A complete fresh start is what 12cent is now. After 10 years in Boston MA, we packed up our van and moved to San Diego CA.
12cent started as a joke band in 1995. Tom and Scott were sitting on a street corner with an acoustic guitar. Yelling and hammering out joke song after joke song. When a car drove by tossing out the fateful nickel and 7 pennies that became their namesake.
The next few years were full of backyard shows, adding a bass player (Dan in 1997), basement shows, VFW halls, 2 demo tapes, and mayhem. We played louder, faster, and anywhere we could get a show. Bought a shitty van and picked up a copy of BYOFL and strung together DIY tour after DIY tour. This was us growing up, living life the way we wanted to. Booking our own tours, putting out our own records, traveling, making friends, and opening for bands that were our heroes.
In 2001, after coming back from our "Gas Sux Ass US Tour", we added Pete on 2nd guitar and locked ourselves in Tom's basement to write our first full length album. "Bastard Music" came out in 2002, and pretty much was the summary of what 12cent was. Filled with stories and songs we had written about the first 6 years of the band and all that we had done. And again, in our DIY fashion released it ourselves under our own record label name "Olde Tyme productions". Fast, loud, fun, and something we were all very proud of.
"Bastard Music" sold more copies, and faster than we had ever before. We were playing all the time. All over Boston/New England, and a few more East Coast tours. The next 2 years we played over 100 shows, recorded a split CD with JHC, as well as 3 unreleased tracks for "Rock Vegas records: Volume 1". Then in 2004, opened the east coast tour for Intro5pect on A-F records.
Then, again in 2006, the itch returned. 12cent relocated to San Diego, California. Including our newest member, Bispo on the piano, who we had only met 5 months before moving. For our "Goodbye to Massachusetts" shows, we wanted an organ player for one of our songs. Bispo was fancy with the keys so we gave him a shot. After 2 practices, the 19 year old packed up all his shit and moved across the country with a band of kids he hardly knew.
We decided to pick up and leave everyone and everything we know, all because we believe in this. Its been a crazy and wild ride for the last 10 years.
And now, with Brian on drums, we are getting to know our new home, and writing our next full length album.
People
12cent Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Korn really sucks, the Grateful Deads the same
There is the average joe, working for a buck
And us fucking kids, who just don't give a fuck
You people
Are not the same
Games for the jocks
Poor little vegan, can only eat rocks
Trendy bi-sexuals kiss each other for fun
And us 12cent kids together as one
The lyrics of 12cent's song People presents a commentary on modern society. The song suggests that people have changed and are not the same as before. The first line, "People these days are not the same," introduces the theme of how society has shifted. The lyrics then go on to give specific examples of this change, such as how Korn and the Grateful Dead are not popular anymore. The song presents a juxtaposition between the "average joe, working for a buck," and the edgy "fucking kids who just don't give a fuck."
The song also touches on different social groups and their behaviors. The gangs are fighting, the jocks are playing games, and the vegans can only eat rocks. The song comments on the trendy behavior of being bisexual, and how it is used for fun and not necessarily a true identity. The last line of the song suggests that amidst the changes, there is still a group of people who stay together as one, the "12cent kids."
The lyrics of People suggest that society is constantly evolving but also seem to criticize the current state of society. The song may be interpreted as a call to action for the youth, or a commentary on the state of youth culture.
Line by Line Meaning
People these days are not the same
The world has changed with time and people are no longer the same as they used to be.
Korn really sucks, the Grateful Deads the same
Popular music nowadays is not as good as it used to be in the past.
There is the average joe, working for a buck
There are people who are working hard to make a living.
And us fucking kids, who just don't give a fuck
We are young and carefree, and not afraid to live life on our own terms.
Gangs in fighting
There are groups of people who are involved in violent activities.
Games for the jocks
Sports are mainly designed for the athletic and muscular students.
Poor little vegan, can only eat rocks
Being a vegan is difficult, and some may struggle to find proper food to eat.
Trendy bi-sexuals kiss each other for fun
Some people may experiment with their sexuality for fun or as a trend.
And us 12cent kids together as one
We, the youth who listen to 12cent, unite and share similar values and outlook on life.
Contributed by Lucy J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.