Their music features minimalistic sounds and driving beats combined with various organic instrumentation - from autoharps and ukuleles to harpsichords and dulcimers. Seyrat's breathy, soft, French-accented vocals combine hauntingly with Driscoll's in both English and French.
Their single Earthquake was released out in 2012 via their own label Caveman Arts Society.
1979
Freedom Fry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On a live wire right up off the street
You and I should meet
Junebug skipping like a stone
With the headlights pointed at the dawn
We were sure we'd never see an end to it all
And I don't even care to shake these zipper blues
And we don't know
To dust I guess
Forgotten and absorbed into the earth below
Double cross the vacant and the bored
They're not sure just what we have in store
Morphine city slipping dues down to see
That we don't even care as restless as we are
We feel the pull in the land of a thousand guilts
And poured cement, lamented and assured
To the lights and towns below
Faster than the speed of sound
Faster than we thought we'd go, beneath the sound of hope
Justine never knew the rules
Hung down with the freaks and the ghouls
No apologies ever need be made, I know you better than you fake it
To see that we don't even care to shake these zipper blues
And we don't know just where our bones will rest
To dust I guess
Forgotten and absorbed into the earth below
The street heats the urgency of now
As you see there's no one around
The song 1979 by Freedom Fry is a nostalgic ode to youthful recklessness. The first verse sets the stage with the line "Shakedown 1979, cool kids never have the time". The reference to "1979" is most likely a nod to the Smashing Pumpkins' song of the same title, which is also about the bittersweet memories of adolescence. The lyrics go on to describe a scene where the singer and a companion are out late, "on a live wire right up off the street", and come across a "Junebug skipping like a stone". They are carefree and convinced that "We were sure we'd never see an end to it all," though there is an undercurrent of melancholy in their voices.
As the song progresses, they confront the fact that their lives are fleeting and unknown. "And we don't know just where our bones will rest / To dust I guess / Forgotten and absorbed into the earth below". They are outsiders, "double cross(ing) the vacant and the bored", but they also feel restlessness and guilt. They are moving "faster than the speed of sound" towards an uncertain future. The final verse introduces the character of Justine, who "never knew the rules" and hung out with "the freaks and the ghouls". There is a sense of solidarity between the singer and Justine, that "no apologies ever need be made", because the singer knows Justine better than she does herself.
Line by Line Meaning
Shakedown 1979, cool kids never have the time
The year was 1979, and the coolest kids were always busy doing something.
On a live wire right up off the street
We were like a high-voltage wire buzzing with energy and life, soaring above the street below.
You and I should meet
We should get together, you and I.
Junebug skipping like a stone
We were carefree like a June bug skipping across the water's surface like a smooth rock.
With the headlights pointed at the dawn
We were always looking forward to the dawn of a new day, with all its possibilities and adventures.
We were sure we'd never see an end to it all
We felt invincible, as if we were immortal and our fun would never end.
And I don't even care to shake these zipper blues
I don't even care about the trivial problems like my zipper being stuck or my clothes not fitting right.
And we don't know
We really have no idea
Just where our bones will rest
Where our final resting place will be after we pass away
To dust I guess
I suppose we will eventually turn to dust.
Forgotten and absorbed into the earth below
Our bodies will become one with the earth, and we will be forgotten over time.
Double cross the vacant and the bored
We played tricks on those who were unoccupied and not up to anything exciting.
They're not sure just what we have in store
Our targets were not sure what we had planned for them.
Morphine city slipping dues down to see
We were sliding down to the slime and grime of the city, just to see what was there.
That we don't even care as restless as we are
Despite our restlessness, we didn't really care about anything.
We feel the pull in the land of a thousand guilts
We felt the weight of living in a place filled with guilt and regret.
And poured cement, lamented and assured
We helped to lay the foundation for the future, full of sorrow and sadness but also hope.
To the lights and towns below
Looking down at the lights and towns, we knew that there was so much possibility and adventure down there.
Faster than the speed of sound
We were tearing through life so fast that it felt like we were breaking the sound barrier.
Faster than we thought we'd go, beneath the sound of hope
We were moving faster than we ever thought possible, faster than the sound of hope and optimism.
Justine never knew the rules
Justine was someone who never followed the rules, she always did things her own way.
Hung down with the freaks and the ghouls
Justine spent time with the outsiders and misfits who didn't fit in with anyone else.
No apologies ever need be made, I know you better than you fake it
Justine never had to apologize for who she was, because I knew her better than she pretended to be.
The street heats the urgency of now
The energy of the street and the city made everything feel like it was happening in the moment and with great urgency.
As you see there's no one around
Despite the hustle and bustle of the city, we were still alone and searching for something more.
Contributed by Maria F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@August887born
Shakedown 1979, cool kids never have the time
On a live wire right up off the street
You and I should meet
Junebug skipping like a stone
With the headlights pointed at the dawn
We were sure we'd never see an end to it all
And I don't even care to shake these zipper blues
And we don't know
Just where our bones will rest
To dust I guess
Forgotten and absorbed into the earth below
Double cross the vacant and the bored
They're not sure just what we have in store
Morphine city slipping dues down to see
That we don't even care as restless as we are
We feel the pull in the land of a thousand guilts
And poured cement, lamented and assured
To the lights and towns below
Faster than the speed of sound
Faster than we thought we'd go, beneath the sound of hope
Justine never knew the rules,
Hung down with the freaks and the ghouls
No apologies ever need be made, I know you better than you fake it
To see that we don't even care to shake these zipper blues
And we don't know just where our bones will rest
To dust I guess
Forgotten and absorbed into the earth below
The street heats the urgency of now
As you see there's no one around
@morrisdefreitas1521
Best version I’ve heard ..... brilliant guitar playing
@aef7473
The guitar and vocals are haunting... comforting to my soul.
@rareone2369
At age 73 this is still my favorite all time song and I have heard and played many. This song cannot be topped!
@rottenapple6340
My favorite cover ever!
@bradtbthebeast
i have listened to this song many times, but this is the first time i heard it.
@woopcat45
just heard this on 98.7 alt rock and literally sat in my car after I got home just to finish the song, so beautiful :)
@freedomfrymusic
Thanks, Peter!
@peruprofundodance
Love the tenderness and feelings of being comforted. ❤️
@raduiii4681
I'm fighting against depression and this cover makes me cry. It's beautiful.
@PersephonePlasmids
Heard this on some random high school radio station and had to find it! So good!