Shortly after forming they enlisted Milo Aukerman and made what started out a surf band into a full fledged punk unit. Descendents have diverged from their punk peers, perhaps because of the Beach Boys influences, and sang about topics that touched many young punks' lives like parents, food, girls and being rejected.
This band separated due to Milo actually going to college (he attended the University of California, San Diego) just like the title of their debut. This and other constraints have made them famous for their long hiatuses, which are sometimes a decade span in length. The band has now spread out across their country of origin and their future is somewhat uncertain.
Lead singer Milo Aukerman currently resides in Newark, Delaware. He was a biochemist for the internationally known DuPont Chemical company, which is based out of Delaware. However, whenever the end of Descendents seemed to be approaching, Milo popped up again and the band released a new record. Aukerman then later returned to his academic duties in teaching biochemistry. He then quit his academic life to pursue a career in music fulltime.
Jean is Dead
Descendents Lyrics
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Go to school, but where are you?
You should have told me! I should have known!
But know you're gone and I'm alone
Your mother told me last night on the phone
Now you're gone now I'm alone
I would have helped you
I would have done anything
But now you're gone and, I'm alone!
The Descendents' song "Jean Is Dead" is a deeply emotional and powerful song that explores the pain and confusion of losing someone unexpectedly. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the singer's grief and anger at being left alone without any warning or explanation. The opening lines of the song immediately set the tone, with the singer waking up early in the midst of his anger at the person he is addressing. It's unclear who this person is, but we can assume it's someone the singer was close to, possibly a girlfriend or romantic partner.
As the song continues, we learn that this person is gone, and the singer is struggling to cope with the sudden loss. He feels betrayed that he wasn't told and believes that he should have known. The emotions are raw and intense, with the repetition of "now you're gone and I'm alone" driving home the sense of loss and loneliness.
The singer even goes so far as to say that he would have done anything to help this person, to the point of taking them with him or proposing marriage. But it's too late, and the final lines of the song leave us with the singer still grappling with his feelings of grief and despair.
Overall, "Jean Is Dead" is a powerful song that captures the complexities of grief and loss, and how sudden loss can leave us reeling and struggling to find meaning in our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Wake up early, mad at you
I woke up early and with anger towards you
Go to school, but where are you?
I went to school but you weren't there
You should have told me! I should have known!
You should have told me what was going on so I could have helped you, and I should have known something wasn't right
But now you're gone and I'm alone
You're no longer here and I'm by myself
Your mother told me last night on the phone
Your mother informed me of your passing on the phone last night
Now you're gone now I'm alone
Now that you're no longer with us, I'm left alone
I would have helped you
I wish I could have helped you
I would have done anything
I would have done anything to prevent this from happening
I would have taken you with me or brought you a ring,
I would have taken you away or even proposed to you, if it could have made a difference
But now you're gone and, I'm alone!
But since it's too late, you're gone and I'm left alone to deal with this grief
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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