Falling Apart
Lagwagon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thought we broke up years ago
What's up, I just shit my pants
Gambled and I lost
Good times, just blew out my knee
I've fallen and I can't get up
Oh shit, I think I broke my back
Where's the wheelchair?
I'm old school, I'm played out
Osteoporosis, glaucoma and neurosis
The vultures circling above our balding heads
Second verse, the same as the first
I forgot the words again
Railer, lost my inhaler
Who's got a smoke for the Caper?
Hold on, let me catch my breath...
Alright, I feel better now
Take it to the bridge
I'll never be Ozzy
On stage when I'm fifty
I'm gonna look like Elvis
By the time I'm forty
We're already bogus
We're already fading
We'll never be The Rolling Stones
I'm staying home
Dementia and senility
My failing muscles atrophy
I've lost all ability,
Falling apart
Blue hair, brown teeth
Failing livers, defeat
Maybe we will try to pull it off for another year
The song “Falling Apart” by Lagwagon is a humorous and ironic take on getting older, losing the vitality and energy of youth and the physical frailties and ailments that come with aging. The song opens with a pithy and sardonic greeting of “Hello, welcome to the show,” which sets the tone for what's about to unfold. The opening lyrics of the song state, “Thought we broke up years ago. What's up, I just shit my pants. Gambled and I lost. Good times, just blew out my knee.” The lyrics depict the misfortunes and mishaps that can occur with old age: incontinence, financial mistakes, health issues, and physical accidents that leave one incapacitated.
The lyrics further emphasize the effects of aging, “I'm old school, I'm played out, Osteoporosis, glaucoma, and neurosis, The vultures circling above our balding heads.” The songwriter humorously conjures up the image of aging rockers and their decline into irrelevance, especially when compared to the vibrancy and energy of youth. The chorus, “I'll never be Ozzy, On stage when I'm fifty, I'm gonna look like Elvis, By the time I'm forty,” speaks to the fact that the physical decline accelerates with time, and what once might have been a youthful rockstar, becomes a frail and aging person.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello, welcome to the show
Addressing listeners and welcoming them to the music show
Thought we broke up years ago
People might have thought the band had already split
What's up, I just shit my pants
Referring to an embarrassing accident that just happened
Gambled and I lost
Took a risk that didn't pay off
Good times, just blew out my knee
Experiencing both good and bad times, with the bad times seeming to outweigh the good
I've fallen and I can't get up
Referencing the old commercial for Life Alert medical alarm system, conveying a sense of helplessness and vulnerability
Oh shit, I think I broke my back
Feeling an intense pain and possibly a severe injury
Where's the wheelchair?
Asking for support after an injury
I'm old school, I'm played out
Feeling outdated, out of touch, and irrelevant
Osteoporosis, glaucoma and neurosis
Listing various age-related health problems and illnesses
The vultures circling above our balding heads
Symbolizing the approaching death and the sense of being preyed upon
Second verse, the same as the first
Admitting that the song, like life, is cyclical
I forgot the words again
Displaying a lack of memory or focus
Railer, lost my inhaler
Referring to a need for medicated support when breathing difficulties occur
Who's got a smoke for the Caper?
Asking for a lighter and cigarette
Hold on, let me catch my breath...
Taking a pause to rest and recover
Alright, I feel better now
Feeling better after the moment of rest and recovery
Take it to the bridge
Asking to bring the mood of the song and performance to the next level
I'll never be Ozzy
Accepting the fact that the singer will never reach the level of success and recognition of Ozzy Osbourne
On stage when I'm fifty
Thinking about how the singer would look performing on stage at an old age
I'm gonna look like Elvis
Predicting that the singer will age with little grace and will resemble Elvis Presley
By the time I'm forty
Noting that it's already too late to prevent the ravages of aging
We're already bogus
Acknowledging that their music and performance is already fake and counterfeited
We're already fading
Conceding that their relevance and audience is diminishing
We'll never be The Rolling Stones
Realizing that they will never achieve the longevity, cultural impact, or enduring status of The Rolling Stones
I'm staying home
Admitting defeat and committing to a more subdued lifestyle
Dementia and senility
Referencing the inevitable cognitive decline and frailty of old age
My failing muscles atrophy
Noting the weaker muscles and physical deterioration
I've lost all ability,
Acknowledging the loss of skills, faculties, and independence
Falling apart
Everything is unraveling quickly and uncontrollably
Blue hair, brown teeth
Describing the physical attributes and appearance of old age
Failing livers, defeat
Listing a common medical problem of old age and the sense of defeatism associated with it
Maybe we will try to pull it off for another year
Holding onto hope that they can still make music and perform for at least another year
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES FUKAI, DON GILMORE, JOSHUA MOATES, KEVIN PALMER, JASON SINGLETON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Budi
Hello, welcome to the show
Thought we broke up years ago
What's up, I just shit my pants
Gambled and I lost
Good times, just blew out my knee
I've fallen and I can't get up
Oh shit, I think I broke my back
Where's the wheelchair?
I'm old school, I'm played out
Osteoporosis, glaucoma and neurosis
The vultures circling above our balding heads
Second verse, the same as the first
I forgot the words again
Railer, lost my inhaler
Who's got a smoke for the Caper?
Hold on, let me catch my breath...
Alright, I feel better now
Take it to the bridge
I'll never be Ozzy
On stage when I'm fifty
I'm gonna look like Elvis
By the time I'm forty
We're already bogus
We're already fading
We'll never be The Rolling Stones
I'm staying home
Dementia and senility
My failing muscles atrophy
I've lost all ability,
Falling apart
Blue hair, brown teeth
Failing livers, defeat
Maybe we will try to pull it off for another year
Source: LyricFind
TheQcGamer
Hello, welcome to the show
Thought we broke up years ago
What's up, I just shit my pants
Gambled and I lost
Good times, just blew out my knee
I've fallen and I can't get up
Oh shit, I think I broke my back
Where's the wheelchair?
I'm old school, I'm played out
Osteoporosis, glaucoma and neurosis
The vultures circling above our balding heads
Second verse, the same as the first
I forgot the words again
Railer, lost my inhaler
Who's got a smoke for the Caper?
Hold on, let me catch my breath...
Alright, I feel better now
Take it to the bridge
I'll never be Ozzy
On stage when I'm fifty
I'm gonna look like Elvis
By the time I'm forty
We're already bogus
We're already fading
We'll never be The Rolling Stones
I'm staying home
Dementia and senility
My failing muscles atrophy
I've lost all ability,
Falling apart
Blue hair, brown teeth
Failing livers, defeat
Maybe we will try to pull it off for another year
HereIsAlien
This song is sooo good, can't understand why so few views!?!
Andrew Summers
I love these guys. Great song and entertaining video. Viva La Lagwagon!
RustyVaper [Rust Gameplay]
Zebrahead wrote this.
Agatler
This may be the one punk song that stays with me as I grow old
skeeb
Fuck. I love this song. I used to think this song was hilarious when I was like 17. Now I'm 34 and I just heard it for the first time in like 15 years, and all I can say is "It's true."
Gggg
"Ill never be ozzy, onstage when I'm 50"... Well joey cape is 50 and still killing it!
Black 25
Fucking legend 🔥
Agatler
Glad to know cause I heard he croaked!
Cory white
@Agatler in this day of technology you have google at your fingertips. use it
Agatler
@Cory white Google? Idk. When I mess w Google I have the tip of the spear at mine.