Well, it was punk-fifteen in the morning
And it was time to stand my ground.
And as the gawks and stares bombarded me,
You know, I didn't even hear a sound.
No one gave a damn
If I was there or away.
If I died and went to hell,
They'd throw a party on my grave
And they'd all say,
"This kid is just a fool, he'll never be cool.
They might as well just ship him off
to some other school."
Plain destitute,
Just a little too guilty, just a little too soon...
That day was just like any other day,
No work, and no pay.
I knew that paradise was some other place
And I'd get there another day.
I will find it before I expire
'Cause I've got the desire.
Well, it was punk-fifteen in the evening
And it was time to set the town on fire.
I saw my boots and my hair
As reflected in the mirror
Reveal a streetkid named desire.
I didn't give a damn
Because I was just dying to be
And as the Hollywood street scene
Left its mark on me.
I changed from a boy into a man.
I said: "never again!"
I stuck out my chin when I should have ran,
Shit in the fan.
I was driven so hard
By the sound of my heart,
But that day was just like any other day,
No work, and no pay.
I knew that paradise was some other place
And I'd get there another day.
I will find it before I expire
'Cause I've got the desire.
When the walls surround
In deeper shades of blue
And there's no voice of reason inside you
And you search for meaning
On an empty shelf,
Then you're always dreaming
Of somewhere else.
Today is just like any other day,
No fear, no restraint.
I know that paradise is some other place
And I will get there another day.
You can come with me,
No conditions or fares,
Somehow, somewhere,
I will find it before I expire
'Cause I've got the desire.
Version | Length | Release | Catalog ID | Country | Format | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Album version | ||||||
3:17 | The New America | United States | 12" | 2022 | ||
3:17 | The New America | Russia | MC | 2019 | ||
3:17 | The New America | United States | 12" | 2018 | ||
3:17 | The New America | Europe | 12" | 2018 | ||
3:17 | The New America | United States | 12" | 2018 | ||
3:17 | The New America | Europe | 12" | 2013 | ||
3:17 | The New America | 6998-1 | Europe | 12" | 2013 | |
3:17 | The New America | Europe | 12" | 2013 | ||
3:17 | The New America | 6998-1 | United States | 12" | 2010 | |
3:17 | The New America | 6998-2 | Europe | CD | 2008 | |
3:17 | The New America | Europe | MC | 2000 | ||
3:17 | The New America | United States | MC | 2000 | ||
3:17 | The New America | Poland | MC | 2000 | ||
3:17 | The New America | Canada | CD | 2000 | ||
3:17 | The New America | QDCA 93300 | Japan | CD | 2000 | |
3:17 | The New America | 83303-4 | United States | MC | 2000 | |
3:17 | The New America | n/a | Thailand | MC | 2000 | |
3:17 | The New America | Turkey | MC | 2000 | ||
3:17 | The New America | Germany | 12" | 2000 | ||
3:17 | The New America | 83303-1 | United States | 12" | 2000 | |
3:17 | The New America | 83303-2 | United States | CD | 2000 | |
3:17 | The New America | No catalog ID | United States | CD | 2000 | |
3:17 | The New America | A2 83303 | United States | CD | 2000 | |
3:17 | The New America | Europe | CD | 2000 | ||
3:17 | The New America | DRA 498124 2 | Germany | CD | 2000 | |
3:17 | The New America | ESCA 8152 | Japan | CD | 2000 | |
3:17 | The New America | ESCA 8152 | Japan | CD | 2000 | |
3:17 | The New America | DRA 498124 5 | Europe | CD | 2000 | |
3:17 | The New America | Australia | CD | 2000 | ||
3:17 | The New America | DRA 498124 2 | Europe | CD | 2000 | |
3:17 | The New America | 83303-2 | United States | CD | 2000 | |
3:17 | The New America | Germany | CD | 2000 | ||
3:17 | The New America | DRA 498124 7 | 498124 7000 | Germany | CD | 2000 | |
3:17 | The New America | n/a | Bulgaria | MC | 2000 | |
3:17 | The New America | Brazil | CD | 2000 | ||
3:17 | The New America | 2A-83303 | United States | CD | 2000 | |
3:17 | The New America | n/a | United States | CD | 2000 | |
3:17 | The New America | 2-498124 | Argentina | CD | 2000 | |
3:17 | The New America | ZK07115 | Russia | CD | 2000 | |
3:17 | The New America | Canada | CD | 2000 | ||
3:17 | The New America | Europe | CD | 2000 | ||
3:17 | The New America | United States | CD | 2000 | ||
3:17 | The New America | Ukraine | CD | 2000 | ||
3:17 | The New America | Russia | CD | 2000 | ||
3:17 | The New America | n/a | United States | CD | 2000 | |
3:17 | The New America | PRCDA2-83303 | United States | CD | 2000 | |
3:17 | The New America | 83303-2 | United States | CD | 2000 |
OscarDigitalDude
The Devil In Stitches
![]() ![]() Location: Pasadena, CA Status: Offline Posts: 348 |
This sounds like an autobiographical song. He was punk in the most dangerous time to be punk. "As the gawks and stared bombarded me, you know I didn't even here a sound..." That line really illustrates the tone of the song. At some point in the song, there's a moment like: "Why am I still doing this?" or "Is it worth it?" Then it takes you back into the "against the grain" feeling.
