It's been a long, strange trip for this outfit, which formed from the ashes of various collegiate bar bands in and around Berkeley, CA in 1994. The band has since released 7 albums on 5 different national labels, had 12 different members, logged over 50,000 miles, played hundreds of shows, contributed music to numerous film and television projects, and generally endured all manner of threats and pitfalls that haunt any band who dares to shoulder the Mantle of Rock. However, some things have never changed: Kelly on the skins, Scanlin on the wires/mics, and an unswerving dedication to and obsession with writing Songs. For Actionslacks the melody is key. It doesn't always have to be pretty, but if you don't have one, you don't have a song.
The penultimate album, Kids with Guitars, was an EP the band produced over the course of seven days in May of 2008, following a year of songwriting, demoing, and practicing (though never in the same room). It was initially released on-line (http://slacksaction.com/) on a pay-what-you-want basis, but is now available through iTunes and similar digital retailers or, more recently, as a CD release available through CDBaby.
The self-titled Actionslacks was recorded in mid-November 2009 and while it was slated for a Spring 2010 release, delays resulted in a release in early-October 2012.
Perfect G
Actionslacks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It only serves to show me
What we've become
The world is cold and sad
I know it's not that bad
Sometimes it's worse
And all I can do is keep waiting for you
There are so many ways they can take you away
But I'll stick up for you
I will hold your hand
Like a perfect gentleman
And if you cannot see
Hold onto me
And people are so cruel
They think it's cool
Until they crack
When you're feeling sad and scattered
The only thing that matters
Is who you know
But you and me get along swimmingly
We are floating in a pool of laughs
And we're so overjoyed and they're so annoyed
We'll leave them all behind
I will hold your hand
Like a perfect gentleman
And if you cannot see
Hold onto me
The lyrics of Actionslacks's song "Perfect G" reflects a sense of alienation and disconnection from society. The singer does not watch TV because it only serves to show what the world has become - a cold and sad place. Though he acknowledges that it is not that bad, he still feels overwhelmed by the negativity. He waits for someone to come and make things better, but he knows that there are many ways in which that person can be taken away. However, he promises to stick up for her and hold her hand like a perfect gentleman.
The song is also about the singer's relationship with his lover. People are cruel and think it's cool until they themselves crack. When the singer's lover is feeling sad and scattered, he offers her a hand to hold onto. They get along swimmingly and are overjoyed while others are annoyed. They are floating in a pool of laughs and plan to leave behind those who do not understand their connection.
Overall, the lyrics of "Perfect G" are about the state of society and the singer's promise to be there for his lover no matter what. The song acknowledges the negativity in the world but offers a sense of hope and resilience in the face of it all.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't watch TV
I refrain from watching TV since it only showcases the unpleasant reality of what we've become
It only serves to show me
Watching TV only enlightens me about the deteriorating current state of humanity
What we've become
Humanity has transformed into a cold and melancholic world
The world is cold and sad
The present world is full of negativity and sadness
I know it's not that bad
I am aware that the world's state is not entirely hopeless
Sometimes it's worse
On some occasions, the situation is even worse than we thought it could be
And all I can do is keep waiting for you
In such situations, my only hope is that you come to my side soon
To wind your way to my door
I look forward to the day you'll eventually come over to my place
There are so many ways they can take you away
There are many threats to your safety and well-being
But I'll stick up for you
Despite those threats, I will stand up for you
I will hold your hand
I promise to be your steadfast support
Like a perfect gentleman
I will show a chivalrous attitude of kindness and respect
And if you cannot see
If things are murky for you, I will help clear the way
Hold onto me
Just hold onto me and trust that we'll get through it together
And people are so cruel
Humans can be incredibly cruel and heartless sometimes
They think it's cool
Some people find this sort of behavior amusing or entertaining
Until they crack
But, in the end, they'll all break down under the pressure
When you're feeling sad and scattered
When you feel lost or downhearted
The only thing that matters
The only thing that'll make a difference
Is who you know
Is surrounding yourself with people who care and support
But you and me get along swimmingly
However, you and I get along extremely well
We are floating in a pool of laughs
Together, we find joy in life and enjoy many happy moments
And we're so overjoyed and they're so annoyed
While we're elated with happiness, they can't stand it
We'll leave them all behind
We will forget the negative people and move on with our happiness
Contributed by Mason D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.