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.
My Friend II
Fifteen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dad's in the office giving his power away selling his time
I didn't learn shit about life I learned to give my power away
I learned how to escape I learned to be a slave
Mom's in the kitchen teaching me about obedience and battery
Dad's in the TV room screaming something about authority
I didn't learn shit about life I learned how to get high
I learned how to check out and I learned how to die
Coffee and cigarettes and never ending need,
Jack Daniels and needles and little cotton balls full of speed
My friends pick me up and take me away from my middle class hell I call home
My friends pick me up and take me away from my middle class hell I call alone
Thanks for the ride, it's time to say goodbye
I wanted a way out but I didn't want to die
The lyrics of Fifteen's song My Friend II portray a grim and challenging reality for teenagers who struggle to cope with their dysfunctional families and escape from their middle-class suburban lives. The first stanza describes the parents' inability to manage their lives and give power away to external sources, including alcohol, work, and consumerism. The singer acknowledges that they didn't learn much about life from their parents, rather just how to be a slave and run away from the harsh truth of their existence.
The second stanza reveals the parents' harmful behavior towards their child, as the mother teaches obedience and battery in the kitchen, while the father imposes his authority through screaming at the TV room. The singer admits that they didn't learn anything valuable from them; instead, they learned how to get high, check out, and die. The chorus adds a list of drugs and addictions that act as the singer's friends, taking them away from their hellish home and loneliness. The song concludes with the singer thanking their friends for the ride and confessing their desire for an escape route that doesn't involve death.
The lyrics of My Friend II expose the impact of dysfunctional families, lack of parental guidance, and social isolation on teenagers' mental health and well-being. It portrays a grim reality that's often ignored, especially in middle-class families, where the emphasis is on maintaining appearances and material success. The song highlights the need for better parental support and education systems that focus on emotional intelligence and healthy coping mechanisms rather than just academic achievement.
Line by Line Meaning
Moms' in the kitchen giving her power way to a bottle of wine
The mother figure is giving up her personal power and control to alcohol.
Dad's in the office giving his power away selling his time
The father figure is giving up his personal power and control by trading his time for money.
I didn't learn shit about life I learned to give my power away
The singer didn't learn anything meaningful about life, but instead learned how to give up their own personal power and control.
I learned how to escape I learned to be a slave
The artist learned how to escape their problems, but in doing so became a slave to their unhealthy coping mechanisms.
Mom's in the kitchen teaching me about obedience and battery
The mother figure is teaching the artist about the concepts of obedience and abuse.
Dad's in the TV room screaming something about authority
The father figure is yelling about the importance of authority.
I didn't learn shit about life I learned how to get high
The singer didn't learn anything meaningful about life, but instead learned how to use drugs to escape reality.
I learned how to check out and I learned how to die
The artist learned how to emotionally check out from life, and feels like they are slowly dying inside.
LSD my friend, cocaine and speed my friend, beer and weed my friend, amphetamines
The artist lists off their drugs of choice, expressing a sense of familiarity and dependence on them.
Coffee and cigarettes and never ending need,
The artist mentions the everyday items they rely on to keep them going, but never feel like they have enough of.
Jack Daniels and needles and little cotton balls full of speed
The singer mentions the harder drugs they use, including alcohol and injecting drugs.
My friends pick me up and take me away from my middle class hell I call home
The artist's friends help them escape their unhappy, privileged life.
My friends pick me up and take me away from my middle class hell I call alone
The singer's friends help them feel less lonely in their unhappy, privileged life.
Thanks for the ride, it's time to say goodbye
The singer is thanking their friends for helping them escape their life, but acknowledges that it's time to move on.
I wanted a way out but I didn't want to die
The singer wanted a way out of their unhappy, privileged life, but didn't actually want to die.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Doug Eddy
This song is great for any punks trying to stay sober but who might also be turned off by some of the more macho tough guy straightedge stuff.
Andy Talbert
I wanted a way out.
But I don't want to die.
gigi puig
Powerful song!
Yakov Lador
Love this song.
dylan pangle
i love this song so much. i totally forgot about this band. i used to own this cd back in the day
WeALWAYS MakeADifference
dylan pangle great f'ing band.
Brett Russell
Probably my favorite song of all time!
Kurt Kresge
Jeff Otts, Crimeshine aka... I'm 40yrs old and still remember all the words from my ~pUnK~ days. Oi
Shelby Hosey
Oh.. Dude this is a great song! I've never heard this!
Rockstar Raccoon
Listening to Jeff Ott will totally kill any hate you have for anyone who is different than you... (at least the homeless and drug addicted) He's so awesome.