Fifteen released their first record in 1991 on Lookout records. It was singer/guitarist Jeff Ott's vision to create music that didn't just rock, but had something important to say as well. After four records on Lookout, two on Grass Records, three on Sub City Records, and three more on indefinite self-published labels, Fifteen were viewed as the leaders in the political-punk music scene. They tackle such burning issues as homelessness, drug abuse, needle exchange, environmental destruction and the government's use of counterintelligence measures to violate activist's civil rights. Fifteen first broke up in 1996 after the self-released "extra medium kickball star."
They reformed in 1998 and released Hush and Survivor then disbanded 2000 with Jeff Ott stating that the anti-commercial DIY ethics of punk rock made it too expensive for him to have a band while raising a family.
The band had a total of fifteen members during its existence: Jeff Ott, Jack Curran, Mikey Mischief, Mark Moreno, Jean Repetto, Lucky Dog, Chris Flanagan, John Ogle, Jessie Wickman, Joe Cable, John Quintos, Scott Pierce, Jim Prior, Lisa D. and Vanessa Bain.
Colorado
Fifteen Lyrics
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About a couple of kids,
Who went to school and tried to kill everyone.
They said they did it just for kicks.
I saw the president on the T.V.
He said we really gotta do something about this.
He said we gotta end this culture of violence,
And he went on to explain how we need to starve,
Maybe it's too many burgers,
Maybe it's too much beer.
Maybe it's in the water,
Maybe it's in the fear.
Maybe it's too much pollution,
Maybe we are just dumb.
But it really seems to me that
Americans are stupid.
We'll fall for anything and everything.
The only thing worse than a stupid American,
Is someone who actually gets it,
And decides to do nothin'.
Saw the news from Havannah,
An economic embargo
It started 39 years ago,
They said it would get rid of Fidel Castro.
I saw Jesse Helms on the T.V.
He said it just needs more time.
If we deny the people of Cuba food and medicine,
Then everything will work out just fine.
Maybe it's too many burgers,
Maybe it's too much beer.
Maybe it's in the water,
Maybe it's in the fear.
Maybe it's too much pollution,
Maybe we are just dumb
But it really seems to me that
Americans are stupid.
We'll fall for anything and everything.
The only thing worse than a stupid American
Is someone who actually gets it
And decides to do nothin'.
We believe,
That if we have beliefs,
Then we don't gotta do nothing.
We believe,
That it we have beliefs,
Somehow they will magically change everything.
We believe,
That if we have beliefs,
Someday everyone will realize that they were wrong.
We believe,
That if we have beliefs,
We don't gotta do nothin', nothin', nothin'.
The song "Colorado" by Fifteen is a commentary on America's culture of violence and its tendency to fall for false beliefs. The title of the song comes from the infamous Columbine High School massacre in Colorado where two students killed 13 people and injured 21 others. The opening lines of the song mention the incident, expressing shock and disbelief that someone could do something so horrific just for kicks.
The following lines mention the President's response to the tragedy, and how he called for an end to the culture of violence in America. However, the lyrics about Serbian kids indicate that this response may not be genuine, and that there is a tendency to demonize certain groups instead of addressing the root of the problem.
The chorus of the song is a commentary on America's stupidity and willingness to believe anything without questioning it. The repeated line "Maybe it's too many burgers, maybe it's too much beer" suggests that American culture is not without fault, but there is also an acknowledgement that there is more to it than that. The song suggests that Americans are unwilling to take responsibility for their actions and instead blame external factors.
The second half of the song shifts focus to the embargo on Cuba and America's role in perpetuating it. The lyrics suggest that Jesse Helms, a prominent conservative politician at the time, was not interested in finding a solution that would benefit the Cuban people but rather in perpetuating the embargo for political gain. The chorus is repeated, and the song ends with a call to action, suggesting that beliefs alone are not enough to effect change and that action must be taken.
Line by Line Meaning
Heard the news from Colorado,
I received the news from the state of Colorado
About a couple of kids,
Regarding a group of minors
Who went to school and tried to kill everyone.
The minors attempted mass murder at a school
They said they did it just for kicks.
Their motive was simply for recreation
I saw the president on the T.V.
The artist viewed the President on television
He said we really gotta do something about this.
The President claimed that action needed to be taken
He said we gotta end this culture of violence,
The President expressed the need to eliminate violent behavior
And he went on to explain how we need to starve,
The President elaborated that we must deprive
All the Serbian kids.
The President specified Serbian children
Maybe it's too many burgers,
Possibly too much consumption of burgers
Maybe it's too much beer.
Perhaps excessive alcohol intake
Maybe it's in the water,
It could be the water supply
Maybe it's in the fear.
Perhaps it's caused by anxiety
Maybe it's too much pollution,
Perhaps excessive pollution is causing it
Maybe we are just dumb.
It's possible we lack intelligence
But it really seems to me that
However, I believe that
Americans are stupid.
Citizens of America lack intellect
We'll fall for anything and everything.
They are too gullible
The only thing worse than a stupid American,
The only thing more negative than a foolish American
Is someone who actually gets it,
Is a person who genuinely understands the situation
And decides to do nothin'.
But chooses not to act on that knowledge
Saw the news from Havannah,
Witnessed news from Havana
An economic embargo
A trade blockade
It started 39 years ago,
It initiated 39 years prior
They said it would get rid of Fidel Castro.
The blockade was proposed to eliminate Fidel Castro
I saw Jesse Helms on the T.V.
The singer viewed Jesse Helms on television
He said it just needs more time.
Jesse Helms indicated that more time was necessary
If we deny the people of Cuba food and medicine,
By refusing food and medicine to Cuban citizens
Then everything will work out just fine.
The situation will be resolved in a positive manner
We believe,
We hold a belief
That if we have beliefs,
That if we possess a conviction
Then we don't gotta do nothing.
Then we don't need to do anything
Somehow they will magically change everything.
Somehow, those beliefs will automatically transform everything
Someday everyone will realize that they were wrong.
At some point, everyone will understand their error
We believe,
Again, we possess a belief
That if we have beliefs,
That if we hold a conviction
We don't gotta do nothin', nothin', nothin'.
Then we don't need to do any action whatsoever
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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