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.
Faith Bourbon Dignity
Channel 3 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Faith, bourbon and dignity
I've been sold out and didn't even yawn
At twenty two I would have buried your lawn
I pass the time like there's no more tomorrows
Each day becomes a yesterday
I remember your promised charms
Just out of reach like Sinn Fein arms
Faith, bourbon and dignity
Getting by on what you left me
Faith, bourbon and dignity
Living life on one out of three
I drink and I bleed, complain and sit
Just like Bukowski without the wit
In Channel 3's song "Faith Bourbon Dignity," the lyrics explore the struggles of life and the pursuit of happiness. The song has a melancholic tone, reflecting the feelings of being lost, alone, and disillusioned. The chorus repeats the phrase "faith, bourbon, and dignity," as a reminder to the listener that even when the world is against them, these three qualities will help them move forward.
The first verse begins with the singer feeling betrayed, having been "sold out" without even feeling surprised. He laments his youthful naivete and reflects on the fact that he would have done things differently in his younger years. He then goes on to describe how he spends his time, as if there is no tomorrow, each day fading into the past. In the second verse, the singer remembers a past lover, whose promises he could never quite reach. The use of "Sinn Fein arms" is a reference to the political group's arms struggle in Northern Ireland, emphasizing the unattainable nature of these promises. The final verse describes the singer's current state of being, drinking and bleeding, complaining and sitting, just like Charles Bukowski, but without the wit the poet is known for.
Overall, the song is a meditation on the difficulties of life, but also a reminder that we should never give up on hope, perseverance, and dignity, even in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Faith, bourbon and dignity
The singer values having faith, drinking bourbon, and exhibiting dignity in their life.
Faith, bourbon and dignity
The singer repeats the chorus to emphasize the importance of their values.
I've been sold out and didn't even yawn
The singer has been betrayed, but is desensitized to it due to previous experiences.
At twenty two I would have buried your lawn
The artist was once more aggressive and quick to defend themselves when younger.
I pass the time like there's no more tomorrows
The artist lives their days with a sense of urgency as if each day was their last.
Each day becomes a yesterday
Time passes quickly and without warning.
I remember your promised charms
The singer recalls someone who made big promises, but was never able to fulfill them.
Just out of reach like Sinn Fein arms
The artist compares the unreachable charms to the aspirations of a political group.
Faith, bourbon and dignity
The artist reiterates the importance of their values to maintain a semblance of their humanity.
Getting by on what you left me
The artist is grateful for what they've learned from their past experiences and uses it to guide them in the present.
Faith, bourbon and dignity
The singer repeats their chorus to emphasize the consistency of their principles.
Living life on one out of three
Despite having three values, the artist only relies on one to move forward in life.
I drink and I bleed, complain and sit
The singer deals with their problems by numbing themselves with alcohol and expressing their dissatisfaction.
Just like Bukowski without the wit
The singer compares themselves to Charles Bukowski, but acknowledges they lack his humor and cleverness.
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