03/05/2012 at 02:24
This sounds like an autobiographical song. He was punk in the most dangerous time to be punk. "As the gawks and stared bombarded me, you know I didn't even here a sound..." That line really illustrates the tone of the song. At some point in the song, there's a moment like: "Why am I still doing this?" or "Is it worth it?" Then it takes you back into the "against the grain" feeling.
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Michael
Guest
![]() ![]() Location: Global Citizen |
This is a brilliant song and, in my opinion, one of the strongest on the 'New America' album. It has a lot of personal reflection for me in that I (and I'm sure others) can relate to Graffin's words of being an isolated Punk kid, almost an outcast. It speaks of the repetitive and predictable everyday occurrences and 'no work, no pay, I knew that Paradise was some other place and I'd get get there another day.' It's sickening to think that people were (and still are) socially rejected just because of the music they like or the opinions they carry. (continuing) "...I will find it before I expire, 'coz I've got the desire".
I can't think of any other BR song that puts across this insurmountable problem with any less of a smack in the face. 'I stuck out my chin when I should have ran, shit in the fan... ...I was driven so hard, by the sound of my heart...' This is definitely recognizable in my response to the numbskulls that can plague our daily lives and self-defend by rejecting others. Whereas in reality, they, themselves, don't have much to say. 07/17/2004 at 11:58
This is a brilliant song and, in my opinion, one of the strongest on the 'New America' album. It has a lot of personal reflection for me in that I (and I'm sure others) can relate to Graffin's words of being an isolated Punk kid, almost an outcast. It speaks of the repetitive and predictable everyday occurrences and 'no work, no pay, I knew that Paradise was some other place and I'd get get there another day.' It's sickening to think that people were (and still are) socially rejected just because of the music they like or the opinions they carry. (continuing) "...I will find it before I expire, 'coz I've got the desire".
I can't think of any other BR song that puts across this insurmountable problem with any less of a smack in the face. 'I stuck out my chin when I should have ran, shit in the fan... ...I was driven so hard, by the sound of my heart...' This is definitely recognizable in my response to the numbskulls that can plague our daily lives and self-defend by rejecting others. Whereas in reality, they, themselves, don't have much to say. |
Grasshopa
Guest
![]() ![]() Location: Global Citizen |
I believe that this is based on the theme of the 1951 movie 'A Streetcar named desire'. Greg Graffin is relating his childhood to the film because everyone turned against him for being himself. The line 'I knew that paradise was some other place, and I'd get there another day' is saying that he doesn't have to put up with it forever, but he really shouldn't have to put up with it at all. I can relate to this, because there's many times that I want to be out of school for reasons other than boredom or lack of motivation. In the line about searching for meaning on an empty shelf, he is talking about how he can't understand why they did it at all.
07/17/2004 at 11:58
I believe that this is based on the theme of the 1951 movie 'A Streetcar named desire'. Greg Graffin is relating his childhood to the film because everyone turned against him for being himself. The line 'I knew that paradise was some other place, and I'd get there another day' is saying that he doesn't have to put up with it forever, but he really shouldn't have to put up with it at all. I can relate to this, because there's many times that I want to be out of school for reasons other than boredom or lack of motivation. In the line about searching for meaning on an empty shelf, he is talking about how he can't understand why they did it at all.
