BILL are a rock band, started in 1987 in New England and fronted by Bill Ga… Read Full Bio ↴BILL are a rock band, started in 1987 in New England and fronted by Bill Gage, a charismatic performer who sings surreal, ever-changing lyrics in a wide variety of styles. He also has Ds (Down syndrome). The band name is one of the words Mr. Gage can write.

The group provides diverse sounds: art-rock, heavy-metal, acoustic folk-ballads, industrial riffs, etc, and Bill Gage continuously refines and re-works his vocal improvisations.

BILL's approach to songwriting is always in flux. The first album BEATLES CHINESE was shaped by a series of challenges the band gave Bill Gage: first to name the songs he wanted to do, and then to sing them, as the band figured out what to play, and each song was quickly recorded. The backing tracks for BILL's second record BAT MAN were recorded in advance. Bill Gage listened to the tracks, sang over them, and then named the songs (and the record).

Live, the BILL show presents a sonic kaleidoscope of punk, psychedelia, pop, and hard rock, Bill Gage tying it all together using his incredible voice and edge-of-the-seat performance (with theatrical touches like the cape he wears for "STEVE PEPPER"). Between songs Mr. Gage chats with the crowd, announcing the next song and letting the audience know they're about to hear something "REALLY GREAT". While some of his words are not always clear, his intentions are obvious and the crowd stays right with him. Bill Gage is a mild-mannered gentleman, until he has a mic in his hand: "LET'S ROCK AND ROLL!"

The band includes Daren Follower (drums), Gaylen Moore (bass), and guitarists Eric Morin, Greg Ansin, and Mr. Gage's brother, john. Past members include Paul Desjarlais of Pseudonym (1987-91), Stephin Merritt of The Magnetic Fields (1987), and David M. Curry of Empty House Coöperative (1996-2000). BILL are working on a new record.

A jazz-pop band called "bill" is from San Diego, California and was possibly started in the 1990s (information about this bands history is scarce). The albums of the San Diego "bill" are called "End of the Hits" and "Birthday Suit."

Another band called "Bill", this one playing "alternative rock", are from Mexico City, Mexico. Even fewer pieces of information can be found about this group, but they have professional studio recordings and are playing regularly.

Also there is a Leamington, UK based 3 piece punk band under the name of Bill.

Crime
Bill Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well, I know
Who's been naughty n' who's been nice
But on the playground
What do I find?
My school teacher
My Old lady
She says "hey there, kid
I've been meaning to tell you

You're not the only one
I know... it's sad but true"

Cuz life at 12
Was a living hell
At the age
Where the hormones rage

What goin' down
On the playground?
It was a dangerous
When it caught my eye
It was a Teacher Love Crime

So I ran home cryin'
And I went into my room
Put the Nintendo on "pause"
And I kicked off my shoes
N' I said "God oh god
I pray to you
Thank you lord for fixin' Me
This 'Big Ten Conference" with You"
He said "Don't mean to break your heart n'
I don't mean to break the news
Don't mean to split your heart in two
But she fucked your daddy too!"

Cuz life at 12
Was a living hell
At the age
Where the hormones rage

What goin' down
On the playground?
It was a dangerous

When it caught my eye
It was a Teacher Love Crime

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to the song "Crime" by Bill tell a poignant story of a young boy who discovers a disturbing truth about his teacher and his father. The song starts with the singer, presumably a young student, reflecting on how he thought he knew who was good and bad, only to find out a shocking revelation on the playground. He encounters his school teacher and his "old lady" (likely his mother) who confesses to him that he is not the only one who knows the truth about a certain situation, implying that there is deceit or wrongdoing involved.

As the song progresses, it delves deeper into the emotional turmoil experienced by the singer. He describes his life at the age of 12 as a living hell, a time when hormones are raging and emotions are running high. The mention of the playground being a dangerous place hints at the vulnerability and innocence of childhood being shattered by a distressing discovery. The ominous phrase "Teacher Love Crime" suggests a forbidden or inappropriate relationship that has been uncovered.

The impact of this revelation on the singer is profound, as he is shown running home in tears and seeking solace in prayer. The act of pausing his video game and removing his shoes symbolizes a moment of solemn reflection and vulnerability. The plea to God for help and thanks for his intervention suggests a desperate need for comfort and guidance in the face of a painful truth.

The climax of the song reveals the ultimate betrayal experienced by the singer, as he learns that not only was there a questionable relationship between his teacher and someone close to him, but that his own father was involved in a betrayal that shattered his world. The mention of the "Big Ten Conference" possibly alludes to a sports event or institution, underscoring the contrast between a seemingly normal public image and the hidden secrets and scandals behind closed doors. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the intensity of the emotional turmoil and shock caused by the "Teacher Love Crime" that has forever altered the singer's perception of trust and authority.

