The teenage band consisted of lead singer Jemina Pearl Abegg, the daughter of Christian artist/photographer Jimmy Abegg; guitarist Jonas Stein, the son of manager Burt Stein; John Eatherly (drums); and Nathan Vasquez (bass), the son of acclaimed latin jazz guitarist Rafael Vasquez. Founding member Jamin Orall quit the band to finish college and tour with his other band, Jeff, just before Be Your Own Pet's 2006 American tour. Sixteen-year-old John Eatherly, an old friend of the band, took over behind the kit.
BYOP formed in 2003 in the basement of the Orrall home, which doubles as a home studio/rehearsal space for indie label Infinity Cat Recordings.
Their sound is basic, primal garage rock and are often compared to popular New York group Yeah Yeah Yeahs, partially for their style, featuring heavy rock guitars with abrasive vocals and erratic, angular rhythms, but more due to comparisons between Abegg and Yeah Yeah Yeahs front woman Karen O, both of whom are women with a dynamic, non-traditional stage presence.
Be Your Own Pet generated a massive amount of press following the release of their debut single "Damn Damn Leash" on Infinity Cat. The single was produced by Kings of Leon producer Angelo and Infinity Cat's Robert Ellis Orrall, and mixed by Modest Mouse mix engineer Jaquire King. The press included an interview in Rolling Stone, appearances at the Glastonbury and Reading/Leeds festivals, as well as successful appearances at SXSW and slots supporting bands such as The Kills. The band also appeared on the Queen tribute album, Killer Queen: A Tribute to Queen, covering the classic "Bicycle Race". The band released their eponymous album in the UK in March 2006, and in the US in June 2006.
On August 1, 2008, after cancelling a stint on Warped Tour and a tour with The Black Keys, the band announced on their website that after finishing a small tour of England, they would be breaking up. No reason was given for the decision.
In April 2022, Be Your Own Pet reformed for two shows which led to the August 2023 release of the album Mommy.
October First Account
Be Your Own Pet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With a dusty smile and a loaded gun
You ask me again, what's in it for me?
Well thanks and tell me come undone
Painted red, our hands are white
I've never seen this place before
Seen through, we're on our way
Driving us down for it's chase
And we run any day we'll skip town
It'll never hear us come
Driving us down for it's chase
And we run any day we'll skip town
It'll never hear us come
won't you help me out? Won't you please help me figure it all out?
We've cut ourselves open a hundred times
We've cut ourselves open a hundred times
But we're not out of ammo yet
But we're not out of ammo yet
Oh now no, won't you help me out? Won't you please help me figure it all out?
We've cut ourselves open a hundred times
We've cut ourselves open a hundred times
But we're not out of ammo yet, not yet
But we're not out of ammo yet, not yet
Driving us down for it's chase
And we run any day we'll skip town
It'll never hear us come
Driving us down for it's chase
And we run any day we'll skip town
It'll never hear us come
Driving us down for it's chase
And we run any day we'll skip town
It'll never hear us come
Driving us down for it's chase
And we run any day we'll skip town
It'll never hear us come
The lyrics of "October First Account" by Be Your Own Pet evoke a sense of rebellion and reckless abandon. The first verse talks about the singer's willingness to do anything for three with a loaded gun and a dusty smile. The second verse speaks of a new, unfamiliar place that they have never seen before, which they enter through bolted doors. It is unclear what exactly they are running from, but the repetition of the refrain "Driving us down for its chase, and we run any day we'll skip town, it'll never hear us come" suggests that they are trying to escape something dangerous.
The bridge of the song introduces a plea for help, with the singer asking for assistance in figuring things out. The repetition of "we've cut ourselves open a hundred times" suggests that they have experienced some sort of emotional pain or turmoil. However, the song ends on a defiant note, with the refrain "But we're not out of ammo yet, not yet." This final line suggests that the singer is not giving up and will continue to fight against whatever forces are driving them.
Overall, "October First Account" is a raw and intense song that captures the feeling of youthful rebellion and a desire for freedom. The vivid imagery and repetition of certain phrases add to the song's intensity and give it a sense of urgency.
Line by Line Meaning
I will bring anything for three
I am willing to do anything for money
With a dusty smile and a loaded gun
I am armed and potentially dangerous, but still trying to put on a friendly face
You ask me again, what's in it for me?
You're skeptical about my offer and want to know what I'm getting out of this
Well thanks and tell me come undone
Thank you for your time, but I'll continue my shady dealings regardless of what you think
Painted red, our hands are white
We may be involved in something violent or dangerous, but we're trying to cover it up and pretend everything's okay
I've never seen this place before
I'm in unfamiliar territory and may be out of my element
Seen through, we're on our way
Despite our attempts to hide what we're doing, someone may have caught on and we need to move on from this location
Through and through each bolted door
We're willing to break down any obstacle in our way to achieve our goals
Driving us down for it's chase
We're being pursued and need to constantly flee
And we run any day we'll skip town
We're always ready to leave and start anew somewhere else
It'll never hear us come
We'll be stealthy and not give anyone the chance to catch us
Won't you help me out? Won't you please help me figure it all out?
I'm becoming overwhelmed with my situation and am asking for someone's assistance
We've cut ourselves open a hundred times
We've taken risks and gotten hurt in the past, but are still willing to take more for the sake of our goals
But we're not out of ammo yet
We still have resources and tricks up our sleeves to keep going
Driving us down for it's chase
We're constantly being pursued and need to stay on the move
And we run any day we'll skip town
We'll always be ready to leave and start anew
It'll never hear us come
We'll stay cautious and not give anyone the chance to discover our whereabouts
Driving us down for it's chase
We're still being pursued and need to stay alert and on the move
And we run any day we'll skip town
We'll always be ready to pick up and leave if needed
It'll never hear us come
We'll remain secretive and cautious to avoid being caught
Driving us down for it's chase
We're still being chased and need to keep running
And we run any day we'll skip town
We'll always have our escape plan ready
It'll never hear us come
We'll always stay vigilant and never let our guard down
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JAMIN ORRALL, JEMIMA PEARL ABEGG, JONAS STEIN, NATHAN VASQUEZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind