Between 2010 and 2012, the band also contributed songs to split EPs shared with Mixtapes, Tit Patrol, the Jetty Boys, The Haverchucks, Hold Tight!, and Braver.
On past tours, Direct Hit has traveled and played alongside NOFX, Masked Intruder, PEARS, Mean Jeans, Tenement, and Red City Radio, and the band is currently booked to open for the first three weeks of Reel Big Fish's January/February 2017 tour with Anti-Flag.
Failed Invasion
Direct Hit! Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
yeah we were holding on and hoping they would call
We sat captive in the flowers with our radios in tact,
we left our AK-47s near the wall
Yeah we were here protecting nations, women, children from invasion -
Usually we felt useless above all
Every meeting's a vacation,
never made it to the station for an infiltration,
yeah, we're still too small
So tell me why can't we learn to get along?
And tell me why are we always on the run?
Pretty sure this club is failing, haven't made the headlines yet,
so tell me do you know if this invasion's set?
We've sat silent in libraries, drunk tanks, traffic jams and attics
more than spaceships in the sky above our walls
Makes me think they just aren't coming
Wasting time's better than running,
that's what we've all told ourselves if just to stall
And we're been holding on for decades hoping that they'd call us back,
but I just don't think that that call's ever gonna come
We've sat captive in the flowers, picking asscracks, picking boogers,
and I gotta say, everybody, this ain't fun
Maybe we should think of somewhere else to go?
Or maybe I should think about just going solo
I'm tired of just waiting, contemplating, masturbating
With my brain might be a better way to go
The song Failed Invasion by Direct Hit! is a commentary on the futility of war and the hopelessness that soldiers feel when they are sent to fight in battles that they know they can't win. The lyrics speak to the idea that soldiers are often left waiting and hoping for a call or a mission, but never get the opportunity to prove themselves in the field. The use of the phrase "holding on for hours" speaks to the idea that soldiers are held in limbo, unable to move forward or take any action until they are given orders.
The imagery of being "captive in the flowers" and "picking asscracks, picking boogers" while waiting for a call to action is a powerful reminder that soldiers are people too, and they are often forced to sit in mundane, uncomfortable situations while they wait for orders. The line "we left our AK-47s near the wall" is also a poignant one, as it suggests that soldiers may be resigned to the fact that they will never get to use their weapons.
The chorus of the song asks a series of questions about the nature of war and why soldiers are made to suffer. The line "pretty sure this club is failing, haven't made the headlines yet" is a reference to the media's coverage of war and how it often ignores the smaller, underreported conflicts. Ultimately, the song suggests that war is a futile and pointless exercise that does little to benefit anyone involved.
Line by Line Meaning
Well we've been holding on for hours hoping that they'd call us back,
We've been waiting anxiously for hours for a call that we know may never come.
yeah we were holding on and hoping they would call
We were still holding on to hope for that call.
We sat captive in the flowers with our radios in tact,
We were confined to hiding in the surrounding foliage with functioning communication devices.
we left our AK-47s near the wall
We abandoned our weapons in vain, realizing they wouldn't have been much help anyway.
Yeah we were here protecting nations, women, children from invasion -
We believed that we were defending the innocent from the looming threat of invasion.
Usually we felt useless above all
Most of the time we felt ineffective and pointless in our mission.
Every meeting's a vacation,
Each gathering felt like a break from our monotonous routines.
never made it to the station for an infiltration,
We never actually followed through with our plans for infiltration.
yeah, we're still too small
We were still too insignificant for anyone to take notice of us.
So tell me why can't we learn to get along?
Why can't we as a society learn to live in peace and harmony?
And tell me why are we always on the run?
Why do we constantly find ourselves fleeing from danger and conflict?
Pretty sure this club is failing, haven't made the headlines yet,
We're certain that our organization is destined to fail, as we haven't received any recognition or publicity for our efforts.
so tell me do you know if this invasion's set?
Can you confirm whether or not the invasion is still a threat?
We've sat silent in libraries, drunk tanks, traffic jams and attics
We've spent endless hours waiting in various mundane locations.
more than spaceships in the sky above our walls
We've spent more time waiting than the sight of spaceships passing overhead.
Makes me think they just aren't coming
The lack of activity has led me to believe that the invasion was never going to happen.
Wasting time's better than running,
We've found that it's more preferable to wait than to take action with no direction or plan.
that's what we've all told ourselves if just to stall
We've convinced ourselves that waiting is still taking action, even if it's really just an excuse for procrastination.
And we're been holding on for decades hoping that they'd call us back,
We've held onto the possibility of that call for years, despite the passing of time and lack of activity.
but I just don't think that that call's ever gonna come
I've come to accept that the call may never come at this point.
We've sat captive in the flowers, picking asscracks, picking boogers,
We've become restless and bored, engaging in pointless and immature activities to pass the time.
and I gotta say, everybody, this ain't fun
We can all agree that this situation is far from enjoyable.
Maybe we should think of somewhere else to go?
Perhaps it's time we consider alternative courses of action.
Or maybe I should think about just going solo
Maybe I should consider pursuing my goals on my own.
I'm tired of just waiting, contemplating, masturbating
I'm tired of the repetitive and unfulfilling routine of waiting, thinking, and avoiding action.
With my brain might be a better way to go
Perhaps it's time to start using my intellect towards a more productive endeavor.
Contributed by Penelope H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.