-Nick Johnson: Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
-Nate Gangelhoff: Bass
-Jeff Matika: Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
-Dan Elston-Jones: Drums
Central Standard
Banner Pilot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To find out what the world's about
Then you hit 21 years old
Something snapped and now all of your stories don't make much sense
Losing touch with your job, your school, parents, where are your friends?
Static grew and somehow faces end up black and blue
You got me out of bed for what?
Watch you getting drunk and yelling "fuck 'em all"
The fall flew in and fell on you
Flood the room with wine, you float across the floor
The war spilled out, I'm wading through
Talk about the kid who took the window down
And fell in a snowbank, broken man
I wonder if he thinks he should've took the stairs?
Aware some are playing with raw hands
No, there's no reason to doubt
These chemicals won't balance out
You got a hungry, lonely look
All your intentions get mistook, I grabbed your collar hard and shook
Scratch it off, kinda like the tattoos we'd rub on in school
Staying close, 'cause I know in your head self destruction's cool
Static grew and somehow faces end up black and blue
You got me out of bed for what?
Watch you getting drunk and yelling "fuck 'em all"
The fall flew in and fell on you
Flood the room with wine, you float across the floor
The war spilled out, I'm wading through
Talk about the kid who took the window down
And fell in a snowbank, broken man
I wonder if he thinks he should've took the stairs?
Aware some are playing with raw hands
So late, I'd offer to buy
I know you won't take, minds get corrupted
It's too hard to talk, if we stay here much longer
We'll get outlined in chalk, I say I'll call a cab, you say I'll walk
How'd another year turn out so bad?
How'd another year turn out so bad?
How'd another year turn out so bad?
How'd another year turn out so bad?
How'd another year turn out so bad?
How'd another year turn out so bad?
The lyrics to Banner Pilot's "Central Standard" relate to the struggles of young adulthood and the difficulties that come with transitioning into a new phase of life. The song's protagonist has recently turned 21 and has moved away from home, hoping to gain a better understanding of the world. However, as time goes on, they find themselves losing touch with their old life, including their job, school, parents, and friends. They feel increasingly isolated and disconnected from the people and places that once mattered to them.
The song's chorus, "watch you getting drunk and yelling 'fuck 'em all'," serves as a representation of this sense of displacement and frustration. The singer is struggling to find their place in the world and is turning to dangerous coping mechanisms in order to deal with their feelings of alienation. The lines "You got a hungry, lonely look / All your intentions get mistook, I grabbed your collar hard and shook" indicate that someone close to the singer is trying to intervene and get them back on track, but their efforts may not be enough. The song's repeated refrain of "How'd another year turn out so bad?" highlights the uncertainty and confusion that can come with this period of life.
Overall, "Central Standard" is a poignant and emotionally charged song that captures the difficulties of early adulthood. Its themes of isolation, disconnection, and uncertainty are sure to resonate with anyone who has struggled to find their way in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
You had enough so you moved out
You decided to leave your current situation because you could no longer tolerate it
To find out what the world's about
You wanted to explore new experiences and learn more about life
Then you hit 21 years old
At the age of 21, something changed in you
Something snapped and now all of your stories don't make much sense
Your life took a negative turn and all your past experiences seem meaningless now
Losing touch with your job, your school, parents, where are your friends?
You feel disconnected from the things and people that used to be important to you
Static grew and somehow faces end up black and blue
You feel stuck in a negative situation and it's affecting your mental and physical well-being
You got me out of bed for what?
You involved someone else in your problems and they don't understand why
Watch you getting drunk and yelling "fuck 'em all"
You're using alcohol to cope with your problems and feel anger towards others
The fall flew in and fell on you
The consequences of your actions have caught up with you
Flood the room with wine, you float across the floor
You're drinking excessively and losing control of yourself
The war spilled out, I'm wading through
Your behavior is causing chaos and someone else has to deal with it
Talk about the kid who took the window down and fell in a snowbank, broken man
You bring up another person's tragic story as a way to cope with your own pain
I wonder if he thinks he should've took the stairs?
You're asking a hypothetical question about someone else's mistake, but deep down you know you're also making poor choices
Aware some are playing with raw hands
You recognize that some people have it worse than you
No, there's no reason to doubt
You believe that your destructive behavior is justified
These chemicals won't balance out
You're using substances to feel better, but it's not working
You got a hungry, lonely look
Your appearance and behavior suggest that you're searching for something
All your intentions get mistook, I grabbed your collar hard and shook
Your actions are misunderstood and someone tries to intervene
Scratch it off, kinda like the tattoos we'd rub on in school
You're trying to erase your problems, but they keep resurfacing
Staying close, 'cause I know in your head self destruction's cool
Someone is trying to support you, but they know you're drawn to destructive behavior
So late, I'd offer to buy
It's very late and someone offers to help, but you refuse
I know you won't take, minds get corrupted
You reject the help because you believe it won't make a difference
It's too hard to talk, if we stay here much longer, we'll get outlined in chalk
You're avoiding conversation because it's difficult and you fear the potential consequences
I say I'll call a cab, you say I'll walk
The situation is tense and there's disagreement over how to handle it
How'd another year turn out so bad?
You reflect on how things have gone wrong and wonder why
Contributed by Leah S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.