The Death Of John Smith

I think, maybe, it is much alike the John Smith from "The man in the high castle" by Philip k. Dick... Years of listening this song, and I didn't realize of that until today that I am finishing with the tv series adaptation... And have heard the phrase "John Smith is dead" automatically this song has came to my mind. Anyone see the same?

When the pity spins your mind, Darkness fills your heart, And I won't be around When you're feeling all alone Then you'll know it's time, To go into the ground

Best part in the whole song!

bah, this whole song is great, first nofx song i heard, and is still one of my favorite songs from em

Yeah it's really good, showing thir roots, too mutch tech though but the lyrics are just so good... I rwally like the title, John Smith is the avarage "succeded" amarican right?

Great song, greater band!

Yeh John Smith is like the name for the generic examplke LOL or something like that.... so the average american... I guess in the song the guy tried so hard to become what society sees as a "successful, happy man" And in the end he realised how stupid it was that he didn't just have fun when he had a chance to... Well that's what I think it's about...

Sounds like somone who feels that he's living for everyone else and not really himself. He becomes an alchoholic 'cause he can't cope with his life. I'm sure alot of us put on a smile and kiss some ass just to live another day, but really it's not ideal. This does sound like the "successful" American though.. Compromising yourself just to be labeled a "success".

I believe he commits suicide in the end.

"When the pity spins your mind, Darkness fills your heart, And I won't be around When you're feeling all alone Then you'll know it's time, To go into the ground*"

*go into the grounds pretty self explanatory, hes buried, cuz hes dead, why? probably cuz he killed himself, also the title stating "the DEATH of john smith" kinda reflects that theory too.

For me, this song was the moment NOFX hit their stride. Ribbed was an awesome album, very raw, funny, quasi-political, a different kind of sound. But The Longest Line into White Trash into Punk in Drublic to me is when NOFX was absolutely untouchable. I was like 13-16 for the span of these three albums, and they along with some other classic albums from some other classic bands really meant something to me through my formative years. The first time I heard the Death of John Smith, I was hooked to that sound. Different from what they had been doing up to that point. It sounded cleaner, more produced but in a good way. It was more complex, dare I say it more mature. Groundbreaking really. Nofx basically created New School Punk. Bad Religion, Operation Ivy, The Descendents all had a hand in it too, but it was those vocals. Fat Mike's vocal and the harmonies that really defined the sound. Every punk band making a living on the radio since that time has owed a huge chunk of their sound to NOFX, from Blink 182 to Sum 41, to Fall Out Boy. The Longest Line was the first time that sound as it exists today was heard.
And the first time I listened to those lyrics, fuhgedaboutit. They always reminded me of my father and exactly what I didn't want to do with my life.
Fucking excellent.

i think this song is about someone who worked hard at a business for many years, got rich, and eventually died. before he died he realized that there was really no point to being rich or working hard because your just gonna die anyway. hefe is awesome. it shows in this song.