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.
Make It Rough
311 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Slow as turning soil
That's the only way to reach me that much I am sure of
Bring it to a boil
Just take your time, thoroughly
Let the seasons be the air you
Breathe in and out
Wait for spring's returning
Try not to think too far ahead
The pendulum swings soon enough
We could stay on this side instead
But we wanna make it rough
(Ahead)
(Instead)
There were times I thought I'd get there
I know you thought so too
The days have bled together now, anyway will do
If you're looking I might have it but
you have to look to see
The image you have of me is
What I'd like to be
I was so good at pretending
And denying when things bothered me
So shut the front door I'll
Kick in the back
Metaphorically, I'm hoping
Try not to think too far ahead
The pendulum swings soon enough
We could stay on this side instead
But we wanna make it rough
Make it rough 'til they put you in the handcuff
Seeking out minds that are not yet corrupt
Woi-oh woi-oh and away you go
I'm a go on til the god damn juice gone
Far enough into the journey to feel the satisfaction yes
Action speaking louder than bombs and we just go
on and on, on and on, on and on, on and on and on
Try not to think too far ahead
The pendulum swings soon enough
We could stay on this side instead
But we wanna make it rough
The song 'Make It Rough' by 311 is a song about embracing life's challenges and accepting that difficult times lie ahead. It opens with the lyrics "Never thought it would come easy, Slow as turning soil, That's the only way to reach me that much I am sure of, Bring it to a boil". These lyrics mean that the songwriter has come to the realization that life is a journey of hard work and perseverance and that anything worth achieving must involve some level of difficulty. The following lyrics "Just take your time, thoroughly, Let the seasons be the air you breathe in and out, Patiently, Wait for spring's returning" emphasize that the songwriter is encouraging the listener to be patient and allow life to unfold, embracing the different seasons of life and knowing that change will come in time.
In the second verse, the songwriter reflects on the journey they have been on and their personal battles. The lyrics "There were times I thought I'd get there, I know you thought so too, The days have bled together now, anyway will do" suggest that the songwriter is coming to terms with not achieving everything they wanted to in life, but they are accepting that things will fall into place regardless of their initial plans. The line "If you're looking I might have it but, you have to look to see, The image you have of me is What I'd like to be" highlights that the songwriter is aware of how they are perceived by others but is striving to become the best version of themselves.
The chorus of the song "Try not to think too far ahead, The pendulum swings soon enough, We could stay on this side instead, But we wanna make it rough" reiterates the message of accepting challenges and embracing difficulties in life. It encourages the listener to take risks and go beyond their comfort zone to achieve their goals.
Line by Line Meaning
Never thought it would come easy
This journey is not one that I expected to be simple
Slow as turning soil
This journey requires a lot of time and patience
That's the only way to reach me that much I am sure of
The slow and steady approach is the only way to connect with me
Bring it to a boil
Once you've taken your time, intensify your efforts
Breathe in and out
Relax and take your time
Patiently
Be calm and composed while waiting for the right opportunity
Wait for spring's returning
Wait for the right time to take action
Try not to think too far ahead
Don't get too caught up in the future and lose sight of the present
The pendulum swings soon enough
Things will change soon enough, so be patient
We could stay on this side instead
We could choose to remain stagnant and not take any risks
But we wanna make it rough
But we want to challenge ourselves and push past our comfort zones
There were times I thought I'd get there
There were times when I thought I would achieve my goal
I know you thought so too
You believed I would succeed as well
The days have bled together now, anyway will do
Time has passed and any day will suffice to make progress
If you're looking I might have it but you have to look to see
I may have what you're looking for, but you have to search for it
The image you have of me is what I'd like to be
The way you see me is the person I aspire to be
I was so good at pretending
I was skilled at hiding my true feelings and thoughts
And denying when things bothered me
I would refuse to acknowledge when something was bothering me
So shut the front door I'll kick in the back
I'm not afraid to be unconventional and take risks
Metaphorically, I'm hoping
In a figurative sense, I'm optimistic
Make it rough 'til they put you in the handcuff
Keep pushing yourself until you're forced to stop
Seeking out minds that are not yet corrupt
Looking for people who still have open-mindedness and purity
Woi-oh woi-oh and away you go
Encouraging someone to start their journey
I'm a go on til the god damn juice gone
I'll continue pushing myself until I have nothing left to give
Far enough into the journey to feel the satisfaction yes
I've made enough progress to feel fulfilled
Action speaking louder than bombs and we just go on and on, on and on, on and on, on and on and on
Our actions are more effective than explosive language, and we continue to make progress on this journey
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Brandy Oliver
People often ask what my secret is to always smiling, loving life, being filled with laughter, and just genuinely having a good time, as often as I can, and my answer has been the same for more than 20 years. 311.
Music Plus with Troy
Just seeing this for the first time. Damn! 311 will forever be my favorite band
RµÐ¥ ÖMH§
forever in love with this band
Robert
Yeah.
SharkTank311
Just found this 6 years later. Great job P Nut!!
Micheal Laverty
The best song from a superb album. Blue Album, Evolver, and Music remain my favourites, but Stereolithic is getting better with each listen.
Erin Noel DiCarlo
Always fun to see the behind the scenes stuff! Loved it!!!
Paul Rose
GREAT work!! Love the POV style video work too! You dudes never fail to amaze me!
Necrophillus Apestosus
Sen dog! Rome! Teotihuacán! Que más se puede pedir en un vídeo ... Que sea de 311 😍
Steven Hill
You guys shot this yourself? Awesome. Been a fan for over 20 years. Keeping it positive as always. Much Love from south Carolina