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oldmrfletcher
The Devil In Stitches
![]() ![]() Location: CA Status: Offline Posts: 310 |
Well, I've also read the interview where he stated that it was an autobiographical song. So, here's my interpretation :) First verse: At school Greg was always different, he didn?t fit into the pot-culture clich? of the 1980?s. He didn?t really fit in with all of the ?carefree? drug addicts who were so abundant in numbers. The lines ?no one gave a damn..? and ?they?d throw a party on my grave? could be related to the carefree attitude and partying nature of those on drugs. The line: ?this kid was just a fool, he?ll never be cool? could have been related to his individuality and the way he didn?t fit in with the masses and was therefore not classed as being ?cool?. ?they might as well just ship him off to some other school? could be related to his frequent changing of schools, or that fact that since he wasn't 'cool', him leaving would probably go unnoticed. Chorus: ?that day was just like any other day?? could be related to the line ?plain destitute? as his mother lacked money and he was earning his own money and making his own way. ?I saw my boots and my hair..? because he was part of the 1980 Los Angeles? punk movement (a large movement for American punk, many good bands came from it) and the ?punk? look was the spiked hair, the boots, etc.. and although not homeless, he calls himself a ?streetkid? as he was working things for himself. ?I didn?t give a damn, I was just dying to be? ? He didn?t really care what people thought of him and his band, he just wanted to do what he wanted, and be himself. ?hollywood street scene? ? he was part of the Hollywood punk scene from the age of 15 and he grew up into a ?man? with it ?when the walls surround in deeper shades of blue? could be related to the drug addicts and their lives being insignificant and meaningless. He wished that he chose was not a part of this, and probably wished he was elsewhere. They are notes I wrote for a year 11 English poetry tutorial (last year), and parts are missing because most of it is in my head and I didn't really need to write it down.
07/17/2004 at 11:58
Well, I've also read the interview where he stated that it was an autobiographical song. So, here's my interpretation :) First verse: At school Greg was always different, he didn?t fit into the pot-culture clich? of the 1980?s. He didn?t really fit in with all of the ?carefree? drug addicts who were so abundant in numbers. The lines ?no one gave a damn..? and ?they?d throw a party on my grave? could be related to the carefree attitude and partying nature of those on drugs. The line: ?this kid was just a fool, he?ll never be cool? could have been related to his individuality and the way he didn?t fit in with the masses and was therefore not classed as being ?cool?. ?they might as well just ship him off to some other school? could be related to his frequent changing of schools, or that fact that since he wasn't 'cool', him leaving would probably go unnoticed. Chorus: ?that day was just like any other day?? could be related to the line ?plain destitute? as his mother lacked money and he was earning his own money and making his own way. ?I saw my boots and my hair..? because he was part of the 1980 Los Angeles? punk movement (a large movement for American punk, many good bands came from it) and the ?punk? look was the spiked hair, the boots, etc.. and although not homeless, he calls himself a ?streetkid? as he was working things for himself. ?I didn?t give a damn, I was just dying to be? ? He didn?t really care what people thought of him and his band, he just wanted to do what he wanted, and be himself. ?hollywood street scene? ? he was part of the Hollywood punk scene from the age of 15 and he grew up into a ?man? with it ?when the walls surround in deeper shades of blue? could be related to the drug addicts and their lives being insignificant and meaningless. He wished that he chose was not a part of this, and probably wished he was elsewhere. They are notes I wrote for a year 11 English poetry tutorial (last year), and parts are missing because most of it is in my head and I didn't really need to write it down.
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Crass
Guest
![]() ![]() Location: Global Citizen |
One of my favorite songs on the album... Anyway, it's autobiographical I think, but even if not it's a tale of a kid who never fit in, but knew that there was more to life and cared little for their acceptance anyway. He knew that he had good things to work for in the future (paradise). Ahh.. the story of my life...
07/17/2004 at 11:58
One of my favorite songs on the album... Anyway, it's autobiographical I think, but even if not it's a tale of a kid who never fit in, but knew that there was more to life and cared little for their acceptance anyway. He knew that he had good things to work for in the future (paradise). Ahh.. the story of my life...
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JesusFreak516
Guest
![]() ![]() Location: Global Citizen |
I read in an interview that in this song, Greg is actually describing his life growing up.
07/17/2004 at 11:58
I read in an interview that in this song, Greg is actually describing his life growing up.
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Mike The Punk
Guest
![]() ![]() Location: Global Citizen |
This song, I feel, discusses the difficulties of growing up a misunderstood, misinterpreted, young punk. 'As the gawps and stares bombarded me..... no one gave a damn if I was there or away, if I died and went to Hell they'd throw a party on my grave'. Graffin also tells us how he knew that 'Paradise was some other place' and he'd 'get there another day, I'll find it before I expire 'coz I've got the desire'. I can really relate to this song.
07/17/2004 at 11:57
This song, I feel, discusses the difficulties of growing up a misunderstood, misinterpreted, young punk. 'As the gawps and stares bombarded me..... no one gave a damn if I was there or away, if I died and went to Hell they'd throw a party on my grave'. Graffin also tells us how he knew that 'Paradise was some other place' and he'd 'get there another day, I'll find it before I expire 'coz I've got the desire'. I can really relate to this song.
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