Taking Barker from blink-182 and David Kennedy they recorded their self-titled album, "Box Car Racer", in 2002. On the album Tom did all the bass work, but Anthony Celestino was their touring bass player. Guests on the album included Mark Hoppus from blink-182, Tim Armstrong from Rancid and also Jordan Pundik from New Found Glory.
Tom and Travis claim the band was heavily influenced by Dischord Emo, citing influences such as Rites of Spring, Fugazi and later era post hardcore bands such as Quicksand.
Box Car Racer took a hiatus after their headlining tour in 2003. Tom has stated publicly that Box Car Racer is now defunct and will never reunite. Their website was taken off the Internet in late March 2005 and has since been put back online. Many people speculated that Tom's new project was going to be a new Box Car Racer album when he initially announced that he was working on a new album but those rumors were dismissed after the announcement of +44 and Angels & Airwaves. But now blink-182 is back - and touring!
Origin of Name
The band's name comes from the B-29 Bomber which dropped the second atomic bomb (to be used in warfare) on the Japanese city of Nagasaki. The plane's name was "Bockscar". Tom has said in an interview that he has seen the name misspelled as "Boxcar".
Members
Tom DeLonge - Vocals, Guitar (blink-182, Angels & Airwaves)
Travis Barker - Drums (blink-182, +44, The Transplants, The Aquabats)
David Kennedy - Guitar (Over My Dead Body, Hazen Street, Angels & Airwaves)
Anthony Celestino - Bass (Over My Dead Body)
All Systems Go
Box Car Racer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of those lights out by the station
The government is lying
The youth they won't believe them
We can't go wrong
Can't get fucked this time
Speak up now, lose
When will this be over
This cold and bitter season
The government is lying
The truth is found with reason
We can't go wrong
Can't get fucked this time
Speak up now, lose
Or get left behind
We can't go wrong
Can't get fucked this time
Speak up now, lose
Or get left behind
We can't go wrong
Can't get fucked this time
Speak up now, lose
Or get left behind
We are the under rated, all forgotten
Kids who made it
Speak up now, lose
Or get left behind
The song "All Systems Go" by Box Car Racer seems to be criticising the government and promoting the youth to stand up and fight against their corrupt ways. The opening line "I left my fear behind me, of those lights out by the station" could imply leaving behind the fear of being caught for something, and moving towards a greater cause. The next line "The government is lying, the youth won't believe them" suggests that the government is not transparent in their actions and are manipulating young people.
The phrase "We can't go wrong, can't get fucked this time, speak up now, lose or get left behind" creates a sense of urgency, telling the listeners to take action now or regret it later. The song portrays a call for action, urging young people to take charge and make their voices heard, as they are the ones who have been forgotten and underrated by society. The lyrics showcase the frustration and anger of the youth towards the government's dishonesty and urge them to fight for what they believe in.
Overall, "All Systems Go" is a powerful critique of society and calls for young people to rise and fight against the corrupt system that has overlooked them. By raising awareness and encouraging young people to speak up and stand up for their rights, the song carries an inspiring message of hope and change.
Line by Line Meaning
I left my fear behind me
I overcame my fear and decided to move forward
Of those lights out by the station
Those lights by the station represent my past fears and anxieties
The government is lying
The higher authority or those in power can't always be trusted to tell the truth
The youth they won't believe them
Young people are not easily swayed by falsehoods and propaganda
We can't go wrong
We need to keep moving forward and making progress
Can't get fucked this time
We can't afford to fail or make mistakes again and again
Speak up now, lose
If we don't voice our opinions or take action, we might miss our chance
Or get left behind
If we don't take action, we'll fall behind and miss the opportunity to make a difference
When will this be over
When will we finally see progress and change from the current situation?
This cold and bitter season
This time in history is marked by hardships and difficulties
The truth is found with reason
The truth can be discovered through logical and rational thinking, not just blind faith
We are the under rated, all forgotten
We are the overlooked and underestimated people who can still make an impact
Kids who made it
Despite the odds, we have the power to overcome challenges and succeed
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TOM DE LONGE, TRAVIS BARKER, TRAVIS L BARKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind