Warren wanted a Beach Boys thing for this one, and Carl Wilson and Billy Hinsche came in, with Carl arranging the vocal parts. The other harmony vocalists (credited as the "Gentlemen Boys") were Jackson Browne, J.D. Souther, Zevon's longtime backers Waddy Wachtel and Jorge Calderon, and Linda Rondstadt/Stone Poneys guitarist Kenny Edwards.
There's a letter at my momma's house,
came with a floded flag.
It says Right now, I'm coming home in a body bag.
It's a pride and a pain
that are one and the same.
It's a burning cigarette,
it's a horrible dream.
There's a man in an office who's going through files
and a woman who watches TV.
And she doesn't get the jokes told be late night talk show hosts,
but for some reason she laughs anyway.
There's this soap in my bathroom, and it's all covered in a hairs.
There's this hope in my brain, and it's all covered in prayers.
There's a girl in this town who doesn't know I exist.
There's a wounded sense of pride and a pain in my fist.
There's 12 empty bottles on this table tonight.
There's 4 lungs on fire and 4 burning eyes.
And something will explode, and someone will cry.
And someone will run out and never turn around.
There's a park in this city where I used to go,
but now it's covered with fences and cops and lightposts.
And I'd never go back if anything was the same,
but it kills me to know that it's changed.
There's these kids who have dreams.
There's these dreams that will grow.
Until they get so goddamn big that they explode.
And what's left in the smoke and the falling debris
is grownups like them and losers like me.
And what's left in the smoke and the falling debris
is grownups like them and losers like me.
it's grownups like them and losers like me
it's grownups like them and losers like me
Yeah.
Tonight let's go walking down Clark Street
and look at the new buildings that we've never seen.
We'll stop at the bar and pass out on the floor
Tomorrow we'll forget everything
and we'll replay these days again.
came with a floded flag.
It says Right now, I'm coming home in a body bag.
It's a pride and a pain
that are one and the same.
It's a burning cigarette,
it's a horrible dream.
There's a man in an office who's going through files
and a woman who watches TV.
And she doesn't get the jokes told be late night talk show hosts,
but for some reason she laughs anyway.
There's this soap in my bathroom, and it's all covered in a hairs.
There's this hope in my brain, and it's all covered in prayers.
There's a girl in this town who doesn't know I exist.
There's a wounded sense of pride and a pain in my fist.
There's 12 empty bottles on this table tonight.
There's 4 lungs on fire and 4 burning eyes.
And something will explode, and someone will cry.
And someone will run out and never turn around.
There's a park in this city where I used to go,
but now it's covered with fences and cops and lightposts.
And I'd never go back if anything was the same,
but it kills me to know that it's changed.
There's these kids who have dreams.
There's these dreams that will grow.
Until they get so goddamn big that they explode.
And what's left in the smoke and the falling debris
is grownups like them and losers like me.
And what's left in the smoke and the falling debris
is grownups like them and losers like me.
it's grownups like them and losers like me
it's grownups like them and losers like me
Yeah.
Tonight let's go walking down Clark Street
and look at the new buildings that we've never seen.
We'll stop at the bar and pass out on the floor
Tomorrow we'll forget everything
and we'll replay these days again.
Lyrics submitted by Jemma
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This is an awesome song. Lawrence Arms kick ass. I love how they put that shit from the simpsons in at the beginning hehe.
hey, i wrote that thing and then my friend told me i was being vague, so let me try again...
"There's these kids who have dreams. There's these dreams that will grow. Until they get so goddamn big that they explode. And what's left in the smoke and the falling debris is grownups like them and losers like me. "
so it seems like this whole thing is a big extended metaphor for growing up. that everyone has these huge ideas for the future, and then when everything blows up (when everyone gets older) and all the pieces fall down, the kids either turn into grownups or losers. it doesn't seem like he's saying one is right or wrong in his view, only that society looks at it this way. he is a loser because he's in a band, and he's not a doctor or a lawyer or whatever it is that society's "grownups" are supposed to do. so, i guess that's all i have to say about that. any thoughts?
the song is about all the places you used to have to hang out at. all the parks and shops and restaurants that arent there anymore. in a way, it's about growing up, as are a lot of arms songs, but when bren explained the song in concert, he talked about hangin out at a quiznos that isnt there anymore.
"There's a park in this city where I used to go, but now it's covered with fences and cops and lightposts. And I'd never go back even if it was the same, but it kills me to know that it's changed."
this line really resonates with me, and it was the first LA song i fell in love with. I know how that is, as there's places like that when i go visit where i used to live. it really does feel like someone's changing a part of who you are, of who you were, when that happens to someplace that was important to you. it's like they've found a way to change your past by changing the present.
Man, i love this song. AND I ADDED IT TO THE DATABASE!!! GO ME!!! ....uhm yeah. Anyway, amazing song. These guys should be big. :)
yet another chicago band that totally ROCKS!! thank you for adding it, you rock! everyone should know this song, it is soo cool! it has so much energy, and totally perks me up whenever i need it to.
This song rocks.
This is an amazing song. Not only is it well performed but also very well written. I keep getting the first bass line trapped within my brain. "There's a girl in this town who doesn't know I exist. There's a wounded sense of pride and a pain in my fist." I really like this line. I interpret it as a guy that is in love with this girl, but she has no idea who he is, or doesn't know how he feels about her. This leads to the wounded sense of pride and pain in his fist, possibly from punching out his reflection in the bathroom mirror. This song I think is majorly about growing up and how some of us grow up, and some just stay the same.
I think this song is about losing all your favorite places and things you had growing up, and the wounded sense of pride in my fist line is about masturbation.
this song is really great. it has a really catchy melody and bassline, and all the vocals kick ass. my favorite part is definitely: "There's a park in this city where I used to go, but now it's covered with fences and cops and lightposts. And I'd never go back even if it was the same, but it kills me to know that it's changed. " that's such a great way to describe the situation. despite our sadness over the things we lose, if we stop to think about it, we'd probably never get the chance to re-experience them anyway--or at least experience them in the way we originally did. he gets this really awesome point about life across in so few words. we all seek to recapture our happiness or youth or whatever, but it just can't be something that's forced. it's a bitch, he seems to say, but that's growing up. also, i really dig the way he extends the explosion metaphor. it's just really kick ass and smart, as his lyrics always are: after everyone's dreams explode, "what's left in the smoke and the falling debris, is grow-ups like them and losers like me."