Dishwalla, which emerged out of the early stages of post-grunge, is composed of J.R. Richards (vocals), Scot Alexander (bass), Rodney Browning Cravens (guitar), Jim Wood (keyboards), and George Pendergast (drums). They spent the mid-'90s touring with the likes of Sheryl Crow, Blind Melon, and the Goo Goo Dolls in support of Pet Your Friends. Prior to making a second album, the band was caught in the middle of the Polygram/Universal merger and such a move left Dishwalla pondering what to do next. Their second album, And You Think You Know What Life's About, was released in 1998; promotion and sales were lackluster due to label downsizing. Dishwalla's time with A&M was short-lived and exhausting because of such corporate behavior, but they stuck it out to contribute their cover version of "Policy of Truth" for the Depeche Mode tribute album For the Masses. By the new millennium, Dishwalla left behind major-market America for a third album. They signed with Immergent while Pendergrast parted ways with the band. Pete Maloney, a drummer picked up on the 1998 tour, resumed percussion duties. In 2002, Dishwalla issued their experimental third album Opaline (Immergent), quickly followed by 2003's Live... Greetings from the Flow State. A self-titled album produced by Sylvia Massy (Tool, System of a Down), Bill Szymczyk, and Ryan Greene (NOFX, Nerf Herder) followed in 2005 before the band went on indefinite hiatus.
Three years passed before Dishwalla would return in 2008. Debuting a lineup that joined original members Alexander, Pendergast, Cravens, and Wood with new vocalist Justin Fox, the band hit the road, touring sporadically over the following years. They would not return to the studio until 2016, when they began recording their first album in a decade. Juniper Road arrived in 2017.
Biography by MacKenzie Wilson
Mad Life
Dishwalla Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How we give it all
Hold me up
Hold me up into the sun and watch me burn
Come undone
It can come apart when everything seems lost
Its insane
How I try to find what to believe in
Its a mad life that we know
Won't give it up with the beauty all around
Its a mad life that we know
Still we give it all
Hold me up
When I try to give and all I get is hurt
Its okay
That I feel faded today
And lord I know
That I can find some peace
In this world
In this world
Its a mad life that we know
Still inside is beauty all around
Its a mad life that we know
Will we give it all away
Sweet life I know
Will it fade away
Sweet life I know
Can we give enough before we come undone
Before we come undone
I'm waiting for the love to come around
And save us from ourselves
Its a mad life that we know
Can I see only beauty all around
Its a mad life that we know
Still we give it all
See the pain and beauty all around
See it try so hard to take me down
Hold me up into the sun and watch me burn and watch me heal
How I need someone to know that I feel faded today
The song "Mad Life" by Dishwalla is a powerful yet reflective ballad that resonates with individuals who have lost faith in themselves and the world they live in. The first verse of the song, "Sweet life I know, How we give it all, Hold me up, Hold me up into the sun and watch me burn," speaks to the struggles and perseverance that one endures while attempting to navigate a society that often seems unforgiving. The lyrics seem to suggest that life can be beautiful and fulfilling, but that it can also be harsh and unforgiving at times.
The chorus of the song, "Its a mad life that we know, Won't give it up with the beauty all around, Its a mad life that we know, Still we give it all," reinforces the theme of hope and the human spirit's resistance to adversity. The lyrics appear to suggest that despite the difficulties we face, we must continue to acknowledge and appreciate the positive aspects of our lives.
The second verse of the song, "Hold me up, When I try to give and all I get is hurt, Its okay, That I feel faded today, And lord I know, That I can find some peace, In this world, In this world," continues to speak to the struggles of life, but it also emphasizes the importance of finding inner peace and the beauty surrounding us.
Overall, "Mad Life" by Dishwalla is an emotionally charged song that speaks to resilience, hope, and perseverance. It is a call to stay strong and continue the fight, despite life's challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
Sweet life I know
Life is bittersweet and I'm aware
How we give it all
Despite the difficulties, we still give it our all
Hold me up
Support me and keep me strong
Hold me up into the sun and watch me burn
Let me shine and give me the freedom to express myself fully
Come undone
Things can fall apart and become chaotic
It can come apart when everything seems lost
Even when everything seems hopeless, there's still a chance for things to turn around
Its insane
The situation is overwhelming and irrational
How I try to find what to believe in
Despite the craziness, I still seek clarity and meaning
Its a mad life that we know
Life is crazy and unpredictable
Won't give it up with the beauty all around
Despite the madness, there's still beauty worth holding onto
Still we give it all
No matter what, we still put in effort and dedication
When I try to give and all I get is hurt
Sometimes our efforts aren't reciprocated and we get hurt
Its okay
It's alright to feel hurt and vulnerable
That I feel faded today
I'm feeling depleted and exhausted today
And lord I know
Despite the difficulties, I have faith
That I can find some peace in this world
I can still find moments of calm and contentment in this chaotic world
Its a mad life that we know
Life still remains unpredictable and uncontrollable
Still inside is beauty all around
Despite the chaos, there's still beautiful things to appreciate
Will we give it all away
Will we let the craziness take over and give up?
Will it fade away
Will the beauty we hold on to eventually disappear?
Can we give enough before we come undone
Can we do enough before everything falls apart?
I'm waiting for the love to come around
I'm waiting for something or someone to bring hope and positivity
And save us from ourselves
To save us from our own negative thoughts and actions
Can I see only beauty all around
Can I focus solely on the positive and beautiful things?
See the pain and beauty all around
We can acknowledge both the pain and beauty in life
See it try so hard to take me down
Recognize that life's difficulties can be exhausting and overwhelming
Hold me up into the sun and watch me burn and watch me heal
Allow me to experience both the highs and lows and trust that I'll come out stronger
How I need someone to know that I feel faded today
It's important to express our vulnerabilities and seek support when needed
Lyrics © JOHN ROBERT RICHARDS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind