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.
New Disease
Everclear Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All about your new disease
This is what you said you wanted
When you walked away from me
I heard the news today
Yeah I know what your friends all say
That I'm gonna go to hell, they're all probably right
I just wanna go to hell my way
I heard the news today
All about your new romance
There is always gonna be someone better than me
I guess I never had a chance
Yes I heard the news today
You were livin' by the sound of the bell
I still believe that life gets better when you tell the world to go to hell
Oh I don't wanna play your game
I don't wanna live that way
I don't wanna do what you tell me to do
I don't fit inside the box you've made
No I don't wanna play your game
No I will never live that way
I don't wanna do what you tell me to do
I just want to do it my way
Yes I heard the news today
You've got scars on your hands and knees
You never would have been so ovbious when I was a new disease
Yes I heard the news today
You were livin' by the sound of a bell
I still believe that life gets better when you tell the world to go to hell
Oh I don't wanna play your game
I don't wanna live that way
I don't wanna do what you tell me to do
I don't fit inside the box you've made
No I will never play your game
No I will never live that way
No I don't wanna live like you want me to live
I just want to live my way
The lyrics of Everclear's "New Disease" depict an individual who has moved on from a past relationship and has found a new love interest. However, the singer, who is the singer in the song, is not interested in playing the game or living according to the new partner's expectations. The chorus repeatedly emphasizes the desire to live life according to one's own rules and not comply with what others expect. The singer may have been hurt by the past relationship and is therefore cautious about entering new relationships. The lyrics suggest that the singer is being judged or criticized by others for their choices, but they are determined to live their life their way, even if it means going against the norm.
The repetition of the line "I heard the news today" invites the listener to be a part of the singer's thoughts and emotions. The use of second-person pronouns in the following lines, "this is what you said you wanted" and "When you walked away from me," suggests that the singer is addressing the new partner directly, reflecting on their past relationship, and commenting on the partner's current choices.
Overall, "New Disease" delivers a message of self-determination and individuality. It encourages its listeners to trust their instincts and not be afraid to live by their own terms.
Line by Line Meaning
I heard the news today
I was informed today
All about your new disease
About the new state of your life
This is what you said you wanted
This was your decision
When you walked away from me
When you left our relationship
Yeah I know what your friends all say
I am aware of what your friends are saying
That I'm gonna go to hell, they're all probably right
They believe that the way I live is not valid
I just wanna go to hell my way
I want to live my own life regardless of others' opinions
All about your new romance
About your new love interest
There is always gonna be someone better than me
I know there is always someone better
I guess I never had a chance
I never had a chance with you
You were livin' by the sound of the bell
You were living your life by the rules of society
I still believe that life gets better when you tell the world to go to hell
Living by your own rules will make life better
Oh I don't wanna play your game
I don't want to live by your rules
I don't wanna live that way
I don't want to live by society's rules
I don't wanna do what you tell me to do
I don't want to follow your commands
I don't fit inside the box you've made
I am not comfortable with the label you put on me
You've got scars on your hands and knees
You have been through tough times
You never would have been so obvious when I was a new disease
You never showed your true self when we were together
No I will never play your game
I will not conform to your rules
No I will never live that way
I will not live by your expectations
No I don't wanna live like you want me to live
I don't want to live according to your wishes
I just want to live my way
I want to live my own life
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ART ALEXAKIS, GREG EKLUND, CRAIG MONTOYA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind