311 mix rock, rap, reggae and funk into their own unique sound. After years of consistent touring, 311 have developed a reputation as one of the hardest working, most influential and most entertaining live bands in the U.S.
311 have released ten studio albums, one live album, one greatest hits album and three dvd's - and have sold over 8.5 million albums in the U.S. Seven of their albums have reached the Top 10 on Billboard's Top 200 Sales Chart...and 9 of their singles have reached the Top 10 on Billboard's Alternative Rock Radio Chart (including the #1 singles Down, Love Song & Don't Tread On Me. Along with Amber, All Mixed Up, Come Original, Creatures For Awhile, Hey You, and Sunset in July).
311’s newest album, Universal Pulse, released in Summer 2011, was produced by Bob Rock, mixed by Chad Sexton and debuted at #7 on Billboard’s Top 200 Album Chart.
The band's celebratory live shows & incessant touring schedule have earned them a massive grassroots following nationwide. Since its inception in 2004, 311’s annual summer headlining amphitheatre run, Unity Tour, has become one of the largest modern rock concerts of the summer. Support acts on previous Unity Tours have included Sublime with Rome, The Offspring, Snoop Dogg, The Roots, Papa Roach, The Wailers, O.A.R., Matisyahu, and Ziggy Marley. Unity Tour 2012 will feature support from Slightly Stoopid.
311 BIO/HIGHLIGHTS:
* 311 was formed in 1990 in Omaha, Nebraska by vocalist/guitarist Nick Hexum, vocalist/dj SA Martinez, lead guitarist Tim Mahoney, drummer Chad Sexton and bassist P-Nut. The band now resides in Los Angeles.
* 311 has sold over 8.5 million units in the U.S.
* 311 has had 8 albums reach the Top 10 on Billboard’s U.S. Top 200 Sales Chart
* 311 has had 9 singles reach the Top 10 on Billboard’s U.S. Alternative Chart (including the #1 singles “Down”, “Love Song” & “Don’t Tread On Me” along with “Amber”, “All Mixed Up”, “Come Original”, “Creatures (For a While)”, “Hey You” and "Sunset in July")
* 311’s new album, Universal Pulse, debuted at #7 in July 2011 and was produced by Bob Rock (Metallica, Bon Jovi, Motley Crue, Aerosmith).
* 311’s new album, due summer of 2011, was produced by Bob Rock (Metallica, Bon Jovi, Motley Crue, Aerosmith).
* 311’s sound is a unique hybrid of rock, reggae, hip-hop & funk. A balance of hard rocking anthems and melodic reggae grooves - with an underlying message of unity & positivity.
* After years of incessant touring, 311 has developed a reputation as one of the most influential & most entertaining live bands in the U.S.
* With their celebratory live shows, 311 has earned a massive grassroots following. For the past nine years, 311 has headlined their summer “Unity Tour” in ampitheatres across the U.S.- drawing crowds of 10,000 to 18,000 people in Atlanta, Boston, DC, New Jersey, Los Angeles, St. Louis, West Palm, Charlotte, VA Beach, Denver, etc. The tour is consistently one of the largest modern rock concerts of the summer in the U.S.
* Past 311 tours have included an impressive array of opening acts. Bands such as No Doubt, Korn & Incubus all supported 311 on U.S. tours before they became headliners.
* Support acts on 311’s Unity Tour have included :
Sublime With Rome, The Offspring, Snoop Dogg, The Roots, Papa Roach, The Wailers, O.A.R., Matisyahu and Ziggy Marley.
* 311 has always stayed true to their own approach and their underlying message of unity and positivity. That message still rings true for them today…in their lyrics and at their celebratory live shows. Singer Nick Hexum typically ends each show with the words, “Stay Positive and Love Your Life.”
• Every other year on March 11th (“3-11 Day”), 311 holds a special concert event that attracts thousands of 311 fans from around the world. The show includes an extended setlist (5 hours / 60+ songs) and state of the art production. Last year the band sold-out the Mandalay Bay Arena and tickets were sold to fans in all 50 U.S. states and 13 different countries. 311 fans traveled from around the globe to meet each other and to celebrate 311 Day together.
