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)
Letters To God
Box Car Racer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All worked up
the air is as dark and cold as night
let me go
I'm not done
I swear I'll take just one lifetime, and I
I won't lie I won't sin maybe I don't wana go
can't you wait?, Maybe I don't wana go (chorus)
at least a fucking thousand times before will this offer get me in or does this prove that they gave more (chorus)x2
The song "Letters to God" by Box Car Racer opens with the lines "Caught off guard, all worked up, the air is as dark and cold as night, let me go, I'm not done, I swear I'll take just one lifetime." These lyrics depict a state of confusion and desperation, as the singer is overwhelmed and feels trapped. The singer pleads to be released and promises to make the most of the time he has left, claiming that he won't lie or sin. This plea is repeated in the chorus, where the singer asks "Can't you wait? Maybe I don't wanna go."
In the second verse, the singer expresses regret, saying "I should have asked, I could have helped, at least a fucking thousand times before." This line suggests that the singer feels responsible for not doing something sooner, perhaps to prevent the situation that they are now in. The final line of the song, "Will this offer get me in, or does this prove that they gave more," is open to interpretation. It may suggest that the singer is making an offer to God to be saved, and wondering if that will be enough to prove their worthiness, or if others have done more to earn salvation.
Overall, "Letters to God" is a powerful and emotional song that deals with themes of mortality, regret, and the search for purpose and redemption.
Line by Line Meaning
Caught off guard
Startled by unexpected circumstances
All worked up
Feeling agitated or worked up about something
the air is as dark and cold as night
Metaphorically describing a somber atmosphere
let me go
Requesting to be released from a difficult situation or feeling
I'm not done
Feeling unfinished or unsatisfied with one's progress or journey
I swear I'll take just one lifetime, and I
Making a promise to cherish and make the most of one's life
I won't lie I won't sin maybe I don't wana go
Expressing a desire to live life honestly and without regret, but questioning whether the afterlife is desirable
can't you wait?, Maybe I don't wana go (chorus)
Expressing a plea to delay life's end or questioning the desirability of the afterlife
I should have asked, I could of helped
Regretting not having helped someone in need when the opportunity presented itself
at least a fucking thousand times before will this offer get me in or does this prove that they gave more (chorus)x2
Questioning the value or sincerity of previous actions or offers of help, and wondering if they will grant entry into the afterlife
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