Channel 3, also known as CH3, is a punk rock band from Cerritos, California… Read Full Bio ↴Channel 3, also known as CH3, is a punk rock band from Cerritos, California. Part of the Southern California punk scene of the early 1980s, the band had a sound that was more melodic than many of their hardcore contemporaries, and lyrics which ranged from thoughtful and satirical to bratty and self-indulgent. Songs like "You Make Me Feel Cheap" and "Separate Peace" were among the many sampled on punk compilations of the period, and the band's albums were modestly successful in both the U.S. and Europe.

Channel 3 centered around the friendship of Mike Magrann (vocals, guitar) and Kimm Gardner(guitar), which dated back to the second grade. Forming in 1980, the foursome included Larry Kelley (bass) and Mike Burton (drums, later replaced by Jack DeBaun). They released an EP, Channel 3, in the summer of 1981 and began playing shows in the Los Angeles area. In the summer of 1982, their first album Fear of Life was released, and the band began their first US tour.

After 1983 the band experimented with other styles, alienating many of its original fans. Eventually it returned to its roots, touring Europe in the 1990s and releasing a more punk-oriented CD in 2002.

Best Of Intentions
Channel 3 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I lie awake with my fists like rocks of hate
One midnight call kills the night like an earthquake
I've heard of animals that mate for life
Sad cries of widowed birds falling through the sky

I squeeze this book like I want to break its spine
I've read this paragraph six or seven times
I feel the weight of the air upon my skin

Give me some reason for the world we've been dropped in

I hear the loud machine, it won't shut off
We learn to live with it, regardless of the cost

I guess the best of intentions got a funny way of getting lost

Some days I can barely face it
Some days I can't hardly wait

She sums it up like Rod Sterling
I'm all apologies and hate

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in Channel 3's song Best Of Intentions convey a sense of frustration and confusion towards the world we live in. The first verse describes the intense anger and helplessness one feels when they are unable to sleep and are consumed by negative thoughts. The reference to animals that mate for life and the cries of widowed birds falling through the sky suggest a feeling of loss and abandonment. The second verse describes a feeling of being overwhelmed by the weight of the world and searching for meaning in a book. The loud machine that won't shut off symbolizes the constant noise and distractions we face in modern society. The chorus highlights the theme of best intentions going awry, implying that despite our efforts to do good, we often fail or face unforeseen consequences.

Overall, the lyrics portray a sense of disillusionment and frustration with society and the human condition. The verses paint vivid pictures of despair and hopelessness, while the chorus provides a bit of relief in acknowledging that despite our best efforts, things often don't go as planned.

Line by Line Meaning

I lie awake with my fists like rocks of hate
I am unable to sleep as I am filled with anger and frustration, clenching my fists so tightly that they feel like stones.

One midnight call kills the night like an earthquake
A single phone call late at night can shatter my peace and stability like an earthquake, leaving me feeling shaken and vulnerable.

I've heard of animals that mate for life
I am aware of animals that form lifelong romantic bonds with one another, an ideal that seems unattainable for humans.

Sad cries of widowed birds falling through the sky
I am reminded of the mournful sounds of birds who have lost their partners, a reflection of the pain and grief that comes with losing someone you love.

I squeeze this book like I want to break its spine
I am holding onto a book so tightly it feels as though I could snap its spine in half, my frustration at the words contained within nearly overwhelming.

I've read this paragraph six or seven times
I've studied this particular passage of text multiple times in an attempt to digest its meaning, but my confusion and frustration has left me feeling stuck.

I feel the weight of the air upon my skin
The atmosphere around us feels so heavy and oppressive that it feels like a physical burden on my skin.

Give me some reason for the world we've been dropped in
I desperately crave an explanation for the chaos and pain that we find ourselves grappling with in this world.

I hear the loud machine, it won't shut off
There is a constant, grinding noise that fills my ears and won't go away, a reminder of the ceaseless and overwhelming pace of modern life.

We learn to live with it, regardless of the cost
Despite the negative impact this noise has on our quality of life, we feel helpless to escape from it and instead strive to adapt to it as best we can.

I guess the best of intentions got a funny way of getting lost
Even when our intentions are good and pure, the complexities of life often conspire to steer us off course and leave us feeling adrift and uncertain.

Some days I can barely face it
At times, the difficulties and disappointments of life feel like too much to bear, and I struggle to even get out of bed and face the day ahead.

Some days I can't hardly wait
Other days, however, I am filled with a restless anticipation, even if I'm not sure what it is that I'm looking forward to.

She sums it up like Rod Sterling
Like the singer of the Twilight Zone, a woman in my life seems to have a profound and insightful perspective on the world around us.

I'm all apologies and hate
Despite my desire to express my remorse and make things right, my feelings of bitterness and anger sometimes get in the way.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS

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