The band was formed by rapper Jared Gomes, also known as "M.C.U.D." (MC Underdog), and guitarist Wes Geer, who became friends amidst the Orange County hardcore punk scene. Gomes and Geer recruited guitarist Chizad, bassist Mawk, drummer B.C. Vaught and DJ Product © 1969. They named the group "Hed", which stands for "higher education". The band built a following with their energetic performances at local venues, and released the self-financed extended play, Church of Realities. Legal issues forced Hed to change their name, adding PE, which stood for Planet Earth.
Band members;
Jared Gomes — vocals (1994-current)
Mawk (Mark Young) — bass (1994-current)
DJ Product © 1969 (Doug Boyce) — turntables (1994-current)
Jaxon — guitar (2004-current)
Trauma — drums (2009-current)
Listen
(hed) Planet Earth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I realized my life is flying by and I'm not afraid to die
I made a choice I chose to be the voice of the voiceless you heard that
I sold my soul to punk rock and so I chose to walk alone baby
Yeah, I gotta stay high man, you know how I get down, never say die, never lay down, nigga
You realized your life is flying by and you're not ready to die (tell me what did I find)
You take a hit you rose and from the hip explode the hollow tip homey
Yeah we gotta stay high man, you know how we get down, never say die never lay down, nigga
Listen times are changing
Everybody knows 'bout the games you're playing
One fall down and the rest will follow
Prepare today for the world tomorrow
(Tell me what did I find)
I wake up and bake I shake up the world that's what I'm here for
Lights out before the nights out I'm a see what you about baby
There comes a time when every man decides to live or die for freedom
Yeah, you gotta stay high man, you know how I get down, never say die, never lay down, nigga
The Black car the white collar covers all the bullet holes in the government yard
Try to hold on pray for the dawn but this time the nights are so fucking long
I get confused I don't know how to lose so I keep my DJ on the 1's and 2's
I paid the cost to be the boss, I suffered the loss of the chosen few
Listen times are changing
Everybody knows 'bout the games you're playing
One fall down and the rest will follow
Prepare today for the world tomorrow
Listen times are changing
Everybody knows 'bout the games you're playing
One fall down and the rest will follow
Prepare today for the world tomorrow
(What did I find)
I know you wanna take an eye for an eye but pretty soon the whole world will be blind
Hey, Hey, Hey, come on
The song "Listen" by (hed) Planet Earth expresses a deep sense of urgency, as the lyrics suggest a warning or a call to attention to the issues that the singer, Jahred, is concerned about. He talks about the fleeting nature of life and how he has decided to stand up for the voiceless. Jahred sold his soul to punk rock, which means he is fully committed to his cause and is willing to walk alone. He is not afraid to die but believes that he has a purpose in this world. He chants, "you gotta stay high, never say die, never lay down," which is a message to his listeners to stay strong and keep fighting for what they believe in.
As the song progresses, Jahred's message becomes more specific, and he starts talking about the games people play and the need to prepare for tomorrow. He believes that the times are changing, and people need to be aware of what is happening around them. Jahred talks about the darkness of the night and how confusing it can be, but he keeps his DJ on the 1's and 2's, which is a metaphor for staying focused and not losing sight of his goals. He has paid the cost to be the boss, meaning he has sacrificed a lot for his beliefs, and he is aware that not everyone is chosen to live this way.
Line by Line Meaning
I realized my life is flying by and I'm not afraid to die
You've come to the realization that life is short and you're not scared of dying
I made a choice I chose to be the voice of the voiceless you heard that
You have decided to speak up for those who cannot be heard
I sold my soul to punk rock and so I chose to walk alone baby
You have dedicated your life to punk rock and are willing to go at it alone if necessary
Yeah, I gotta stay high man, you know how I get down, never say die, never lay down, nigga
You need to stay motivated and positive, never giving up or giving in
You realized your life is flying by and you're not ready to die (tell me what did I find)
You have come to terms with your own mortality and are still striving to make the most of your life
You take a hit you rose and from the hip explode the hollow tip homey
You are able to rebound from setbacks and make your points with precision
This time the rhymes will cut through the fake cable news
Your message will break through the noise of mainstream media
Yeah we gotta stay high man, you know how we get down, never say die never lay down, nigga
You and your crew need to stay focused and persistent, refusing to quit or give up
Listen times are changing
Society is evolving and things are not the same as they once were
Everybody knows 'bout the games you're playing
People are aware of the manipulation and deceit that surrounds us
One fall down and the rest will follow
One mistake or loss can lead to a domino effect
Prepare today for the world tomorrow
We need to be proactive and ready for what's to come
I wake up and bake I shake up the world that's what I'm here for
You start your day smoking and ready to make an impact
Lights out before the nights out I'm a see what you about baby
You're not afraid of a challenge and will confront it head on
There comes a time when every man decides to live or die for freedom
At some point, everyone has to make a choice to fight for their own freedom
The Black car the white collar covers all the bullet holes in the government yard
The government tries to conceal its flaws and weaknesses with polished appearances
Try to hold on pray for the dawn but this time the nights are so fucking long
It's difficult to remain positive when times are tough and change seems slow to come
I get confused I don't know how to lose so I keep my DJ on the 1's and 2's
You struggle with setbacks but maintain your passion for music as an outlet
I paid the cost to be the boss, I suffered the loss of the chosen few
You have endured hardships in order to lead and have lost some along the way
I know you wanna take an eye for an eye but pretty soon the whole world will be blind
Revenge will only lead to a destructive cycle that harms us all in the end
Hey, Hey, Hey, come on
An encouraging call to action and perseverance
Contributed by Layla I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.