Line by Line Meaning

Well, I know
I am aware

Who's been naughty n' who's been nice
Who has behaved mischievously and who has behaved well

But on the playground
However, in the playground

What do I find?
What do I discover?

My school teacher
My teacher from school

My Old lady
My mother

She says "hey there, kid
She greets me, child

I've been meaning to tell you
I have intended to inform you

You're not the only one
You are not the sole person

I know... it's sad but true"
I am aware, it's unfortunate but accurate

Cuz life at 12
Because life at the age of 12

Was a living hell
Was extremely challenging

At the age
During that stage of life

Where the hormones rage
When the hormones were intense

What goin' down
What is happening

On the playground?
In the schoolyard?

It was a dangerous
It was risky

When it caught my eye
When I noticed it

It was a Teacher Love Crime
It was a inappropriate relationship with a teacher

So I ran home cryin'
I hurried home in tears

And I went into my room
And entered my chamber

Put the Nintendo on "pause"
Paused the Nintendo game console

And I kicked off my shoes
And removed my shoes

N' I said "God oh god
And I exclaimed "Oh God

I pray to you
I implore you

Thank you lord for fixin' Me
Thank you, Lord, for healing me

This 'Big Ten Conference" with You"
This significant discussion with You

He said "Don't mean to break your heart n'
He responded "I don't intend to upset you and

I don't mean to break the news
I do not intend to deliver bad news

Don't mean to split your heart in two
I don't intend to shatter your heart

But she fucked your daddy too!"
But she also had an affair with your father!

Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Bill Ulsh

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

@projects325

1y↑1

The ending when she was talking 🤝🏼

@gurudra

1y↑10

I just want to let anyone who's reading this, and going through a tough time know that it's going to be okay. You'll get through it! ✨

@charlesleeray8512

1y↑23

Now crime is high and criminals are running rampant..smh

@CaptainXJ

1y↑3

Except that's literally not true. crime, as usual, continues to go down. Except mass shooting's, but that's a different matter.

@kingjuju5470

45w

It's always been like this, it just now you can see it more due to technology...remember at one point it was no laws at all...Folks was dying the most Barbaric way...we got it somewhat easy

@bobchannell3553

1y↑4

A third violent crime and you're put away for good? That doesn't sound right. I've heard stories of people who's third offense was a few ounces of marijuana.

@buddhafyre

They had a protracted legal fight over a man being sentenced to life for stealing a slice of pizza....

@janecatterson4554

But not Hunter Biden or Bill Clinton? Got it.

@galdossari3012

1y↑2

Aaaah… yeah… oh yeah? Bill Clinton 😂

@pal5683

1y↑6

This was good but far too short.

@brooks8792

1y↑2

How about treatment, nobody learns to manage the things that cause them to use drugs by us paying to keep them behind bars.

@3ch1dna07

This! A thousand times...this!!!

@PR7-82

1y↑2

Looks like mostly if not all people (well men) of colour in prison in these clips

@conantdog

10w

The new Jim crow

@MarcusAurelius7777

1y↑1

One can make so much money off of them though...

@MarcusAurelius7777

1y↑1

Everything is opinion

@nuriyeimranullah1814

God make world and peopls What is problem?🌏🌐

@BILLYBANTER69

1y↑3

The problem is broken down families

@TheBmonster1

21w↑3

And yet the black community continues to vote Blue

@malachi-

16w↑1

Continues to vote for the man that sponsored and pushed that Bill hard, Joe Biden!!!

@Dustinwhy8

1y↑1

Result: Lock up black men.

@malachi-

16w

"The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, commonly known as the crime bill, was sponsored by Joe Biden 26 years ago. It is often blamed for extending tough-on-crime policies that overly criminalized Black Americans."

@emmanuelamata6505

1y↑4

Just thinking 🤔. Are there not regular jobs ? Why do drugs

@wolf99000

1y↑4

Makes more money from it also theres not always jobs in certain times and places look at today we work longer hours and paid less so some turn to crime

@jhunt5578

In low socio-economic areas with hardly any opportunities and dead end jobs if any. Selling drugs becomes more appealing. As the video points out, the war on drugs was pure hypocrisy. The Nixon administration, who started the whole thing, did it dlso they could target weed and crack so they could break up and arrest the anti war movement protesters and civil rights protesters. Upper class white people snorting coke were left alone.

@AIK96

Poor education--> No diploma or degree --> No high paying job --> no money--> drug dealing. It all boils down to laziness and circumstance.

@midorimashintaro2092

38w

Wow what a big brain idea, you must have been a real smarty pants when you were young

@markbrown375

42w

The Crown Heights riot was a race riot that took place from August 19 to August 21, 1991, in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, New York City. Black residents attacked Orthodox Jewish residents, damaged their homes, and looted businesses.?