Little Brother
311 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You've got so much to discover
Can't you conceptualize
What you're doing to our mother
Those drugs that you choose
Leave you left with the blues
Trust me I've been there
Pending disaster
You're heading there faster
It's tearing me up
To know you get so plastered
Because you're caught up in the scene
At the age of nineteen
Maybe so was I at the age
But I had a dream
And those goddamn powdered drugs
They'll fill you with doubt
You're just getting sucked on up in it
And you have to break out
You blacked out on the floor
You told me, the next day they found you that way
Those damn medications had your back baby
It hurt when they took them all away
You're feeling so bad
You're looking for a place to land
Help me understand
How in hell it got so out of hand
I know that it's hard
But you're risking being permanently scared
You're hurting inside
So you're flirting with tragedy on the dark side
Those drugs that you choose
Leave you left with the blues
Trust me I've been there
To me it's old news
Hey little brother
You messed up another chance
Sooner or later you must take a stand
At the edge of it
All where you begin
To consume that product to its very end
How much time is left
Will you collapse
Will you confess you're in a spiritless void
Spinning into excess
You blacked out on the floor
You told me, the next day they found you that way
Those damn medications had your back baby
It hurt when they took them all away
You're feeling so bad
You're looking for a place to land
Help me understand
How in hell it got so out of hand, go
The lyrics of 311's "Little Brother" convey a powerful message about the dangers of drug abuse and addiction. The song is addressed to the singer's younger brother, who is struggling with addiction and seems to be heading towards a dark and dangerous path. The song begins with the singer acknowledging the potential his brother has, but also expressing concern about the negative impact the addiction is having on their family.
The chorus repeatedly highlights the negative impact of drugs, with lines like "Those drugs that you choose leave you left with the blues" and "You're hurting inside, so you're flirting with tragedy on the dark side". Despite the singer's pleas for his brother to seek help and take a stand to overcome his addiction, the lyrics suggest that his brother is caught up in the "scene" and unable to break free. The song ends on a hopeful but cautionary note, with the singer urging his brother to ask for help before it's too late.
Overall, "Little Brother" is a moving and insightful exploration of the challenges faced by those struggling with addiction and the impact it has on those around them. It is a reminder to listeners of the importance of seeking help and support, and the potential for positive change.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, hey little brother
The singer is addressing their younger sibling.
You've got so much to discover
The younger sibling has much to learn and experience in life.
Can't you conceptualize
The younger sibling is unable to understand the impact of their choices.
What you're doing to our mother
The younger sibling's actions are negatively affecting their mother.
Those drugs that you choose
The younger sibling is addicted to drugs.
Leave you left with the blues
Drug addiction leads to depression and sadness.
Trust me I've been there
The singer has also struggled with drug addiction.
To me it's old news
The artist has moved past their addiction and no longer finds it exciting.
Pending disaster
The younger sibling is on the brink of destruction due to their addiction.
You're heading there faster
The younger sibling is quickly spiraling out of control.
It's tearing me up
The singer is emotionally distressed over their sibling's addiction.
To know you get so plastered
The artist is upset that their sibling is getting so drunk/high.
Because you're caught up in the scene
The younger sibling is caught up in the drug culture.
At the age of nineteen
The younger sibling is young and impressionable.
Maybe so was I at the age
The singer was also young once and may have made similar mistakes.
But I had a dream
The artist had goals and aspirations that helped them avoid addiction.
And those goddamn powdered drugs
The artist is angry at the drugs their sibling is using.
They'll fill you with doubt
Drugs can make a person doubt themselves and their reality.
You're just getting sucked on up in it
The younger sibling is becoming more and more addicted to drugs.
And you have to break out
The younger sibling needs to break free from their addiction before it's too late.
You blacked out on the floor
The younger sibling has overdosed on drugs and passed out.
You told me, the next day they found you that way
The younger sibling has confided in the artist about their addiction and overdose.
Those damn medications had your back baby
The drugs that the younger sibling is taking were once their crutch or support.
It hurt when they took them all away
The younger sibling felt pain when they had to stop using drugs or when the drugs stopped working.
You're feeling so bad
The younger sibling is feeling very depressed and anxious.
You're looking for a place to land
The younger sibling needs help and support to deal with their addiction.
Help me understand
The singer is asking their sibling to explain their addiction and how they got there.
How in hell it got so out of hand
The artist is questioning how the addiction got to be so severe and difficult to control.
Hey little brother
The artist is addressing their younger sibling again.
You messed up another chance
The younger sibling has made mistakes and missed out on opportunities because of their addiction.
Sooner or later you must take a stand
The younger sibling needs to make a decision to quit drugs and take control of their life.
At the edge of it
The younger sibling is close to disaster.
All where you begin
The addiction is where the younger sibling's problems started.
To consume that product to its very end
The younger sibling is using drugs to the point of addiction and self-destruction.
How much time is left
The singer is concerned about how much time the younger sibling has left to live a healthy and fulfilling life.
Will you collapse
The younger sibling may collapse or die from their addiction.
Will you confess you're in a spiritless void
The younger sibling may need to admit that they feel empty and hollow without drugs.
Spinning into excess
The younger sibling is spiraling out of control due to their addiction.
Help me understand, how in hell it got so out of hand, go
The singer is reiterating their desire to understand how their sibling's addiction became so severe and dangerous.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHAD SEXTON, DAVID KAHNE, DOUG MARTINEZ, NICHOLAS HEXUM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind