After a solo tour in the fall of 2003, Alexakis decided to continue with Everclear, organizing a new band that made its debut in March of 2004. The new lineup consisted of bass player Sam Hudson, guitarist Dave French, and drummer Eric Bretl. In the summer of 2004, the band added keyboard player Josh Crawley, and swapped Bretl for former Everclear drum tech Brett Snyder. The new lineup released its first recording, a cover of Woody Guthrie's This Land Is Your Land, that summer. A self-released EP of performances recorded for XM Satellite Radio called Closure was given out at shows in the fall of 2004.
Free of a major label, Alexakis spent the ensuing year and half slowly recording material for a new Everclear release. He admitted that the time after the breakup of the original lineup served as a "wake up call", during which he suffered his third divorce and a filing for bankruptcy. Alexakis announced the completion of the album in early 2006,titled Welcome To The Drama Club. The new band is now on Eleven Seven Music.
In August of 2008, drummer Brett Snyder left the band after four years. He was then replaced by Tommy Stewart, who previously played in bands Fuel and Godsmack.
Santa Monica
Everclear Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lonely and dreaming of the west coast
I don't wanna be your downtime
I don't wanna be your stupid game
With my big black boots and an old suitcase
I do believe I'll find myself a new place
I don't wanna be the bad guy
I don't wanna do your sleepwalk dance anymore
I just wanna see some palm trees
I will try and shake away this disease
We can live beside the ocean
Leave the fire behind
Swim out past the breakers
Watch the world die
We can live beside the ocean
Leave the fire behind
Swim out past the breakers
Watch the world die
I am still dreaming of your face
Hungry and hollow for all the things you took away
I don't wanna be your good time
I don't wanna be your fall-back crutch anymore
Walk right up into a brand new day
Insane and rising in my own weird way
I don't wanna be the bad guy
I don't wanna do your sleepwalk dance anymore
I just wanna feel some sunshine
I just wanna find some place to be alone
We can live beside the ocean
Leave the fire behind
Swim out past the breakers
Watch the world die
We can live beside the ocean
Leave the fire behind
Swim out past the breakers
Watch the world die
We can live beside the ocean
Leave the fire behind
Swim out past the breakers
Watch the world die
We can live beside the ocean
Leave the fire behind
Swim out past the breakers
Watch the world die
Yeah, watch the world die
Yeah, watch the world die
Yeah, watch the world die
Yeah, watch the world die
Everclear's song "Santa Monica" is about leaving behind a toxic relationship and moving on to a more positive and sunny future. The singer is still haunted by the memories of the person they left, but is determined to start anew and find a place where they can be alone and find peace. The lyrics mention the west coast and palm trees, which are symbols of hope and possibility.
The line "I am still living with your ghost" refers to the lingering memories and emotions that remain after a relationship ends. The singer is both lonely and dreaming of a better future, but is held back by their connection to their past. The line "Leave the fire behind" represents leaving behind the drama and chaos of their previous relationship, while "Swim out past the breakers" symbolizes the idea of moving past the challenges and obstacles they faced.
The chorus repeats the idea of living beside the ocean and watching the world die, which can be interpreted as the idea of leaving behind their old life and starting anew. The singer wants to be free from the pain and negativity of their past and find a place where they can start fresh and be happy.
Overall, "Santa Monica" is a powerful and introspective song about the struggles of ending a toxic relationship and finding hope in a new beginning.
Line by Line Meaning
I am still living with your ghost
I am still haunted by the memory of you
Lonely and dreaming of the west coast
I am alone and yearning to escape to the west coast
I don't wanna be your downtime
I don't want to be your temporary distraction or relaxation
I don't wanna be your stupid game
I don't want to participate in your foolish games
With my big black boots and an old suitcase
I am ready to leave and start a new life with the few possessions I have
I do believe I'll find myself a new place
I am hopeful that I will find a better place to live
I don't wanna be the bad guy
I don't want to be viewed as the one at fault
I don't wanna do your sleepwalk dance anymore
I don't want to blindly follow your lead without conscious thought
I just wanna see some palm trees
I just want to experience something new and refreshing
I will try and shake away this disease
I will attempt to rid myself of the negative impact you have had on me
We can live beside the ocean
Together we can live near the beach
Leave the fire behind
Leave behind the drama or conflict of our past relationship
Swim out past the breakers
Venture out beyond the waves and take risks
Watch the world die
Become a spectator of the chaos and destruction of the world
I am still dreaming of your face
I still reminisce about our times together
Hungry and hollow for all the things you took away
I feel empty and deprived of the things you took from me
I don't wanna be your good time
I don't want to serve as your source of entertainment
I don't wanna be your fall-back crutch anymore
I don't want to be your emotional support when it's convenient for you
Walk right up into a brand new day
I am eager to begin a new day with a positive attitude
Insane and rising in my own weird way
I am becoming a better version of myself in my own unconventional way
I just wanna feel some sunshine
I just want to feel happy and positive
I just wanna find some place to be alone
I just want to find a place where I can be at peace and alone with my thoughts
Yeah, watch the world die
Emphasizing the realization that the world can be a cruel and harsh place
Yeah, watch the world die
Reiterating the notion that we are all spectators to the cruelty and darkness of the world
Yeah, watch the world die
Acknowledging the harsh realities of life and the inevitability of destruction
Yeah, watch the world die
Embracing the darker side of life and accepting that not everything is sunshine and rainbows
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Art Alexakis, Craig Montoya, Greg Eklund
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind