The Dance Hall Crashers recorded a few songs during their first year (these are featured on The Old Record), and in 1990, they made their most notable lineup change, adding second vocalist Karina Denike. Soon after, the band members parted ways, but they played a reunion show in 1992 due to pressure from fans. The show met with great fanfare, and so the band decided to reunite on a more permanent basis, with Rogers and Denike on vocals, Hammon on lead guitar, his brother Gavin on drums, Scott Goodell on second guitar, and Mikey Weiss on bass. The Dance Hall Crashers song "Enough" was featured on the soundtrack for Angus (1995 film). The song "Don't Wanna Behave" was featured in the 1996 film "Biodome" as well.
As of August 2005, the band members lead separate lives but still play a few shows per year. In November 2004 they played and recorded a show at the Hollywood House of Blues; the concert was released by Kung Fu Records in September 2005 as part of the popular The Show Must Go Off DVD series.
Big Mouth
Dance Hall Crashers Lyrics
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What are you doing
What do you want to say
Tell me about what's been going on
Where have you been, thought you were gone
Tell me what you can't tell me about
I won't listen but I'll tell them all anyhow
Tell me what you really want me to say
What do you think about what they all did
Say something bad
What do you really want to admit
You can tell me I won't say a word
Trust me, I won't tell the world
Won't tell them what you did last night
Won't tell them why you started that really big fight
Or why you ran out that time
It's none of my business, but I'm gonna make it mine
You keep talking
And I'll keep listening
But really it's the same, it's the same old story
Tell me about how it all went wrong
Who do you blame
Who from your world is gone
You know I've been through it too
It's off the record I promise you
So tell me all of the private things
What's there to know
Tell me who gave you that ring
What about your private line
Won't give it out, at least not this time
You keep talking
And I'll keep listening
But really it's the same, it's the same old story
I don't care what you want me to say
You're gonna write
What you want to anyway
Why are you wasting time on me
Just write what you want me to be
Cause I don't care what you want me to say
It's the same old story
Who's gonna care anyway
Promise me you won't ask about
Being a girl in a rock world
The Dance Hall Crashers' song "Big Mouth" is a satirical take on the culture of gossip and media manipulation. The lyrics describe a narrator who is all too eager to pry into other people's lives and secrets, promising confidentiality but ultimately seeking to profit from other people's misfortunes. The singer seems to take a perverse pleasure in hearing about other people's problems, and even encourages their subjects to say things that they might later regret. The chorus, "You keep talking / And I'll keep listening / But really it's the same, it's the same old story," suggests a circular, unproductive conversation that only serves to feed the cycle of rumor and hearsay.
The song has a catchy, upbeat punk-pop sound that contrasts with its darker lyrics, creating an ironic sense of detachment from the material the band is performing. The chorus, with its repetitive "la la la" melody and sing-along quality, is particularly memorable, almost mocking the superficiality of the conversations being portrayed in the lyrics. The band's vocal harmonies and driving guitar riffs add to the energy and urgency of the song, creating a sense of urgency that reflects the insatiable hunger of the media and gossip-mongers.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell me about what you think today
Please share your current thoughts with me
What are you doing
Give me an update on your activities
What do you want to say
Express what's on your mind
Tell me about what's been going on
Share what's been happening in your life
Where have you been, thought you were gone
I haven't seen you around lately, what have you been up to?
Tell me what you can't tell me about
Confide in me about the things you usually keep to yourself
I won't listen but I'll tell them all anyhow
I won't pay attention to what you're saying, but I'll spread it around anyway
Tell me what you really want me to say
What is it that you want me to respond with?
I don't care, I'll ask anyway
Even if your answer doesn't matter to me, I'll still ask
What do you think about what they all did
What is your opinion on the actions of others?
Say something bad
Express a negative viewpoint
What do you really want to admit
What truth do you want to reveal?
You can tell me I won't say a word
Your secret is safe with me
Trust me, I won't tell the world
I won't share your information with others
Won't tell them what you did last night
I won't disclose your actions from the previous night
Won't tell them why you started that really big fight
I won't reveal the reason behind your major argument
Or why you ran out that time
I won't discuss why you left suddenly
It's none of my business, but I'm gonna make it mine
Even though it's not my concern, I still want to know all the details
You keep talking
Continue to speak your mind
And I'll keep listening
I'll be attentive to what you're saying
But really it's the same, it's the same old story
However, the story seems to be unchanged and repetitive
Tell me about how it all went wrong
Share with me how everything fell apart
Who do you blame
Who do you hold accountable?
Who from your world is gone
Who has left or exited your world?
You know I've been through it too
I understand what you're going through because I've experienced it as well
It's off the record I promise you
This conversation is confidential and won't be shared with anyone else
So tell me all of the private things
Share with me any personal and confidential information
What's there to know
What information do I need to possess?
Tell me who gave you that ring
Inform me who gave you that piece of jewelry
What about your private line
What's the story behind your private phone line?
Won't give it out, at least not this time
I won't provide this information, at least not right now
I don't care what you want me to say
Your desired response doesn't matter to me
You're gonna write
You'll jot down the conversation for your writing purposes
What you want to anyway
You'll write whatever you please
Why are you wasting time on me
Why are you spending your time on me instead of something else?
Just write what you want me to be
Craft a narrative around me that suits your purposes
Cause I don't care what you want me to say
I already stated that I'm indifferent to your desired outcome
Who's gonna care anyway
What's the point? Who will care about this topic?
Promise me you won't ask about
Please don't ask me about
Being a girl in a rock world
My experiences and challenges as a female musician in a male-dominated industry
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JALIL HUTCHINS, LAWRENCE SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Roopaloooop
on Cricket
When I listen to it, it makes me sad in a good way. It makes me think it's being sung to a terminally ill child.
"Why are you worried about the dirt? I don't think that you'll mind. When it's your time." And the "promise I'll wait a while. To make sure that you've moved on." If it's a lullaby, it's scary. Ha. I thought maybe it was her singing to her grandma on her deathbed, too. Makes more sense I guess.