@ruthcunfer3372

1y↑5

If you chose to sell drugs as your job even if you're 14, then yeah.... you deserve jail time. As well as if you're stupid enough to keep selling it or commit a crime for upto 3 times then you yeah, should be put away for a long time. Heck, they now get treated better than the most families, the homeless or veterans in this country with 3mealsa day, medical coverage and get to go outside or in jailhouse gym to workout and be all kinds of active when they should be punished not given extra privileges.

@Lahk1

1y↑6

There's feeling and there's reality. Our feeling is that we're tired of being victims of crimes and seeing repeat offenders. The reality is that it's very, very, very difficult to choose another path once you've made the wrong choice. You make a stupid call as a young person and do jail time, your choices are so severely limited for the rest of your life that that it seems inevitable to go back to crime. It's not a simple issue.

As a middle-aged man, I'm so glad I made the right choices when I was younger, but it was a very close thing.

If I had murdered or severely harmed my abuser as I so very badly wanted to as a 17 year old, I have no doubt it would have snowballed into a chain of terrible decisions. Opportunities that I later had would not have been available to me. I am a good, successful man now. I probably would be dead or unrecognizable today if my 17 year old self had flipped another coin that day.

I am lucky that happenstance favored me and I was born into an environment with opportunities. Not everyone has that same experience.

@jhunt5578

Alcohol is a drug that gets sold freely in pubs and corner shops. Weed, magic mushrooms, MDMA are less harmful to health and less harmful to public order. Yet the idiocy of prohibition happens to these drugs. Why? Because the Nixon administration has openly admitted that they knew these drugs were used by civil rights activists and anti war activists and they wanted to arrest them but had no legal standing to. What good can come of arresting children? Have you stopped to think that someone committing crimes and being caught for a 3rd time is desperate? "Absolute power corrupts absolutely, Absolute powerlessness does the same."

@newmoney2397

31w

Idc about the 3 strikes laws, I’m for tough sentencing as long as it’s fair. Probation for cocaine when crack is 5 years is absolutely blatant systemic racism that non minorities love to deny exist.

@Truth_not_deception1

1y↑11

Don’t commit a crime and don’t go to prison… how is that complicated? People who want to live the “thug” life will find themselves in prison or dead…

@getbuckets4252

1y↑7

This was around the time they passed bills that shifted our (the U.S) workforce production to China, so if you take away jobs but increase policing and sentence length how does that solve the root of the issue. In any society the people with the least options commit crime to survive (who owns the harbours and planes?). The deeper truth is that the policing system was created after slavery for the specific purpose it serves now and this bill emboldened it. They were the ones bringing in drugs with Pablo and hiring more cops to beat up those addicted. They left those parts out , a partial truth can be as dangerous as a lie.

@ls_812

1y↑7

That's easy to say when you have good role models around you. But what if you were taught differently from a young age. What if your options aren't so easy. You go to school, and there's fights and everything else there. You come home and there's hardly any food to eat. Your role models are guys making rap music that glamorize the thug life. You see those guys with all this money and nice cars and all that stuff. It's easy to say some of those things when you're on the outside and you have no idea what it's like for the other person.

@sirskelletor

1y↑4

This view point requires the assumption that all laws are just. But if laws were correct as a fact then we would never have needed to change them and never will need to change them, so obviously laws in the past can be wrong, and by extension current laws should be questioned. You call drug possession "thug" behaviour but who's to say that you are correct? Now you can say that if the laws are wrong then we should just change them, but now consider that many politicians opinions may be wrong, or in some cases they do not concern themselves with morality of those laws at all and instead make laws to benefit themselves, at the detriment of others. See how this is more complicated than "dont break the law"?

@jhunt5578

Over simplified bollocks. Low income and low opertunities are high correlates for crime. It happened with the Italian and Irish immigrants in America, you know the Mafia and the Irish Mob. But they were later integrated into US society and given opportunities and crime from those groups went down. Black people in America were slaves, then segregated, denied everything from loans, to proper education, to home ownership. Then the war on drugs destroyed the family structure of black communities, fathers doing hard time for selling weed. Crime rates are systemic. Smh.

@tricksterjoy9740

1y↑1

Spoken like someone who’s never faced hardship, and has lived a life of true privilege.

You will never understand the feeling of living in the streets because you lost your job due to health issues, or were laid off, or suffered/suffer from a mental crisis that would not have happened if it weren’t for being stuck in low income class.

You never have seen the compassion amongst the homeless, nor the evil. You live a life wholly blind to the fact that in todays society, the poor stay poor, and someone rising past being poor is an exception to that rule.

A Majority of people don’t turn to crime because they think it’s cool, or „thug“. A majority do it when they can see no other choice.

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