Re: Snakes and Rats
It’s incredibly exciting to release new music for This Wild Life. It’s also, incredibly humbling that we have so many fans and friends that were willing to be a part of this video, and for that, it’s all the more special. Let me explain the meaning behind this song.
Growing up in Long Beach, CA Mikey and I (Kevin) have been friends with the dudes in the Greenery dating all the way back to first grade in Grammar School. We grew up skating, wrestling, playing sports, and playing in our VERY FIRST bands together. About the time when we graduated High School, both of our bands started to get serious. While releasing records and touring the country, some kind of sibling rivalry was created between our bands and it’s members. It’s always kind of been this unspoken tension between us, and although we support each other’s band’s immensely, it’s something that’s caused it’s issues within our group of close knit friends. I can’t honestly tell you where this tension came from, and I can’t even say who cast the first stone, but we’ve both said some shitty things about each other’s bands both in person and in songs. Last year when the Greenery released their debut full length, they released a song titled “Snakes and Rats” that was directed towards our band. They threw some hooks, some jabs, and even a few low blows and left me confused as to how I should react. Til’ this day, I have hung out with those dudes a dozen times and have yet to confront them about the song because I feared how it would affect our relationship. “Re: Snakes and Rats” is exactly what it appears to be. It’s a response to a song that one of my best friends wrote about my band and I. I may not have been a big enough man to just let it go, but I hope that you guys can see that although I was angry and hurt by the lyrics of their song, I tried my best to end this chapter with resolve. We’d like to call this song an ender to the negativity between our friends, and a fresh start to a positive and supportive family of friends. We love you dudes, and support you in all that you do.
Best, Kev and the TWL dudeshttp://itunes.apple.com/us/album/re-snakes-and-rats-single/id489455104
We were the first out of the gates
And so you learned from our mistakes
You know it’s me you have to thank
But you say, “You’re dead to me!”
You sing of ships like the son of a sailor man
Paying your dues is easy when you own land
You never say it to my face man to man, cause
“You’re dead to me!”
I’m over it, you never quit talking shit
And lately, I’m getting tired
Of taking the highroad when you’re so low
You’ve got to let this go
Over it, you never quit talking shit
And lately, you’re such a liar
Sometimes I wish that you’d just explode
You’ve go to let this go.
You’ve gotta learn to mind your own manners
You Rat that Slanders
So watch your words, and I’ll watch mine
Say, “You’re dead to me!”
It’s such a joke when your words all blow out like smoke
I’ll let this go when you hang it up by the ropes
See how it goes, there still may be some hope
But, “You’re dead to me!”
Call it an ENDER, said what we wanted to say
We’ll drop the anchor, until our words wash away
Call it an ENDER, cause you’ll always be a..
A friend to me
I’m over it, we’ve gotta quit talking shit
Cause lately, I’m getting tired
Of taking the highroad but feeling so low
You’ ve got to let this go
Over it, we’ve gotta quit talking shit
Cause lately, I’m uninspired
What will it take for us both to grow?
You’ve got to let this go
And I’ve got to let this go.
LET THIS GO.
I’ve never felt more nostalgic than right now. I just cleaned out my closet for the first time since I moved to my apartment in Long Beach back in 2008, and I’m blown away by some of the shit I’ve found.
Everything from action figures I adored as a child, to funeral and burial instructions my Mom wrote me when she was first diagnosed with Hepatitis. I found photographs of friends, some I’m still very close with today, and some I only wish I had kept in touch with. I found shirts from some of my favorite bands and memories of being at Chain Reaction with my best friends just rushed back to me. A particular As Cities Burn shirt reminded me of the best show I’ve ever seen in my entire life. I remember screaming along with my dudes and getting up on stage only to dive back out on top of them. That was the shirt I was wearing when I totaled my Dodge Colt right around the block from Matt’s house. The only reason I remember is because of the bloody tear in the side of it from the impact of the passenger door cutting into me. I miss that car. I found an extra small Lakers Starter jacket that I used to wear when I played Basketball at the YMCA when I was in the first grade, it still fits. I can’t tell if I just never grew or if I wore that thing super baggy, but that’s one of few possessions I will never get rid of. Pretty sure my Mom bought it from a Thrift Store for a dime on the dollar, but it means something to me, for some strange reason. I found a small shirt with a bunny on it and “Arkansas” written across the bottom. I remember buying that ridiculous shirt at a gas station while on tour with the Messenger. I’m pretty sure Jason bought some dorky shirt too, and we both thought they were hysterical. I’ll toss that one I suppose.
I’ve never had a very good memory, and it’s so weird to just have feelings and emotions fly back at you because of something you’re holding in your hands. Maybe in another five years, I’ll have more crap to sort through, and more memories to look back on. I hope I can make them good ones.
4:55 is something I go through every week. I have a love-hate relationship with milk. I love drinking it, but I’m ALWAYS terrified that it’s gone sour. Jerry banks off of everyday situations in a hysterical way as always.
My friends in the Greenery just put out this video for their song “Faceplant”. Punk, skating, eating shit, enough said.
