Rock & Roll from Oxford, Mississippi, USA. Originally John Barrett's solo p… Read Full Bio ↴Rock & Roll from Oxford, Mississippi, USA. Originally John Barrett's solo project, Colin Sneed soon joined to drum for live shows. Print joined the band mid-2010 to play bass for live shows. As of late 2012, Colin has left the band, now it's John & Print, working on a second album to follow up 2011's hugely successful GB City. They tour all the time and are known for their energetic garage rock shows, so get out there and see them next time they hit up your city.

Keep track of what they are doing HERE.

Nerve Jamming
Bass Drum of Death Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

don't read my lips (?)
i click my heels and away we go
still wonder why
my little fears try to knock me down

no deadly diss? will be the least of my worrying
can't pass her by
im feeling wack but i think im dead

you stay in my brain
wasting all my time
cuz i stayed up all day
you were working nights
you stayed in my brain
wasting all my time

time
time
time

the lesson isn't clear
i run away and i lose my mind
the whispers in my ear
they say "come on baby, it's alright"

no deadly diss? will be the least of my worrying
can't pass her by
i'm feeling waack but i think i'm dead

you stay in my brain
wasting all my time
cuz i stayed up all day
you were working nights
you stayed in my brain
wasting all my time

time
time
time

i need to rise up and do what you say
i need to know honey
i need to rise up and do what you say
i need to know honey
i need to rise up and do what you say
i need to know honey
i need to rise up and do what you say

i need to rise up and do what you say
aaaaaaooooiiiiiiiii

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in Bass Drum Of Death's "Nerve Jamming" carry a sense of confusion, angst, and desperation. The opening line, "don't read my lips (?)" implies there may be some miscommunication or lack of understanding between the singer and their audience. The following line "I click my heels and away we go" suggests a desire to escape or run away from this situation. The chorus repeats the line "you stay in my brain, wasting all my time," indicating there is someone or something on the singer's mind constantly distracting them and preventing them from moving forward.

The second verse repeats the line "no deadly diss? will be the least of my worrying," which may suggest that the singer is preoccupied with larger concerns than any criticism they may receive. The lines "I'm feeling wack but I think I'm dead" add to the overall sense of confusion and disorientation.

The bridge of the song offers some hope in the midst of this confusion. The singer acknowledges that "the lesson isn't clear" and "I run away and I lose my mind." However, the whispers in their ear saying "come on baby, it's alright" offers some comfort and reassurance. The final repetition of "I need to rise up and do what you say" seems to be a resolution to take action and move forward, possibly in response to the whispers of encouragement.

Line by Line Meaning

don't read my lips (?)
I don't want you to know what I'm thinking or feeling.

i click my heels and away we go
I'm taking control and leaving my problems behind.

still wonder why
I'm questioning why things are the way they are.

my little fears try to knock me down
I'm trying to overcome my anxieties that are holding me back.

no deadly diss? will be the least of my worrying
I'm not concerned with criticism or rejection because I have bigger problems.

can't pass her by
I can't ignore this person or situation.

im feeling wack but i think im dead
I feel strange and disconnected, but I'm still pushing forward.

you stay in my brain wasting all my time cuz i stayed up all day you were working nights you stayed in my brain wasting all my time
I can't get this person out of my head and it's consuming me, even though we have different schedules.

time time time
Time is constantly moving forward and I can't slow it down.

the lesson isn't clear
I don't understand what I'm supposed to learn from this experience.

i run away and i lose my mind
When I avoid my problems, it only makes things worse for my mental health.

the whispers in my ear they say "come on baby, it's alright"
I'm trying to reassure myself that everything will be okay, even though I'm not sure.

i need to rise up and do what you say i need to know honey
I'm realizing that I need to take your advice and trust you.

aaaaaaooooiiiiiiiii
This is an onomatopoeic expression, possibly representing the singer's frustration or confusion.

Contributed by Asher G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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