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.
Rock On
311 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kept it on the tip of your tongue
You can taste it
Never thought you'd play with a gun
But it's pleasing
At least you can feel something
The burning of your flesh hits your nose
Now you're bumping
When you are dealing
Back spinning wheels
And doing that grind
All of the time
Some will a getcha
Know they'll out betcha
Swipe away your dime
Find you're bottom line
You're cruisin'
Don't even care about what you're losing
You're using anything that comes your way
Here today, gone tomorrow all about
Beg, steal, and borrow
Can't stop, won't stop
Til there's nothing left but sorrow
You're cruisin'
Don't even care about what you're losing
You're using anything that comes your way
Here today, gone tomorrow all about
Beg, steal, and borrow
Can't stop, won't stop
Til there's nothing left but sorrow
The palace became a prison
The phoenix within you risen
Shot by your own device
You pay the price
And so you give in to the
Pity party, party of one
No one shows up
Another sip of poison
Slow death fills your cup
Your head's wrecked from the neck down
It's out of your hands
Your arms feel tied down
And you can't understand
And when you try to stand up
Your legs have other plans
Oh man, damn, you can't get out of this jam
You're cruisin'
Don't even care about what you're losing
You're using anything that comes your way
Here today, gone tomorrow all about
Beg, steal, and borrow
Can't stop, won't stop
Til there's nothing left but sorrow
You're cruisin'
Don't even care about what you're losing
You're using anything that comes your way
Here today, gone tomorrow all about
Beg, steal, and borrow
Can't stop, won't stop
Til there's nothing left but sorrow
The lyrics to 311's song "Rock On" describe the dangerous path of addiction and self-destruction. The opening lines describe someone who is under the influence, but still seeking more. The mention of a gun suggests that this person is taking risks that they never thought they would. However, the pleasure they feel from the rush of living dangerously overrides the risk.
The next verse seems to describe the cyclical nature of addiction. The lines "Back spinning wheels/And doing that grind/All of the time" suggest that the person is trapped in a pattern of behavior that they cannot escape. They are always chasing something, but they never seem to catch it. Additionally, the mention of others who "will getcha" suggest that this behavior is not only self-destructive, but also puts them in harm's way with others who may be involved in dangerous situations.
The chorus repeats the idea that the person is living for the moment, with complete disregard for the future. The lines "Here today, gone tomorrow all about/Beg, steal, and borrow" suggest that they are willing to do whatever it takes to get what they want, even if it means hurting themselves or others. The final verse describes the toll that this lifestyle takes on the person. They are trapped in a "pity party" with no one to comfort them but themselves. The mention of a "sip of poison" suggests that they are self-medicating to numb the pain that they are feeling. Overall, the song is a cautionary tale about the dangers of addiction and reckless behavior.
Line by Line Meaning
You're wasted
You are under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Kept it on the tip of your tongue
You've been thinking about this for a while and it's always on your mind
You can taste it
You've been desiring it so much that you can practically taste it
Never thought you'd play with a gun
You never expected to be involved in something so dangerous
But it's pleasing
Although you know it's not good for you, the experience is satisfying
At least you can feel something
You're numb to everything else but this makes you feel alive
The burning of your flesh hits your nose
The smell of gunpowder is strong and unmistakeable
Now you're bumping
You're feeling excited about this new experience
When you are dealing
When you are living life
Back spinning wheels
Going backwards and forwards without making any real progress
And doing that grind
Working hard to try to get ahead
All of the time
Constantly, without a break
Some will a getcha
Some will try to take advantage of you
Know they'll out betcha
They know how to manipulate you and win over you
Swipe away your dime
They'll steal your money easily
Find you're bottom line
You'll realize that you've hit rock bottom
You're cruisin'
You're living life recklessly and carelessly
Don't even care about what you're losing
You're so caught up in the moment that you're not thinking about the consequences
You're using anything that comes your way
You're taking advantage of any opportunity, good or bad
Here today, gone tomorrow all about
You're living in the moment and not thinking about the future
Beg, steal, and borrow
You're resorting to desperate measures to get what you want
Can't stop, won't stop
You won't change your ways or stop doing what you're doing
Til there's nothing left but sorrow
You'll keep doing this until you've hit rock bottom and have nothing left
The palace became a prison
The good life you once had has become a trap
The phoenix within you risen
Even though you've hit rock bottom, you still have the ability to rise again
Shot by your own device
You're responsible for your own downfall
You pay the price
You suffer the consequences of your actions
And so you give in to the
You surrender to the
Pity party, party of one
You're feeling sorry for yourself and are alone in your misery
No one shows up
No one is there to help you out of this situation
Another sip of poison
You continue to do things that are harmful to you
Slow death fills your cup
Your actions are leading to your demise
Your head's wrecked from the neck down
Your whole body is affected by your reckless behavior and you feel out of control
It's out of your hands
You don't feel like you have control over your life anymore
Your arms feel tied down
You feel like you're trapped and can't escape your situation
And you can't understand
You don't know how you got into this situation or how to get out of it
And when you try to stand up
When you try to make things better
Your legs have other plans
You feel like you're physically incapable of changing your situation
Oh man, damn, you can't get out of this jam
You're stuck in this situation and can't seem to improve it
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHAD SEXTON, DOUGLAS MARTINEZ, NICHOLAS HEXUM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind