The group began as a side project of Eli Janney and Fugazi drummer Brendan Canty. Canty soon left the project and by 1991 Janney had gone on to recruit three former members of D.C. hardcore punk group Soulside - Scott McCloud, Johnny Temple, and Alexis Fleisig - to complete the line-up. Girls Against Boys are perhaps most notable for employing dual bass guitars, a rarity in rock music, and for their second album, "Venus Luxure No.1 Baby", a heavy yet nuanced entry into early 1990s post-hardcore. Their third album Cruise Yourself raised their profile, film director Kevin Smith used a song in each of his first two films. House of GvsB showed their sound taking a more soulful approach to their noiserock with a semi-successful single "Superfire", at which point they signed to Geffen. Their major label debut saw them take a more industrial disco approach similar to Nine Inch Nails while retaining their postpunk feel, the album failed to launch the band into the mainstream and the band went on hiatus until their contract ended. Among the many side projects undertaken was Scott McCloud's jazzy New Wet Kojak. The band reunited in 2002 to record 'You Can't Fight What You Can't See', released on Jade Tree Records which was a welcome return to their pre-Geffen sound and a critical success. The band have also recorded music for the soundtrack of the film Series 7: The Contenders, appeared as themselves in the film 200 Cigarettes and acted as Gina Gershon's backing band for her reality tv series! The band recently performed Venus Luxure for the Don't Look Back concerts, and continue to record http://epitonic.bandcamp.com/album/the-ghost-list-ep & play live, despite other commitments, including Scott McCloud's other project Paramount Styles.
Roxy
Girls Against Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Crazy - what cost.
Alright
Club, now kiss the strobe light.
Club now ninety-eight, ninety-nine.
I can dig it.
Whatever.
I can dig it.
The music is cool, right forever.
Whatever.
We all want to live so much better.
So play it, kiss it, just enough crazy.
Just enough crazy.
Forever alright, alright, alright.
Crazy - club now, I know everyone.
I know everyone, don't even know myself.
Whatever.
Club now, ya get to feel unreal.
My baby, it's for real.
Ya get to feel unreal.
Whatever.
Can just be live.
Can just be live.
It's not a waste of time.
It's not a waste of time.
Crazy - the pleasure - what cost?
Yeah, maybe I don't want to feel alright.
Whatever.
Yeah, maybe I don't even know myself.
Whatever.
Alright, alright, alright.
The lyrics to Girls Against Boys's song Roxy are a reflection on the club scene and the highs and lows that come with it. The opening lines "The pleasure - what cost? Crazy - what cost" set the tone for the rest of the song. The singer acknowledges the thrill of being in a club and losing oneself to the music but also recognizes the potential danger in that experience. The reference to the strobe light and the progression of the club years (98, 99) paints a picture of a fast-paced environment where anything can happen. The repeated use of "Whatever" throughout the song can be interpreted as a coping mechanism the singer is using to detach from the chaos and maintain a sense of control over their own experience.
As the song progresses, there is a shift towards self-reflection. The line "I know everyone, don't even know myself" suggests that while the club scene can be a place to connect with others, it can also be a place where one loses sight of their own identity. The chorus, "Can just be live. It's not a waste of time" reinforces the idea that the pleasures and risks of club culture are worth it, even if they are not without consequences. The final lines "Yeah, maybe I don't want to feel alright. Whatever. Yeah, maybe I don't even know myself. Whatever. Alright, alright, alright" show a level of acceptance and resignation to the fact that the singer is willing to embrace the highs and lows of the club scene, even if it means sacrificing a sense of self-awareness.
Line by Line Meaning
The pleasure - what cost?
Is the pleasure worth the cost?
Crazy - what cost.
Is being crazy worth the cost?
Alright
Okay, I'm listening
Club, now kiss the strobe light.
Let's party under the strobe lights
Club now ninety-eight, ninety-nine.
The club is hopping, we're in the moment
I can dig it.
I understand and I'm into it
Whatever.
I don't have a strong opinion
Yeah, club now music lover.
The club is filled with music lovers
The music is cool, right forever.
The music is great, it will always be cool
We all want to live so much better.
We all want to live a better life
So play it, kiss it, just enough crazy.
Let loose and enjoy the moment a little, but not too much
Just enough crazy.
Just enough excitement and craziness to make it fun
Forever alright, alright, alright.
Everything is going to be okay forever
Crazy - club now, I know everyone.
Being crazy at the club, I feel like I know everyone
I know everyone, don't even know myself.
I feel like I'm surrounded by friends, but I don't really know myself
Club now, ya get to feel unreal.
Being at the club, you can feel like it's not even real
My baby, it's for real.
But in reality, it's all real
Ya get to feel unreal.
You can feel like you're in a dream world
Whatever.
I still don't have a strong opinion
Can just be live.
We can just enjoy living in the moment
It's not a waste of time.
This is not a waste of time, it's worth it
Crazy - the pleasure - what cost?
Is the pleasure of being crazy worth the cost?
Yeah, maybe I don't want to feel alright.
Maybe feeling okay is not enough for me
Whatever.
Still don't have a strong opinion
Yeah, maybe I don't even know myself.
I might be lost in the moment and not really know who I am
Whatever.
Still don't have a strong opinion
Alright, alright, alright.
It's all good, we're in the moment and enjoying ourselves
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: NIGEL TIMOTHY GODRICH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind