Influenced by SoCal punk rockers like Offspring and blink-182, as well as older bands from the area (which they learned about from their dad's record collection; he was the guitarist of T.S.O.L.), Max Kuehn (drums) and his brother Elvis (guitar/vocals) were playing punk shows around L.A. by their teens. By the time they were out of high school, guitarist/vocalist Zac Carper and bassist Brandon Schwartzel had joined up. Later the group went the independent route and started a homespun label to record material, while embracing the reaches of the Internet and making several videos to promote their music and as motivation to film their drunken antics.
Mom & Pop signed them in 2012 for their debut album, FIDLAR, which was released in early 2013. The album debuted at number five on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and number two on the Alternative New Artist chart, and was the number one most added release at CMJ. After touring the world with bands like the Pixies, the Hives, Black Lips, and Wavves, the band ended up back home in need of a break. After starting a new album, but finding the songs and self-produced sound too FIDLAR-y for their liking, Carper headed out on a road trip, wrote a new batch of songs inspired by the music of his youth -- Elvis Kuehn and Schwartzel wrote some too -- and the band headed to Nashville to try again with producer Jay Joyce.
The resulting album, 2015's Too, featured a more mature outlook and some musical muscle, topping Billboard's Heatseekers chart and charting well in the U.K. and Australia. Following tours for Too, FIDLAR remained relatively quiet for a period, eventually beginning work on album number three with Ricky Reed, a producer better known for his work with mainstream pop acts like Kesha and Halsey. After a handful of advance singles in 2018, the band's third LP, Almost Free, was released in January 2019.
Biography by Jason Lymangrover
Max Can't Surf
Fidlar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He’s got a static shape,
In the taco I’m sleeping in,
Playing video games.
Quit smoking two packs a day,
He’s got dogs stuck in his legs.
I smoke weed if my baby lets me,
Or I won’t get laid.
And Max can’t surf,
Max can’t surf,
He gets real stoned and tries to make it work.
But God knows he’s got no balance.
Message from the dog here,
It’s just a small routine,
Giving all shit on a full grown man,
Trying the best still I can.
Gotta change the focus,
Tore away, escaping.
Stop wearing tight jeans,
And pull on some long shirts.
And Max can’t surf,
Max can’t surf,
He gets real stoned and tries to make it work
But God knows he’s got no balance.
Smoking two packs a day,
Smoking two packs a day,
Smoking two packs a day,
Smoking two packs a day,
Smoking two packs a day,
Smoking two packs a day.
He gets real stoned and tries to make it work
But God knows he’s such a jerk.
The lyrics of Fidlar's song "Max Can't Surf" tells the story of a man called Max, who evidently cannot surf despite his best efforts. The first verse has a repetitive line "He's got a static shape" which implies that Max is stuck in his ways and cannot change or adapt. The taco that the singer is sleeping in is a metaphor for his comfort zone, while Max is trying to venture into the unknown waters but failing at it. The line "Playing video games" suggests that Max is not interested in learning how to surf, instead he is content with being stuck in his own world, which is highlighted in the next verse.
The following verse talks about the contrast in lifestyles between the two individuals. While the singer has given up smoking to impress his love interest, Max still smokes two packs a day and has "dogs stuck in his legs", which is a reference to his inability to move or take action. The line "Or I won't get laid" suggests that the singer is sacrificing his habit for a chance at love, while Max doesn't care enough to change his ways.
The chorus of the song has a repetitive line "Max can't surf" which highlights the main theme of the song. Max, being a static character, cannot learn to surf as he has no balance. The phrase "He gets real stoned and tries to make it work" implies that Max is not taking surfing seriously and is just trying to wing it, which ultimately results in him failing.
The last verse of the song talks about changing perspectives and escaping one's comfort zone. The dog's message suggests that the routine needs to change in order to progress, while the line "Tore away, escaping" highlights the need to leave behind old habits and start anew. The final line "But God knows he's such a jerk" is a blunt statement and implies that despite his shortcomings, Max is not willing to change.
Line by Line Meaning
He’s got a static shape,
He has a rigid and inflexible physical form.
In the taco I’m sleeping in,
I am currently sleeping in a cramped and uncomfortable space, like a small taco shell.
Playing video games.
Engaging in the activity of playing electronic games on a screen.
Quit smoking two packs a day,
I have stopped the unhealthy habit of smoking cigarettes at a high frequency, twenty cigarettes per day.
He’s got dogs stuck in his legs.
He has some form of pain or discomfort in his legs, possibly feeling like sharp or biting sensations like a dog bite.
I smoke weed if my baby lets me,
I only use marijuana if my significant other allows me to, as it may affect our sexual relations.
Or I won’t get laid,
If I do not consume marijuana, I may not be able to engage in sexual acts with my partner.
And Max can’t surf,
Max is unable to balance himself while riding a surfboard in the ocean.
He gets real stoned and tries to make it work.
Max heavily consumes marijuana before attempting to surf, hoping it will improve his balance.
But God knows he’s got no balance.
Despite Max's attempts, he lacks the necessary coordination to surf smoothly.
Message from the dog here,
This line is unclear and may not have a concrete meaning.
It’s just a small routine,
It is a simple or common behavior, possibly referring to the dog's daily habits.
Giving all shit on a full grown man,
The dog is defecating on a grown adult male, possibly as an act of contempt.
Trying the best still I can.
Despite any challenges or obstacles, the singer is still making an effort to succeed.
Gotta change the focus,
I need to alter my mindset and priorities.
Tore away, escaping.
I physically and mentally removed myself from a stressful or difficult situation.
Stop wearing tight jeans,
I need to stop wearing form-fitting pants that may be uncomfortable or restrictive.
And pull on some long shirts.
Instead, I should wear longer shirts that provide more coverage and freedom of movement.
Smoking two packs a day,
Repetition of a previous line.
He gets real stoned and tries to make it work
Repetition of a previous line.
But God knows he’s such a jerk.
Despite Max's shortcomings, some people find him unpleasant or disagreeable.
Contributed by Elijah S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@connorbehr8498
He's gotta stay in shape
He's gotta stay in shape
Eating del taco and sleeping in
Playing video games
smoking two packs a day
He’s got dubstep in his veins
I smoke weed if my baby lets me
Or I won’t get laid
Or I won’t get laid
And Max can’t surf
Max can’t surf
He gets real stoned and tries to make it work
But God knows, he’s got no balance
Swimming with the dolphins
Jamming with the turtle
Don't give me no shit I'm a full grown man
Trying to do the best I can, dude
Gotta check the forecast
Throw away my skateboard
Stop wearing tight jeans
And put on some board shorts
And Max can’t surf
Max can’t surf
He gets real stoned and tries to make it work
But God knows he’s got no balance
Smoking two packs a day
Smoking two packs a day
Smoking two packs a day
Smoking two packs a day
Smoking two packs a day
Smoking two packs a day
He gets real stoned and tries to make it work
But God knows he’s a ginger
@Pezzda
I remember first watching this video thinking woah all the members look so similar...
@amango7925
Yeah
@DarkShark147
they are identical quadruplets
@Lewis-jt9cq
Same bro
@IndyaBeerens
You're lying if you say Max isn't the most beautiful ginger you have seen in your life
@joshok7059
I'm the most beautiful ginger I've ever seen
@IndyaBeerens
Josh Burgess oh shit yea ur right sorry
@JaviandroStudios
KING KRULE IS BEAUTIFUL...ER
@SandAtom
what a weasel the weasly
@NotYourNachoes420
Indya Beerens my ginger kinda creepy but we cool