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.
The Whine Of Youth
Channel 3 Lyrics
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It was shining like the grin of a fool
You got into the van, drew all over the roof
I don't know why, but I thought it was cool
You were all Doc Martens and Clove cigarettes
Black Beauties and Blue Label beer
And though I licked every one I finally lost count
All of the nights spent in harmless crime
When will I have a better time?
The whine of youth, bitter roar
The whine of youth, hear me snore
Ten years later standing in Cozumel
Left foot on a poisonous fish
You almost died and your mouth turned blue
All I thought of was your lipstick
A lifetime gone and my only art left
Is Vicodin and PS2
I think now and then what might have been
Bald, broke and morally screwed
Those were the days, God, we kicked some ass
You punkass kids get off my grass
The lyrics of Channel 3's song The Whine of Youth is a nostalgic reflection on the past. The singer recalls the night they met their lover, reminiscing about the moon that seemed to shine brightly, just like the goofy grin on their face. The description of the lover's appearance is significant as it captures the essence of the punk culture prevalent at that time - Doc Martens, Clove cigarettes, Blue Label beer, and the holes pierced around the right ear. The nostalgia evident in the lyrics underscores the longing to relive those moments of wild youth when they were invincible.
The first stanza is followed by the chorus, which is an ironic take on youth. The whine of youth, the bitter roar, and the hear me snore imply how the singer is aware that their youthful days are not coming back. The lyrics indicate that their present state is a far cry from their exciting youth, where every minute was alive with action and thrill. The lines "When will I have a better time?" and "A lifetime gone and my only art left is Vicodin and PS2" lament how they miss the days of living on the edge, doing harmless crimes, and not worrying about responsibility.
The last stanza mentions how the singer almost lost their partner ten years later, and all they could think of was their lipstick. The final lines, "Those were the days, God, we kicked some ass, You punkass kids get off my grass," have a cheeky tone, and they seem to mock the young ones who are yet to get a taste of life's effervescence. The song captures the irony of youth, where one misses the freedom and the rashness of youth while being aware of the wisdom that comes with growing up.
Line by Line Meaning
I can still see the moon on the night we met
I can still remember the night I met you under the bright, shining moon
It was shining like the grin of a fool
The moon was shining brightly, just like the smile of someone who is too happy and carefree
You got into the van, drew all over the roof
When you got into the van, you took a marker and drew all over the roof for some unknown reason
I don't know why, but I thought it was cool
Even though I didn't understand why you drew on the roof, I thought it was interesting or impressive in some way
You were all Doc Martens and Clove cigarettes
You were wearing Doc Marten boots and smoking Clove cigarettes
Black Beauties and Blue Label beer
You were also taking Black Beauties (a type of amphetamine) and drinking Blue Label beer
And though I licked every one I finally lost count
I counted all of the piercings around your right ear by licking them, but eventually lost track or gave up because there were so many
Of all the holes pierced round your right ear
You had many piercings in your right ear
All of the nights spent in harmless crime
We spent many nights doing things that were technically wrong, but didn't hurt anyone
When will I have a better time?
I wonder when I will ever have as much fun as I did during those nights
The whine of youth, bitter roar
The sound of young people complaining and expressing their frustration or dissatisfaction is like a harsh, unpleasant noise
The whine of youth, hear me snore
I'm tired of hearing young people complain and make noise about their problems or annoyances
Ten years later standing in Cozumel
Years later, we were standing in Cozumel, a small island off the coast of Mexico
Left foot on a poisonous fish
You stepped on a fish that was poisonous or dangerous
You almost died and your mouth turned blue
You had a close call with death and your mouth turned blue from the toxins
All I thought of was your lipstick
Even in such a dangerous situation, all I could focus on was the color of your lipstick
A lifetime gone and my only art left
Years have passed and the only thing I have left that I consider artistic or creative is taking Vicodin (pain medication) and playing PS2 (a video game console)
Is Vicodin and PS2
These days, my creative outlet is taking medication and playing video games
I think now and then what might have been
Sometimes I wonder what our lives could have been like if we had made different choices or had different experiences
Bald, broke and morally screwed
It's possible that our lives could have turned out worse, leaving us with no hair, no money, and poor morals
Those were the days, God, we kicked some ass
Back in the day, we were really cool and successful at accomplishing things or going against the norm
You punkass kids get off my grass
I'm annoyed with young people who don't appreciate what I've learned over the years and don't want them on my property
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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