Clap Clap Riot is a four-piece Indie Rock band based in Auckland, New Zeala… Read Full Bio ↴Clap Clap Riot is a four-piece Indie Rock band based in Auckland, New Zealand. In 2008 they won the MTV 'Kick-start your career' band competition.

The band originated in Canterbury and was originally named Band Theft Auto. The name Clap Clap Riot comes from the applause machine designed by John Lydon for the show Top Of The Pops in the early 1980s.

The band released their debut EP 'TV Knows Better' through RhythMethod in February 2009, which produced two singles - 'Thief' and 'Don't Want Your Baby'. 'TV Knows Better' was produced by Jimmy Xmas. Clap Clap Riot have completed two headline tours throughout New Zealand, toured Australia twice and performed at the Big Day Out, Rhythm and Vines and Southern Amp festivals. As part of their prize from winning the 'Kick-Start your career" competition, MTV Australia televised a live performance from Clap Clap Riot when they performed at ‘The Lair’ alongside Evermore in Sydney, April 2009.

Their long-awaited debut album 'Counting Spins' was made available on June 15, 2012 through Universal Music New Zealand. The album features the singles 'Everyone's Asleep', 'Yoko Ono', 'Moss-Haired Girl' and 'So You Say'.

Everybody
Clap Clap Riot Lyrics

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I just want live a little like my older brother,
Jumping off some bridges and go falling in the water,
But time won't wait.

I give all my money to another homeowner,

Underneath the house the weather is a little colder,
But time won't wait.

Everybody yeah everybody,
Everybody's doing it for themselves.

I just want to pack up and move over to another,

Riviera, Matakana, middle Arizona,
But time won't wait.

I just want to take all of the money in my wallet,
Give it to my girlfriend for a special little locket,

But time won't wait.

Everybody yeah everybody,
Everybody's doing it for themselves.

I just want to go for it without a business partner,

Making cups of coffee or bottling bottled water,
But time won't wait.

Everybody yeah everybody,
Everybody's doing it for themselves.

Overall Meaning

The song "Everybody" by Clap Clap Riot is all about wanting to break free from the constraints of society and live life to the fullest. The lyrics speak about the desire to live like the singer's older brother, taking risks by jumping off bridges into water. The lyrics suggest that time is slipping away and the singer is conscious that he needs to make the most of his time. The band highlights the importance of recognizing that every individual should be doing things for themselves and living their life fully.

The singer mentions wanting to move to a new place like Riviera, Matakana, middle Arizona. This could be interpreted as wanting to escape the restraints of his current life and start fresh in a new place. There is also a desire to do something meaningful for others by giving all his money to another homeowner, or giving his girlfriend a special locket. This part of the song expresses the desire to connect with others and to make a difference in their lives.

The song's main message is about individualism and being true to oneself. The lyrics suggest that each individual should be doing what makes them happy and fulfilled, instead of following the crowd. The line "everybody's doing it for themselves" is repeated throughout the song and reinforces this idea.

Line by Line Meaning

I just want live a little like my older brother,
I want to take some risks just like my older brother did, like jumping off some bridges and diving into water. I don't want to hold back anymore, but I know that time is ticking away and I don't want to waste any more of it.

But time won't wait.
I realize that I can't waste any more time and I need to take action now before it's too late.

I give all my money to another homeowner,
I am willing to invest all of my savings into buying a new house, even if it means giving it to someone else. I know that staying in my current situation won't help me move forward in life.

Underneath the house the weather is a little colder,
I know that the journey ahead won't be easy, and there will be some obstacles and rough patches along the way. But I am willing to face them and make sacrifices.

Everybody yeah everybody,
I realize that everyone is making their own moves and trying to secure their own future.

Everybody's doing it for themselves.
Everyone is working towards their own goals and aspirations, even if it means leaving others behind.

I just want to pack up and move over to another,
I want to start fresh and move to a different place, whether it's a new town, city or even country. I am ready for a change in my life.

Riviera, Matakana, middle Arizona,
I am open to moving anywhere, whether it's a fancy place like the Riviera or a small town like Matakana or even the deserts of middle Arizona.

I just want to take all of the money in my wallet,
I want to do something special for my girlfriend, even if it means giving her all the money I have. I am willing to do whatever it takes to make her happy.

Give it to my girlfriend for a special little locket,
I want to buy my girlfriend a meaningful gift, like a locket, which will symbolize our love and commitment to each other.

I just want to go for it without a business partner,
I want to start a new venture on my own, without the need of a business partner holding me back or slowing me down.

Making cups of coffee or bottling bottled water,
I don't want to pursue a regular 9-to-5 job, but rather want to explore new opportunities, whether it's in the coffee-making business or even bottling water.

Contributed by Gabriel G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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