CJSS was formed by guitar wizard David T. Chastain during early 1984 with t… Read Full Bio ↴CJSS was formed by guitar wizard David T. Chastain during early 1984 with two other members of the band Spike, drummer Les Sharp and bassist Mike Skimmerhorn, and vocalist Russell Jinkens who had gained fame for his stint in local Cincinnati cover band Prizoner.

Spike had recorded and released the album 'The Price of Pleasure' in 1983. Spike toured the United States with many acts, the most well known being Black Sabbath. David was not satisfied with the commercial slant of Spike's material and was at constant odds with the band's management and booking agency whom had been trying to push the band in a even more commercial direction. In order to play the music they loved the four musicians decided to form the band CJSS.

The band's first show was October 4, 1984 at Bogarts. The club's management had expected a week night crowd of only a few hundred but were pleasantly surprised when well over a thousand fans showed up. This was just the beginning as CJSS regularly appeared at the Cincinnati venue drawing huge throngs throughout the 80's. Even to this day the band still holds all attendance records at the club. The largest being November 15, 1986 with a crowd of 1452 paid and more turned away at the door.

In the summer of 1985 the band went into the studio and recorded the album 'World Gone Mad.' This album was released in January 1986 and was received very favorably worldwide. This album included some of the band's classic cuts such as; 'Hell On Earth' 'World Gone Mad' 'Destiny' and the band's contemporary version of the Zeppelin classic Communication Breakdown.

After doing a short tour of the US the group went into the studio in the summer of 1986 and recorded the bands pinnacle release 'Praise the Loud.' The album was released in October 1986 to intense worldwide acclaim. The track 'Metal Forever' became a rallying cry for metal fans. The praise lavished upon the band was universal. CJSS had released two classic metal albums in the less than one year. A feat unmatched in metaldom.

It is safe to say that when musical historians look back at the metal era 'World Gone Mad' and 'Praise the Loud' will be considered metal classics.

The CJSS classic Cds "Word Gone Mad" and "Praise The Loud" has just been re-released by Lion Music on one new remastered and repackaged Cd "2-4-1" . This timeless collection still holds up well and is a must have for fans of traditional metal. Get your copy before they are all gone.

Living in Exile
CJSS Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Say what you want to say, do what you want to do
Somethings wrong in your mind and you wanna flee
The same old places, the same old line
There′s gotta more to life than you've ever seen

Leaving home to follow a dream
Searching on where will it lead
Living in exile

Love will come and go like the season change
You gotta face the world and all that remains
Never know the reasons why, never see a clue
One day it all will change and you′ll absolve the blame

Say what you want to say, do what you wanna do
Somethings wrong in your mind and you wanna flee

So you clinch your fist, and you grit your teeth
You count your lucky stars that you'll be reprieved

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of CJSS's song "Living in Exile" present the idea of an individual who is dissatisfied with their current situation, longing for something more fulfilling. The opening lines invite the listener to express themselves freely and take action towards their desires, followed by a reflection on how routine and monotony can lead to dissatisfaction. The chorus emphasizes the theme of searching for something more, even if it leads to isolation or a departure from the familiar. The verses continue to explore the idea that life can be unpredictable and that love might not last, hence the need to confront the world and take responsibility for one's life.

The words "living in exile" imply a sense of disconnection from one's surroundings, as if the individual doesn't feel like they truly belong. It might be that the song speaks of a person navigating their own mental landscape, where thoughts and emotions can create a feeling of separation. By leaving home to follow a dream or by facing the world, they are either looking for answers or discovering themselves. The repetition of the phrase "say what you want to say, do what you want to do" reinforces the idea that the person is taking control over their life.

Overall, "Living in Exile" encourages the listener to pursue their passions and face their fears, even if it means stepping outside their comfort zone and living in a state of uncertainty.

Line by Line Meaning

Say what you want to say, do what you want to do
Express yourself freely and take actions without limitations.

Somethings wrong in your mind and you wanna flee
You're troubled mentally and seek escape.

The same old places, the same old line
Life seems repetitive and mundane.

There′s gotta more to life than you've ever seen
You believe there's more to experience and discover.

Leaving home to follow a dream
You depart from familiar surroundings to pursue ambition.

Searching on where will it lead
You're exploring the potential destination of your journey.

Living in exile
You find yourself living outside your homeland and its culture.

Love will come and go like the season change
Romantic relationships have their cycles of beginning and ending.

You gotta face the world and all that remains
You must confront the existence and persistence of adversity in life.

Never know the reasons why, never see a clue
Sometimes, things happen inexplicably, without any hints or explanations.

One day it all will change and you′ll absolve the blame
Eventually, circumstances will evolve, and you'll be relieved of your responsibilities or guilt.

So you clinch your fist, and you grit your teeth
You summon mental and physical strength and resolve to face challenges.

You count your lucky stars that you'll be reprieved
You hope that fortune will favor and help you overcome obstacles.

Writer(s): Che Albrighton, Andrew Philip West, Daniel Jack Armstrong, Guy Charles Edward Connelly

Contributed by John H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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