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.

Larry Walters
Channel 3 Lyrics

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Larry Walters was a man who saw his dream take flight
Have you ever been afraid but told you had to fight?
We all keep dangerous thoughts contained like gasoline
Larry took his bottle of hopes and opened it with his teeth

Take me with you when you fly away from here
Show me the truths that lie just beyond my fears

Larry Walters, how does it feel
When your fantasy becomes real
Larry Walters, is my earth still round?
Larry Walters, don't you ever come down

I used to sit up on the roof though terrified of heights
I grew to love my neighbor's dog who growled all through the night
If only I could fly away and finally touch the truth
I'd shiver in the stratosphere, I'd let go my balloons

I've seen your light but I can't break free of this nine to five
Hold the time, it's terra firma nine to life

Overall Meaning

The Channel 3 song "Larry Walters" is a tribute to a man who fulfilled his childhood dream of flying, despite being afraid of heights. The lyrics reflect on the idea of taking risks and overcoming fear to achieve our aspirations. The song begins by describing Larry as a man who "saw his dream take flight," despite keeping "dangerous thoughts contained like gasoline." The imagery of opening a bottle of hopes with one's teeth is a powerful metaphor for taking action and pursuing one's dreams.

The chorus of the song is a plea to Larry to take the singer with him on his flight and show them the truths that lie beyond their fears. Larry is portrayed as a hero who has accomplished what many consider impossible, and the chorus asks if "my earth still round" and if he will "ever come down." This line suggests that Larry's flight has taken him to another world, beyond the confines of daily life.

The second verse shifts to the singer's own desire to fly away and touches on themes of isolation and longing. The singer confesses to being "terrified of heights" but longing to "finally touch the truth." The song ends with a plea to hold the time, recognizing the reality of the nine to five workday but suggesting that there is more to life than mundane routine.

Overall, "Larry Walters" is a song about fear and taking risks, about daring to dream big despite the obstacles in our path. It's a tribute to a man who accomplished something incredible through sheer will and determination, and a call to all of us to embrace the unknown and seek our own truths.

Line by Line Meaning

Larry Walters was a man who saw his dream take flight
Larry Walters, someone who dreamed of flight and realized it.

Have you ever been afraid but told you had to fight?
Have you ever been scared but have been told to stand up and fight for what you believe in?

We all keep dangerous thoughts contained like gasoline
We all keep our deep thoughts hidden away, just as gasoline is kept in safe containers.

Larry took his bottle of hopes and opened it with his teeth
Larry took his hopes and dreams, and with determination, he opened them up for the world to see.

Take me with you when you fly away from here Show me the truths that lie just beyond my fears
Come take me with you on your journey through life; show me the truths that lie beyond my fears so that I can face them head-on.

Larry Walters, how does it feel When your fantasy becomes real Larry Walters, is my earth still round? Larry Walters, don't you ever come down
Larry Walters, how does it feel to finally make your dreams come true? Is the world still the same to you as before? Please don't ever lose your passion for life.

I used to sit up on the roof though terrified of heights I grew to love my neighbor's dog who growled all through the night If only I could fly away and finally touch the truth I'd shiver in the stratosphere, I'd let go my balloons
I was scared of heights but eventually learned to love what scared me, just like my neighbor's dog. If only I could find my purpose in life, I'd happily let go of everything and fly up to the skies, no matter how scary it might be.

I've seen your light but I can't break free of this nine to five Hold the time, it's terra firma nine to life
I can see the light of hope, but I'm still stuck in my mundane nine-to-five job, unable to break free to pursue my dreams. Time is fleeting, and life feels like a monotonous cycle with no end in sight.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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