Looking for a way out
I put my foot out of line
Really like to break-out
I feel so confined

American leather
The poisonous members
Not alone, not together
Their American leather

Saw you on a dark road
Brought myself along
Got a sense of conflict
But I know what's wrong

American leather
The poisonous members
Not alone, not together
Their American leather

American leather
The poisonous members
Not alone, not together
Their American leather

I know that kinda feeling
So I built my place up high
But you'll never find me kneeling
Cause I'm too occupied

American leather
The poisonous members
Not alone-not together
Their American leather

Overall Meaning

The Germs' song "American Leather" seems to be about the feeling of confinement and seeking an escape. The opening lines "looking for a way out, I put my foot out of line, really like to break-out I feel so confined" expresses the desire to escape the current situation. The repetition of the phrase "American Leather" throughout the song seems to refer to the idea of conformity within society. The "poisonous members" could be interpreted as those who are part of the mainstream, conformist society. The line "not alone, not together" expresses the feeling of being isolated within a group of people who are similar to oneself, but not truly connecting with them.

The second verse talks about conflict, but the singer seems to know what is wrong. This could be interpreted as the internal conflict that one feels when trying to break free from conformity. The repetition of the phrase "American Leather" seems to be a reminder of the pressure to conform to society’s standards. The third verse talks about the singer building their own place up high, indicating that they are determined to break away from the conformity and isolation felt within society. The phrase "you'll never find me kneeling" suggests that the singer is not willing to bow down to societal conventions.

Line by Line Meaning

Looking for a way out
Seeking an escape or solution.

I put my foot out of line
Behaving in a way that is outside the norm or socially acceptable.

Really like to break-out
Desiring to leave or escape.

I feel so confined
Feeling restricted or limited.

American leather
Referring to a particular lifestyle or subculture.

The poisonous members
The negative or toxic people within that subculture.

Not alone, not together
Feeling isolated or disconnected from others within the subculture.

Their American leather
The negative aspects or consequences of that lifestyle or subculture.

Saw you on a dark road
Encountering someone on a dangerous or difficult path.

Brought myself along
Accompanying that person or joining them on that path.

Got a sense of conflict
Experiencing internal or external opposition or disagreement.

But I know what's wrong
Having a clear understanding of what is right and wrong.

I know that kinda feeling
Understanding or relating to a particular experience or emotion.

So I built my place up high
Creating a sense of security or control.

But you'll never find me kneeling
Resisting conforming to societal or cultural norms.

Cause I'm too occupied
Being consumed or focused on other things, rather than societal pressure or expectations.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Darby Crash, Georg Ruthenberg

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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@RawPower867

6y↑24

Looking for a way out
I put my foot out of line
I really like to break-out
I feel so confined

American leather
The poisonous members
Not alone, not together
American leather

Saw you on a dark road
So I brought myself along
Got a sense of conflict
But I know what's wrong

I know that kinda feeling
So I built my place up high
But you'll never find me kneeling
Because I'm too occupied