Why
Lyrics:
Why do I say, "Slow down boy, you're gonna burn out."?
Why do I say, "Just sit back and watch the turn out."?
Why do I turn around?
Why do I hit the ground?
Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Why do I say, "Watch your step you're gonna fall down."?
Why do I say, "Watch your back and leave this town."?
Why do I get so bored?
Why can't I see the lord?
Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey
Commentary:
If “What Is On Your Mind” was my first song that was punkish, then “Why” is the first song that I wrote that was pop punkish. Really had fun playing this one. Loved the subtle leads over the clean guitar during the intro and it was always great when the song kicked in the distortion and we were able to wail out. I know what your thinking. Wail out? As in cry softly? Negative.
Wailing out was an expression that the immortal legend known as Jude Ronchi would utter frequently between the years of 1991-1993 while rocking out to some hardcore dancehall reggae track that I would have in my car’s stereo. I believe one such song was from the NYC Badmen compilation entitled “Boom Wah Dis” from Burro Banton. Yes, I was really into dancehall reggae in my high school years. Yes, we would wail out hard in my shit brown, 1979 Oldsmobile Toronado.
I’m almost certain that Jude and this car will come up again at some point.
I digress.
Favorite thing in this song was the pauses with the group vocals shouting, HEY! Not exactly sure why we have the extended 4 beat pause before the verses when 1 beat would have sufficed. I think we were still learning how to pause in songs? Who knows. I’m fairly certain that we nixed this spectacular silence while playing the song live for only one beat.
You will also notice that this is yet another song with the extended vocal that turns into a maniacal cackle at the end. Not sure why this was a popular go to for me, but it was. Don’t ask. Sinister Metallica vibes being channeled yet again? Maybe?
Another tidbit about this song was that we left the fuck up in the recording. This was one of the first in several songs that we just said, “ah, that’s fine.” The part comes when Matt ends his guitar solo. Out of tune ending note, off time, strange transition – ah, that’s fine. I will say though that this solo, to me, is reminiscent of a Rancid solo and for me, that was a step in the right direction that I wasn’t quite aware of at the time.
Lyrically, it’s a song about continuing to try in life to make a change. To wanted something more than the mundane. At the time, I still had some catholic belief in me and hence the line, “why can’t I see the lord.” However, now, to quote Adam Sandler, I’m more like, “fuck the sun, long live the beast!”
If you are wondering what is uttered at the end of the tune, it is Tim saying, “ehh, like a glove.” He was a big fan of Ace Ventura. It felt right to leave it in.