Five Iron Frenzy started as a local side-project of Reese, Keith, Micah, and Scott's band Exhumator. Although the original intent was for the band to stay local and help support the local music scene, Five Iron Frenzy (FIF, or Five Iron) signed to Frank Tate's 5 Minute Walk records in 1995 and was touring nationally within a year. They reached the peak of their fame around 2000, with the release of All The Hype That Money Can Buy. They were known for dressing up in wacky costumes and fundraising for social causes. In December 2002, they announced that they would be breaking up after a final tour. They played the final show of the tour on November 22, 2003 at the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver, which was recorded for The End Is Here (disc 2) (this disc features that show in its entirety and was sold with the band's album, The End is Near). This show had an attendance of over 4,000 people.
On November 22, 2011, they announced via social media outlets and a week-long online scavenger hunt that they were recording a new album. The entire project was crowd funded in under an hour and met with a reunion show and touring. The results of the endeavor, Engine of a Million Plots, was released on November 26th, 2013. All members of the 2003 lineup participated in the project, with the exception of bassist Keith Hoerig, who was replaced by original guitarist Scott Kerr (who had left the band in 1998).
Juggernaut
Five Iron Frenzy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hulking monstrosity
Too late to get out now
And like the speed of sound
This thing has brought me down
I don't remember how
I want to be free
But Juggernaut is killing me
Freedom like a song
The weak shall be made strong
I may sink before I swim
But I'm not giving in to you
Juggernaut, juggernaut
Beneath machinery
Specter of treachery
And I've lost everything
And I am getting out
The shadow of my doubt
Is suffocating
My own worst enemy
This Juggernaut is killing me
From machines that I have made
I've become the slave
But I've been carried along
Freedom like a song
Freedom lifts me like a song
When the weak shall be made strong
In Five Iron Frenzy's song Juggernaut, the lyrics speak of feeling trapped and overwhelmed by an insurmountable problem or situation. The title itself alludes to a large, unstoppable force, and this force is likened to a machine or a monster that the singer cannot escape. The imagery in the song paints a picture of being trapped under machinery, suffocating, and losing everything. The lyrics suggest that the Juggernaut, this oppressive force, is slowly killing the singer. The verses speak of the desire for freedom, but the ever-present Juggernaut seems to be an insurmountable hurdle.
Despite the bleakness of the song, there is a glimmer of hope in the chorus. Freedom is still possible, even if it feels like drowning before swimming. The idea of freedom is compared to a song, something that becomes transformative and inspiring. The weak shall be made strong, meaning that even in the face of overwhelming odds, there is still a chance for victory.
Line by Line Meaning
This seems too big for me
The situation at hand appears to be too great for me to handle
Hulking monstrosity
The Juggernaut is a colossal and frightening machine
Too late to get out now
It is no longer possible to escape the dangerous situation
And like the speed of sound
The Juggernaut's impact was instantaneous and forceful
This thing has brought me down
The Juggernaut has caused me to fail or collapse
I don't remember how
I cannot recall how the situation spiralled out of control
I want to be free
I desire to be liberated from the bondage of the Juggernaut
But Juggernaut is killing me
The Juggernaut's hold on me is causing me to suffer and perish
Freedom like a song
Freedom has a harmonious, uplifting quality to it
The weak shall be made strong
Those who are currently powerless will ultimately gain strength
I may sink before I swim
I might encounter grave difficulties before I succeed
But I'm not giving in to you
I refuse to surrender to the Juggernaut's grip
Juggernaut, juggernaut
The Juggernaut is a powerful and unstoppable force
Beneath machinery
I feel trapped and oppressed by the Juggernaut's machinery
Specter of treachery
The Juggernaut's influence seems deceitful and dangerous
And I've lost everything
The Juggernaut has taken everything away from me
And I am getting out
I am determined to escape the Juggernaut's snare
The shadow of my doubt
My skepticism is hindering me from breaking free
Is suffocating
My doubts are smothering and overpowering me
My own worst enemy
I am my own biggest obstacle
This Juggernaut is killing me
The Juggernaut's tyranny and control are leading to my demise
From machines that I have made
I am being held captive by my own machinery
I've become the slave
The Juggernaut's reign has turned me into a captive and subservient follower
But I've been carried along
I have been swept up and dragged along by the Juggernaut's momentum
Freedom like a song
Freedom is a beautiful, melodic idea
Freedom lifts me like a song
The notion of freedom uplifts and encourages me
When the weak shall be made strong
Even those who are frail will one day become empowered and strong
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind