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.
Solar Flare
311 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I do lack a mental cover
It keeps on pounding my head
World order, water torture, exhausted economics
Everyday just more comics
In a pissing contest
That started out with atomic
Bombs, mom will they drop the bomb
Being born with limbs missing
There's no one to call
You can't make 'em stall
I want to feed them to each other
'Cause I'm sick of them all
How can't you see something's missing
Is anyone listening
We're shooting up flares
Does anyone care
They've got this world locked down bound and gagged
From the rez in Pine Ridge to that land in Baghdad
When did our leaders
Become bottom feeders
We're shooting up flares
Does anyone care
They got this world locked down bound and gagged
With constant fear and paranoia, toxins in our head
It's just something they know how to do
(How to make everyone feel uncalm)
The masses just take it while they turn the screws
(Bring to a boil, add oil, then bomb)
It's just something that we gotta fight
(How to make everyone feel uncalm)
Keep us distracted with fuel to ignite
(Bring to a boil)
Porno shows, MTV hoes, and on the radio
It's the same fucking song
That's just the way it goes
Cultures referral to democracy's girls
Learn the rules of engagement sweetheart
This is the world
How can so many sit silent
Numb to the violence
We're shooting up flares
Does anyone care
They got this world locked down bound and gagged
The Botoxed Barbie dolls in stupid magazine ads
It's just something they know how to do
(How to make everyone feel uncalm)
The masses just take it while they turn the screws
(Bring to a boil, add oil, then bomb)
Embodying all that we know to be wrong
(How to make everyone feel uncalm)
When a war chant becomes the popular song
(Bring to a boil)
The lyrics to "Solar Flare" by 311 express a sense of frustration and helplessness towards the state of the world today. The singer begins by admitting that they are not lacking a gentle mother, but instead are lacking a mental cover that protects them from the constant barrage of negative news and events. They feel overwhelmed by the state of world order, the water torture of exhausted economics, and the constant stream of comics that are more likely to provoke a pissing contest than inspire positive change. The singer wonders whether leaders will drop the bomb and not think about the consequences of the children's children who will be born missing limbs in the aftermath. They wish they could feed the leaders to each other because they are tired of them all.
The singer continues by asking the listener if they can see that something is missing and if anyone is listening to their cries for change. They shoot up flares and wonder if anyone even cares about the state of the world. The world appears to be locked down, bound, and gagged with constant fear and paranoia, as toxins are introduced to their head. The leaders have become bottom feeders, and the masses just take it while they "turn the screws." The singer urges that the world is just something they know how to do, and the masses are distracted with fuel to ignite, including porno shows, MTV hoes, and the same song playing on the radio. Cultures referring to democracy in regards to girls are misguided, and they must learn the rules of engagement because "this is the world."
Line by Line Meaning
Not for lack of a gentle mother
My upbringing wasn't the problem
I do lack a mental cover
But I need something to protect me from life's negativity
It keeps on pounding my head
The world's chaos and problems constantly bombard me
World order, water torture, exhausted economics
Politics and economics have me feeling distressed and trapped
Everyday just more comics
It's becoming a joke how terrible things are getting
In a pissing contest
Countries are competing to see who has more power, like children fighting
That started out with atomic
The competition began with the creation of nuclear bombs
Bombs, mom will they drop the bomb
I worry that a nuclear war could happen
Will they think about their children's children
Do leaders consider the long-term consequences of their actions?
Being born with limbs missing
The horrific consequences of war could impact future generations
There's no one to call
I feel helpless and like I can't do anything to change things
You can't make 'em stall
Attempts to delay or change outcomes seem futile
I want to feed them to each other
I'm so tired of the way leaders behave, I want them to destroy each other
'Cause I'm sick of them all
Their failure to lead effectively is exhausting
How can't you see something's missing
There's a clear deficiency in our society
Is anyone listening
Does anyone care enough to make a change?
We're shooting up flares
We're trying to get someone's attention about the issues at hand
Does anyone care
But it doesn't seem like anyone truly cares
They've got this world locked down bound and gagged
People feel trapped and powerless in our current societal structure
From the rez in Pine Ridge to that land in Baghdad
The feeling of oppression is felt by marginalized peoples all over the world
When did our leaders
At what point did those in charge become corrupt?
Become bottom feeders
And begin to prioritize personal gain over the betterment of society?
With constant fear and paranoia, toxins in our head
The current state of the world leaves people anxious, fearful, and uneasy
It's just something they know how to do
Those in power are experts at manipulating the masses
(How to make everyone feel uncalm)
By creating chaos and panic
The masses just take it while they turn the screws
Most people don't fight back and instead allow themselves to be controlled
(Bring to a boil, add oil, then bomb)
Those in power use violent and destructive tactics to maintain control
It's just something that we gotta fight
We need to resist and challenge the status quo
Keep us distracted with fuel to ignite
Those in power distract us with meaningless things to prevent us from banding together
Porno shows, MTV hoes, and on the radio
Entertainment is used to placate and distract us from reality
It's the same fucking song
There's nothing new or progressive being produced
That's just the way it goes
And that's accepted as the norm
Cultures referral to democracy's girls
Democracy and freedom are seen as idealistic, feminine concepts
Learn the rules of engagement sweetheart
But in reality, our supposed freedoms have strings attached
This is the world
And it's not the utopia we were taught to believe in
How can so many sit silent
Why aren't more people speaking out against injustice?
Numb to the violence
Overexposure to violence and injustice has desensitized many
The Botoxed Barbie dolls in stupid magazine ads
The beauty industry's unrealistic standards are distracting and harmful
Embodying all that we know to be wrong
Those in power represent everything we're fighting against
When a war chant becomes the popular song
Violence and aggression are glorified and normalized
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DOUGLAS MARTINEZ, NICHOLAS HEXUM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind