Sleaze Rock / Glam Metal band from Los Angeles, California (USA).

F… Read Full Bio ↴Sleaze Rock / Glam Metal band from Los Angeles, California (USA).

Formed at the beginning of the 1990's out of members of Filthy Rittz, Blackboard Jungle became one of the most talked about bands on California's Sunset Strip rock scene. The lineup at this point consisted of Kenny Price (Vocals), Dave Zink (Guitars), Britt (Bass), and Joel Faith (Drums). The band garnered the attention of Faster Pussycat's Brent Muscat, who produced some of the band's early recordings, and helped them begin to make headway on the scene. Blackboard Jungle would later tour with Faster Pussycat and open for them on a tour a few years later.

1992 saw the band release their debut album "I Like It Alot" on Church Records, and also opened the door for the band to play in Japan for an eager audience. By 1994, Joel Faith had left as drummer and was replaced by Brett Bradshaw (Faster Pussycat) while the band recorded additional demos. Some of these sessions were released as singles, and as part of compilation albums featuring various artists. In 1995, Joel Faith had rejoined the band and guitarist Dave Zink had left. The band recruited Death Valley Jupiter guitarist Steve Olivero to fill the opening and recorded a new album titled "Last... But Not Lost." These songs had a slightly darker and more alternative feel to them compared to the "I Like It Alot" album from a few years prior. The band broke up soon after, with each member pursuing different musical interests for a time.

In the early 2000's, Blackboard Jungle reunited with all 4 original members (Kenny, Britt, Dave, & Joel) to play a reunion show on their home turf in Hollywood. The show was a success and the band continues to play annual reunion shows to this day. These shows have helped create a resurgence of interest in the late 80's/early 90's Sunset Strip music scene due to the band sharing the stage with other notable bands from the scene, also reunited, including Swingin' Thing, Glamour Punks, Fizzy Bangers, Imagine World Peace, and more.

Chicago
Blackboard Jungle Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

In the million words we did not speak
Something in the silence slowly engulfes me
It was a time, a place, a face I can't forget
I keep a picture of you in the back of my head

CHORUS:
Once upon a time, just ten thousand miles ago
Wonder what I could have found

If I went to Chicago
In much too deep to ever know
What I might have found
If I went to Chicago

I could fly right up and through your skies
But there's somewhere else my faith lies
So the story's all that ever could have been
That's where this movie starts and where it ends

-CHORUS-

I could write you back
And send a part of me
Cause you're the closet thing to perfection
That I've ever seen

Once upon a time, ten thousand miles ago
Wonder what I could have found
If I went to Chicago
In much too deep to ever know
What I might have found
If I went to Chicago

(Repeat Chorus 2x)

Ooh yeah
To Chicago
Ooh yeah to Chicago

Ooh yeah to Chicago
Ooh yeah yeah Chicago

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Blackboard Jungle's song Chicago speak of regret, missed opportunities, and the nostalgia that comes with them. The first stanza talks about the million words left unsaid that have slowly engulfed the singer in regret. The second stanza is about the time, place, and person that the singer cannot forget, and they keep a picture of them in the back of their head. The chorus talks about the what-ifs and the missed opportunities that the singer has had, wondering what they could have found if they went to Chicago, but they were in too deep to ever know.

The third stanza is about the singer's faith lying somewhere else, and the story being all that could have ever been. This stanza is about accepting fate and the decisions that were made in the past. The last stanza talks about the singer being able to write a letter and send a part of themselves to the person they're thinking about because they are the closest thing to perfection they have ever seen. The song ends with the chorus repeated twice.

Overall, the lyrics to Chicago by Blackboard Jungle are about missed opportunities and nostalgia. The singer is regretful and wonders what could have happened if they made different decisions. However, ultimately, they accept what has happened in the past and appreciate the memories they have.

Line by Line Meaning

In the million words we did not speak
There are so many things that I did not say and now I wonder about them

Something in the silence slowly engulfes me
The quietness is almost deafening, and it's taking over my senses bit by bit

It was a time, a place, a face I can't forget
There was a specific moment in my life, a location, and a person that I'll always remember

I keep a picture of you in the back of my head
I have memories of you that I can't shake off no matter how hard I try and I wouldn't want to forget them either

Once upon a time, just ten thousand miles ago
Not so long ago, when I was that far away, there was a time when I was wondering what if things had gone differently

Wonder what I could have found If I went to Chicago
I can only wonder what would have happened if I actually went to Chicago at that moment in time

In much too deep to ever know
I'm too invested at this point to really find out if I could have had a different story in Chicago

I could fly right up and through your skies
I could have easily gone over to your place to see you

But there's somewhere else my faith lies
However, my destiny and my beliefs are leading me somewhere else

So the story's all that ever could have been
All I'm left with is this story of what could have happened

That's where this movie starts, and where it ends
This is the beginning and the end of this story, like a movie

I could write you back
I could respond to the messages that you've sent me

And send a part of me
As I write back, I am sharing a piece of my emotions with you

Cause you're the closet thing to perfection
Because you're the closest thing to being perfect that I've ever come across

That I've ever seen
I've never found someone like you before, and I may not find them again

Ooh yeah to Chicago
Oh yeah, to Chicago

Ooh yeah yeah Chicago
Oh yeah, yeah Chicago