When I was thirteen, I bought a scally cap looked up to the older guys who drank at the rat
couldn't wait to grow up just to drink with the crew put my name on the map and have a social few

I recall when I was small I thought I'd be legend soon
but that was then and this is now a harder road cannot be found don't get me wrong,
good times were had sometimes the fun outweighed the bad but all in all,
now said and done I can recall more bad than fun

It's killing me - the answer's here, it's plain to see it's taken me
I'm half the man I thought I'd be it's killing me
it's taken years but now I see I'm not the man I thought I'd be

I'd fight them all, big or small angel dust and Bud tall collars up and fists the same
protect your friends and family name had my lumps,
received a few but not near what I deserved
some say this life's my punishment some say this life's my just deserves

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Dropkick Murphys's Caps and Bottles speaks to the nostalgia and regrets of the singer. The lyrics chronicle the singer's younger years where he idolized the older guys who spent their time at the local bar drinking, smoking and fighting. He longed for the day when he would be old enough to join them, make a name for himself and have a social life. However, as he grew older, he realized that the life he thought would make him feel like a legend has taken a toll on him. The singer confesses that he has not turned out to be the man he thought he would be and although he has had some fun times, the bad outweighs the good memories.

The chorus of the song, "It's killing me - the answer's here, it's plain to see it's taken me. I'm half the man I thought I'd be it's killing me, it's taken years but now I see I'm not the man I thought I'd be," speaks to the weight of the singer's experiences on his life. He has come to the realization that he has lost a lot of himself along the way and that his choices have not led him to the life he thought he would have.

Overall, Caps and Bottles is a poignant reflection on how the choices we make impact our lives. It's a sobering reminder that sometimes the things we want when we're young may not be what we actually need in life.

Line by Line Meaning

When I was thirteen, I bought a scally cap looked up to the older guys who drank at the rat
As a young teenager, the singer intentionally emulated older men who hung out at the bar and idolized their drinking behavior by purchasing a specific type of hat.

couldn't wait to grow up just to drink with the crew put my name on the map and have a social few
The singer eagerly looked forward to the day when he could drink with the group he idolized, and imagined that doing so would increase his social status.

I recall when I was small I thought I'd be legend soon but that was then and this is now a harder road cannot be found don't get me wrong, good times were had sometimes the fun outweighed the bad but all in all, now said and done I can recall more bad than fun
As a child, the singer dreamed of achieving greatness, but the reality of his life has proven much more challenging than he anticipated. Though he did have some good times, they were often overshadowed by difficult experiences which he now remembers more clearly than the happy moments.

It's killing me - the answer's here, it's plain to see it's taken me I'm half the man I thought I'd be it's killing me it's taken years but now I see I'm not the man I thought I'd be
The artist is struggling with the realization that he has not lived up to his own expectations, and that he feels that he is not the person he thought he would be. This realization is causing him great emotional pain and has taken him a long time to accept.

I'd fight them all, big or small angel dust and Bud tall collars up and fists the same protect your friends and family name had my lumps, received a few but not near what I deserved some say this life's my punishment some say this life's my just deserves
The artist has faced many challenges in his life, but has always been willing to fight to protect his loved ones and his reputation. He feels that he has been punished more harshly than he deserves by the events of his life, but acknowledges that some people may feel differently.

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALEXANDER MARTIN BARR, KENNETH WILLIAM CASEY, MATHEW EDWARD KELLY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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