The band's website once noted Cracker as "The only band to ever open for both Grateful Dead and Ramones," a unique distinction which is also indicative of the band's sound and style. Cracker comfortably mixes influences and sounds ranging from classic country music, psychedelia, punk and folk into their brand of "Americana" style rock.
Lowery and Hickman are inalterable constants. The band continues to tour (as a full band, and also as the "Cracker acoustic duo").
Time Machine
Cracker Lyrics
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We'll set the dial for 1983
To the dks right down in wilmington
Nightsticks swinging, tear gassed air turns green
In the time machine. time machine!
We took our lumps and ran between the casualties
Buick full of bloddy rags, and black flag cassettes
Sonny are you still too cool? how did you like your day at school
In the time machine. time machine
Put you in a time machine, put you in a time
Machine see how you do.
The lyrics to Cracker's "Time Machine" take the listener on a journey back in time to 1983, to a turbulent moment in history when DKs (Dead Kennedys) were performing in Wilmington. The scene is set with the imagery of nightsticks and tear gas, highlighting the police brutality and chaos that occurred during the performance. The song suggests that in the face of such violent opposition, the rebellious youth took their lumps and continued to resist, seeking refuge in the safety of their cars, with Buicks full of bloody rags and black flag cassettes.
The song takes on a nostalgic tone, as the singer reminisces about the glory days of punk rock, when Black Flag was still performing with Dez Cadena. The conversation between the singer and Sonny suggests that they are both older now, and perhaps have lost some of the rebellious spirit that they had in their youth. The line "Sonny are you still too cool? How did you like your day at school?" hints at this loss of youthful energy and rebellion, as if the two are now reminiscing on their past while taking a break from their mundane adult lives.
Overall, the lyrics to "Time Machine" capture the spirit of rebellion and resistance that was so prevalent during the punk rock movement, while also highlighting the nostalgia and melancholy that comes with growing older and looking back on one's youth.
Line by Line Meaning
Sonny step right up into the time machine
Calling out to Sonny to get into the time machine
We'll set the dial for 1983
Setting the time machine's date to 1983
To the dks right down in wilmington
Referring to a punk rock band, the Dks, from Wilmington, Delaware
Nightsticks swinging, tear gassed air turns green
Describing police brutality and the effects of tear gas on protesters
In the time machine. time machine!
Repeating the chorus about being in the time machine
We took our lumps and ran between the casualties
Running and trying to survive in a dangerous environment
Buick full of bloddy rags, and black flag cassettes
Describing the items they have in their car, including bloodied clothes and punk rock music
I think I liked em better with dez cadenza.
Expressing a personal preference for a former band member
Sonny are you still too cool? how did you like your day at school
Asking Sonny if he's still disinterested and commenting on school
In the time machine. time machine
Repeating the chorus about being in the time machine
Put you in a time machine, put you in a time
Offering to put someone in the time machine
Machine see how you do.
Challenging them to see how they would fare in the past
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CLINT LOWERY, MORGAN ROSE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind