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.
Wake Your Mind Up
311 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Move and rise up before your times up
Clock is ticking, your caught slippin'
Stop to realize, look and listen
Well I guess that's life
When you see a dark road up the way
And I guess that's life
Now don't scream, don't fight
Fear never ever made it go away
Same ghost town as yesterday
Made you feel like love was miles away
Wake your mind up, clear your eyes up
Move and rise up before your times up
Clock is ticking, your caught slippin'
Stop to realize, look and listen
Now those sleepless nights
Thoughts just cloud up my brain
Feeling helpless, repeating the same
Old memories of pain and I wish it would rain, yo
Gimmie starlit skies for dreamland
I know it's really smaller than it seems but when
The pressure gets under my skin
I just want to get out and scream in the wind, yo
The world we're livin in is complicated
The streets that we walk on are dark and jaded
A wandering soul that's filled with hatred
In it is poison, the youth is tainted
Social engineering keeps us separated
Media control is highly overrated
Ignorance is bliss to those uneducated
Listen to the message 'cause it's time we faced it
Wake your mind up, clear your eyes up
Move and rise up before your times up
Clock is ticking, your caught slippin'
Stop to realize, look and listen
I'm controller of my destination
Gotta change my mind to help me break away
The sun creeps over the hillside to shed this light
No man could take away
And I guess that's life
You see a new side from the norm
A new direction and meaning to the form
And the calm in the eye of a storm, yo
Show me a desert that can never be drenched
I'll show you a thirst that can never be quenched
Temptation chronicles, the story of my life
Been spent on a dose of balancing strife
Inspiration it comes and goes
You can bet when it hits, I'm on the phone
Singing to my voice mail trying to get it down
In a sensation of shape shifting sound
You're telling fables to cover up your foibles
From overindulgence on things you find enjoyable
Designed to take my mind away from the truth
Try to make me out to play the sleuth
They want you to think someone's watching you
So they can make up a set of rules for you
I'm just trying to find a path that I can stomach
Just trying to make some sense out from it, unh
Don't stop, don't stop what you got
Don't stop til you find the sweet spot
Wake your mind up, clear your eyes up
Move and rise up before your times up
Clock is ticking, your caught slippin'
Stop to realize, look and listen
The lyrics of Wake Your Mind Up by 311 depict the struggles of trying to cope with the complexities of the world we live in. The song urges the listener to wake up, clear their eyes and move before time runs out. It emphasizes the importance of taking a step back, realizing and acknowledging the chaos and darkness around us, and then taking action. The clock is ticking, we're slipping, and we need to stop and listen to understand the message. The poetic language and metaphors used in the song beautifully convey the feeling of being lost in a maze of societal expectations and voices trying to divert us from our path. It's a call for self-discovery and determination to take control of our journey towards the light.
The song's bridge talks about the ups and downs of life. The lyrics describe the struggle of walking on streets that are dark and jaded, where wandering souls are filled with hatred. In a world where media controls are highly overrated, ignorance is a bliss that keeps the uneducated separated. The song urges the listener to take control of their destination, to change their mind and break away from the darkness. It's a plea to break free from the poisoned social engineering and the temptations that chronicle the story of our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Wake your mind up, clear your eyes up
Be alert and aware, give your full attention.
Move and rise up before your times up
Take action and make the most of your time while you still have it.
Clock is ticking, your caught slippin'
Time is running out and you're not making the most of it.
Stop to realize, look and listen
Take a moment to pause and reflect, be open to new ideas and perspectives.
Well I guess that's life
Life is not always easy or comfortable, but we have to keep going anyway.
When you see a dark road up the way
When faced with uncertainty and difficult situations.
When you gotta roll through anyway
Even if it's tough, you have to keep moving forward.
Now don't scream, don't fight
Don't let fear and frustration consume you.
Fear never ever made it go away
Being afraid doesn't solve anything.
Same ghost town as yesterday
Feeling like nothing ever changes, stuck in a rut.
Made you feel like love was miles away
Feeling disconnected and lonely, like love is out of reach.
Now those sleepless nights
Feeling restless and struggling to rest.
Thoughts just cloud up my brain
Feeling overwhelmed and unable to think clearly.
Feeling helpless, repeating the same
Feeling stuck in a cycle, unable to break free.
Old memories of pain and I wish it would rain
Feeling nostalgic for a time when things were better, but also experiencing sadness and longing.
The world we're livin in is complicated
Modern society is complex and difficult to navigate.
The streets that we walk on are dark and jaded
People are disillusioned and skeptical of the world around them.
A wandering soul that's filled with hatred
People are lost and angry, struggling to find their way.
In it is poison, the youth is tainted
There are negative and harmful influences on young people.
Social engineering keeps us separated
Society is designed to keep us apart, isolated and disconnected from each other.
Media control is highly overrated
The influence of the media is not as strong as we think it is.
Ignorance is bliss to those uneducated
People who are unaware of the world's problems are happier than those who are informed.
Listen to the message 'cause it's time we faced it
Pay attention to the underlying message, it's time to confront the problems we face.
I'm controller of my destination
I have the power to shape my own life and future.
Gotta change my mind to help me break away
To break free from negative patterns, I have to change the way I think.
No man could take away
There are some things that are beyond anyone's control.
You see a new side from the norm
Looking at things from a different perspective can be enlightening and helpful.
A new direction and meaning to the form
Finding a new way of doing things can bring fresh insight and motivation.
And the calm in the eye of a storm, yo
Finding peace and serenity even in the midst of chaos.
Show me a desert that can never be drenched
Pointing out the seemingly impossible.
I'll show you a thirst that can never be quenched
No matter how much we have, we always want more.
Temptation chronicles, the story of my life
Struggling with desires and making choices that are not always in our best interest.
Been spent on a dose of balancing strife
The struggle to find balance and peace of mind.
Inspiration it comes and goes
Creativity and motivation are not always consistent.
You can bet when it hits, I'm on the phone
When inspiration strikes, I'm quick to act and create.
Singing to my voice mail trying to get it down
Recording ideas and inspiration so as not to forget them.
In a sensation of shape shifting sound
The experience of creative breakthroughs and transformation.
You're telling fables to cover up your foibles
Trying to hide flaws and mistakes through lies and stories.
From overindulgence on things you find enjoyable
Making unhealthy choices and engaging in destructive behaviors.
Designed to take my mind away from the truth
Distractions and addictions that prevent us from facing reality.
Try to make me out to play the sleuth
Trying to deceive and manipulate others.
They want you to think someone's watching you
Feeling like you're being watched and judged by society or authority figures.
So they can make up a set of rules for you
Those in power want to control and regulate our behavior and actions.
I'm just trying to find a path that I can stomach
Struggling to find a way of life that is fulfilling and satisfying.
Just trying to make some sense out from it, unh
Trying to make meaning and purpose out of life's challenges and difficulties.
Don't stop, don't stop what you got
Don't give up on what you're doing or what you have.
Don't stop til you find the sweet spot
Keep going until you find the right balance or the perfect fit.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: AARON WILLS, CHAD SEXTON, NICHOLAS HEXUM, TREVANT HARDSON, WILLIAM ADAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind