a story of a guy who could be him, in this case it's someone who is judged by others in being different, poor, weird etc. But that guy doesn't care what they say because even without some great fortune, he can live a good life and be happy with small things like "guitar" or "dog". He also says he is no different then them, he has a home and his bed. It's like a dialog in which we can read only Fat Mikes lines, and him answering to "someone".

He starts the second part by saying he's got a pocket in which are tissues, lint and holes. Maybe tissues and lint tell that the it's the same tissue used more times or a tissue that wasn't even used. Don't know what it could represent, but it all falls through the holes and ends up on linoleum.

Linoleum could mean a million things, and I'm just sure it doesn't mean a simple linoleum. It's something he can always count on, maybe like a friend, family or even drugs.

The next part someone looking for something he lost, or wants to repair the loss by getting new. It also may represent a homeless guy looking for money in every way, by searching in sand or playing violin. All through he says "That's me on the street with a violin under my chin, Playing with a grin, singing gibberish" isn't most likely what a homeless person will do for money, more like someone who knows he lost the battle, but still holds up with a smile and does what ever he wants, even if it isn't perfect, or even good.

And finally in the last part, we all know who sits on the last seats on the end of the bus. Okay, sometimes it's kids on trips, but if it's a local transport, a last seat in the bus is something like a last place in a race, the place where you don't want to be. Probably sitting alone. Don't know what "That's me in the cell" means, but I think the idea of it is that he is everywhere and even he is in a really bad situation, he keeps strong and doesn't let anything slow him down. He's like our conscious and wants to inform us, we will all see what he's been through, and most of us will feel what he did.

Pretty sure this song is about Fat Mike's sad life story.

To me, it's a love song. It's a guy who is fine, he has his faults, but he is still doing fine.

kinda weird and twisted lyrics but great music, its about a teenager whose sick of all the people telling him to get a life and a job and all that shit

Oh this song rawks so much!! I love it.

obviously the best nofx song along with malachi crunch