Everclear is a rock band formed in Portland, Oregon, USA, in 1992. For most… Read Full Bio ↴Everclear is a rock band formed in Portland, Oregon, USA, in 1992. For most of its existence, Everclear consisted of Art Alexakis (b. 12 April 1962, Los Angeles, California, USA; vocals, guitar), Craig Montoya (b. 14 September 1970; bass, vocals) and Greg Eklund (b. 18 April 1970; drums). Eklund replaced original drummer Scott Cuthbert in 1994. Montoya and Eklund departed the band in 2003, but Alexakis has continued performing as Everclear with a new lineup.

After a solo tour in the fall of 2003, Alexakis decided to continue with Everclear, organizing a new band that made its debut in March of 2004. The new lineup consisted of bass player Sam Hudson, guitarist Dave French, and drummer Eric Bretl. In the summer of 2004, the band added keyboard player Josh Crawley, and swapped Bretl for former Everclear drum tech Brett Snyder. The new lineup released its first recording, a cover of Woody Guthrie's This Land Is Your Land, that summer. A self-released EP of performances recorded for XM Satellite Radio called Closure was given out at shows in the fall of 2004.

Free of a major label, Alexakis spent the ensuing year and half slowly recording material for a new Everclear release. He admitted that the time after the breakup of the original lineup served as a "wake up call", during which he suffered his third divorce and a filing for bankruptcy. Alexakis announced the completion of the album in early 2006,titled Welcome To The Drama Club. The new band is now on Eleven Seven Music.

In August of 2008, drummer Brett Snyder left the band after four years. He was then replaced by Tommy Stewart, who previously played in bands Fuel and Godsmack.

Aces
Everclear Lyrics

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I wish my life was like a John Hughes movie
Good times and easy on the dark side
I wish my life was like a John Hughes movie
Bright lights, always looking for a better life

We were looking for each other
In the bars on the west side
We were looking for the summer

When it's cold outside

This is gonna be good
Life is coming up aces
Everything is coming up aces
We found a way to make money out of
Broken boys and difficult girls

Reality is wonderful
We were waking up
For the world to begin

Things are so much better now
I have a good reason to
Want to get wasted again

We were slumming for a buzz
In a new place that used to be the old school
We were happy for the pain of being
Lame enough to want to look cool

I really think that this is going to be good

Life is coming up aces
Everything is coming up aces
We can make a good living out
Of broken lives and empty hearts

Ain't this entertaining watching people fall apart

We were wasting time waiting
For the world to begin

Things are so much better now
I have a good reason to
Wanna get wasted again

Back home, white trash
There isn't any limit to the shame
These people have

Good people do bad things
Have sex with an ex in the bathroom
On their wedding day

Pretty faces with no soul

Everybody needs a chance to
Win themselves a better life

Everybody wants a better life
Everybody wants a better life

Everybody wants a better life
Everybody wants a better life

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Everclear’s “Aces” explore the longing for a life that resembles the bright and easy world of a John Hughes movie. The singer wishes for a life where everything is coming up aces, bright lights and always looking for a better life. However, in reality, they are slumming for a buzz in a new place that used to be the old school. Despite this, the singer is excited at the prospect of making money out of broken boys and difficult girls. The song talks about how good people can do bad things, and how everybody needs a chance to win themselves a better life.

The bars on the west side and the summer contrast with the cold reality of the outside world. The idea of wanting to get wasted again suggests that the singer has been through some difficult times and is looking for a way out. The song paints a picture of a gritty world where people are searching for something better, but in the end, the desire for a better life is universal.

Overall, the lyrics of “Aces” touch on the themes of disillusionment, longing for a better life, and the idea that everyone deserves a chance. The song speaks to anyone who has ever felt trapped, lost, or at a dead end, and has a hopeful message that everyone can find their own way to success.

Line by Line Meaning

I wish my life was like a John Hughes movie
I wish my life was filled with good times and easy on the dark side, just like in the movies of John Hughes.

Good times and easy on the dark side
Having both fun and comfort, even in the darkest moments.

Bright lights, always looking for a better life
A desire always to find opportunities and a better life, despite the dazzling city lights.

We were looking for each other
The search for companionship brought us together.

In the bars on the west side
Our journey for companionship took us to the bars located on the west side of town.

We were looking for the summer
We were desperately searching for the feeling of hope, joy, and warmth.

When it's cold outside
During the winter season when the air is icy and frigid.

This is gonna be good
Anticipating a positive and exciting outcome.

Life is coming up aces
Everything in life is working out great, just like having a perfect poker hand.

We found a way to make money out of
We discovered a method of earning cash from

Broken boys and difficult girls
People who have been worn out by life, boys who are wounded, disheartened or characterless girls

Reality is wonderful
The truth is that life is quite exceptional.

We were waking up
We were awakening with a fresh perspective and mindset.

For the world to begin
To watch life start anew, with excitement and vigour.

Things are so much better now
Life has improved a lot at present.

I have a good reason to
I have a solid justification to

Want to get wasted again
I yearn to lose myself in a high state once more.

We were slumming for a buzz
We were low-key looking to be high in a sketchy place.

In a new place that used to be the old school
In a location, restrained in the past, now meaningless and used for frivolous means.

We were happy for the pain of being
We took solace in the fact that our lives were hard and complicated.

Lame enough to want to look cool
Pretentious enough to want to impress others with insincere behaviour or beliefs.

Life is coming up aces
It looks like life will be offering great opportunities.

We can make a good living out of broken lives and empty hearts
We can profit from those in tears or those downtrodden from heartbreaks and shattered emotions.

Ain't this entertaining watching people fall apart
Isn't it amusing to see people disintegrate and crumble? (Sarcastic tone).

We were wasting time waiting
We were twiddling our thumbs, whiling away the hours for something to happen.

Back home, white trash
At home, among the strata of low-income, poor-white people.

There isn't any limit to the shame
It's shameful, to the extreme end, without any boundaries.

These people have
The folks in question have

Good people do bad things
Even decent individuals can behave poorly when under stressful situations.

Have sex with an ex in the bathroom
Engage in sexual relations with an ex-partner in a restroom.

On their wedding day
This took place on the day they got married.

Pretty faces with no soul
Attractive individuals lacking depth or compassion.

Everybody needs a chance to
Everyone deserves an opportunity to

Win themselves a better life
Succeed in attaining a more prosperous and improved lifestyle.

Everybody wants a better life
All individuals desire to have a better life.