Froberg and Reis had originally played in Pitchfork, but despite musical similarities, there were some significant changes in the lineup of Drive Like Jehu. Froberg, no longer just a vocalist, picked up a guitar, while Kennedy and Trombino formed the rhythm section of the new band after having played together in Night Soil Man, a prog-influenced punk outfit.
The group released their self-titled debut album on Cargo in 1991. The following year, they released the double a-side single, Hand Over Fist/Bullet Train To Vegas on Merge Records, and released the original recorded version of Sinews on the Headstart to Purgatory compilation of San Diego bands.
Drive Like Jehu and Rocket From the Crypt (a garage-punk band fronted by Reis) were signed to Interscope Records as a pair, with the label releasing Drive Like Jehu's second album, Yank Crime, in 1994 after which the band embarked on tours of the United States and Europe.
Drive Like Jehu played their final shows in 1995 with little fanfare. While John Reis concentrated on Rocket From the Crypt full-time, Froberg and Trombino would both eventually leave San Diego. Froberg briefly played in Thingy with Rob Crow (of Pinback) before moving to New York City to work as an illustrator. Kennedy went back to school and became a chemist, while Trombino, who engineered most of the band's recordings, became a audio engineer and producer for the likes of Blink 182 and Jimmy Eat World, among others.
Since the breakup, Reis continued to front Rocket From The Crypt until 2005, whilst working on other projects including Back Off Cupids, Sultans, and starting his own record label, Swami Records.
In 2000, Froberg and Reis reunited to form Hot Snakes, who released three full-lengths on Swami before retiring in the summer of 2005.
In 2007, Reis formed The Night Marchers with former Hot Snakes bandmates Gar Wood and Jason Kourkounis, releasing their debut album, See You In Magic earlier this year.
Good Luck in Jail
Drive Like Jehu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tape, I got the parts, payload speed boat, wanna come along, vice grip,
Guilt trip, ya got me pegged all wrong - I can sleep standing up, and still
Look awake, for 6 bucks an hour, for 8 hours a day, where's all my money go
An hour after I get paid, I can get the girl wired but I can't make her
Stay. etc...
The opening lyrics to Drive Like Jehu's song Good Luck in Jail appear to be disconnected and nonsensical. The lines "C'mon over to my house, yea. We'll work on my car. Just got some more duck tape, I got the parts" suggest a casual invitation to a friend to come over and fix a car. However, the subsequent lines "payload speed boat, wanna come along, vice grip, guilt trip, ya got me pegged all wrong" create a sense of disorientation and confusion. The reference to a "payload speed boat" seems to come out of left field, and the use of the terms "vice grip" and "guilt trip" suggest a more serious or confrontational context.
As the song progresses, the lyrics continue to paint a picture of someone who is struggling with poverty, relationships, and a lack of direction. The line "I can sleep standing up, and still look awake" hints at exhaustion and a sense of being constantly on-edge. The employment situation described in "for 6 bucks an hour, for 8 hours a day, where's all my money go an hour after I get paid" reflects a bleak reality that many people face. Finally, with "I can get the girl wired but I can't make her stay," the lyrics suggest an ongoing struggle with relationships and maybe even addiction.
Overall, the lyrics to Good Luck in Jail offer a poignant and honest portrayal of the challenges that many people face in their day-to-day lives, particularly when it comes to financial struggles and difficulties in relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
C'mon over to my house, yea.
Come to my place.
Well work on my car.
Help me fix my car.
Just got some more duck Tape, I got the parts,
I have the necessary tools and materials to fix the car.
payload speed boat, wanna come along,
I have a speed boat and invite you to come along.
vice grip, Guilt trip, ya got me pegged all wrong
Even though you think I am a controlling and manipulative person, you have misjudged me.
I can sleep standing up, and still Look awake,
I am able to perform tasks while appearing alert even if I have not slept properly.
for 6 bucks an hour, for 8 hours a day, where's all my money go
Despite working hard for minimum wage, I still struggle to make ends meet and feel like my pay is not enough.
An hour after I get paid,
Immediately after receiving pay.
I can get the girl wired but I can't make her Stay.
I am skilled at attracting women but I cannot make them stay with me.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Abe
I really love noise pop songs. I have so many memories with this one, me and my brother loved this so much.