The original Gym Class Heroes formed in 1997 when Travis "Schleprok" McCoy … Read Full Bio ↴The original Gym Class Heroes formed in 1997 when Travis "Schleprok" McCoy and drummer Matt McGinley became friends during physical education class while at high school in Geneva, New York, US and joined forces with guitarist Milo Bonacci and bassist Ryan Geise.

The original GCH began playing birthday parties, clubs, and festivals which eventually led to numerous larger venues throughout the northeast, including four years on Warped Tour (2003, 2004, 2006, 2008). During this time, GCH released four self-produced CDs: "Hed Candy" (1999), "Greasy Kids Stuff" (2000), "For the Kids" (2001) and "Papercut Chronicles EP" (2004).

"As cruel as School Children" was released on July 25, 2006. A second version of the album, released on November 4, 2006 additionally contains the single "Cupid's Chokehold"

After the release of "For the Kids", lead singer Travis McCoy won MTV's Direct Effect MC Battle and as a prize, he appeared in Styles P's video "Daddy Get That Cash".

The current configuration of GCH formed as guitarist Disashi Lumumba-Kasongo joined in late 2004, with bassist Eric Roberts joining in mid 2005.

After hearing the song "Taxi Driver", Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy invited the band to one of his shows. Gym Class Heroes then went on to join Pete Wentz's label, Decaydance Records, an imprint of Fueled by Ramen. Travis later said that Stump's support, coupled with the label's touring ethos and family atmosphere, led the band to signing with Decaydance/Fueled by Ramen.

Gym Class Heroes appeared on the Warped Tour in the summer of 2005 and 2006. The band completed their leg of a tour with The All-American Rejects on Nov. 29 in Las Vegas.

Their recent hit "Clothes Off" reached the No# 3 spot in the uk top 40 charts.

Lead singer Travis McCoy is currently working on a side project called Tequila Mockingbird with Nick Scimeca and is due out sometime early next year.

In mid-September 2008, Gym Class Heroes put out their album, "The Quilt". It was recorded during their late 2007 tour with Fall Out Boy and Plain White T's, "Young Wild Things". Soon after toured with Lil' Wayne on his "I Am Music" tour (late 2008).

The next album will be titled The Papercut Chronicles 2. The Stereo Hearts Songfacts reports that the first single from the album, "Stereo Hearts," features Maroon 5 frontman and The Voice coach Adam Levine on the chorus. It was released for download on iTunes on June 14, 2011 and also sent to all radio stations around the world the same day.

Travis McCoy is currently on a humanitarian trip across the globe to spread awareness about HIV/AIDS and how to prevent it.

Happy Little Trees
Gym Class Heroes Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Now who you know leave the scene
Messier than canvas's by Jackson Pollock
Throwing multicolored thoughts at a rapid pace
I make a mess you dissect it and make sense of it

Then get back to me at your earliest convenience
Check my verbal sequence as I texturize these tracks
Seven layers to be exact eliminate the whack

With a firm brush stroke I mc paintily

Lyricists begin crumbling from my scumbling technique
As I tweak your audio and visual keep my drips minimal messages subliminal
'Cause me and rap go way back we compliment
So together we enhance one another that's common sense

High intensity catches the eye your jaw drops
Be a real critic not explicit with false props
I keep my darks deep my lights bright I'm very thorough
With my churascurro inspiration spark and a knife

Now watch me rock the spot like ? minus the heroin
And make my face popular like Andy did to Marilyn
It's kinda scary when real art gets left behind
While they take bullshit and start sellin it to blind folks

But I remain humble as long as ? continues spinnin hot shit
On his twin twelve-hundred color wheels of steel
Fuck mass appeal art is art only the real can truly feel it
So open your eyes and listen

Combine your ears with vision
Or do it cause you love it
Or for cash that's your decision
That's your decision

That's your decision

Its like I'm torn between two worlds
A paintbrush and a microphone
A canvas or a beat
CD or LP

Anything goes when my ink pen flows
And God only knows where its gonna bring me next
So I'm inclined to like paint rhymes and spit kaleidoscopes with one eye closed
And I suppose if you chose the path that I chose

You know the cycle ass ho don't front
It goes inspiration and productivity then a sense of self worth and in steps depression
Like back and forth and forth and back
Should I paint a picture or record a track

A gift or a curse I don't know I'm still undecided
But over the years I've found clever ways to hide it
And those that lack the passion I have may despise it
But my momma made me this way I thank her everyday

So tell them kids to keep coloring outside the lines
Until they lose they limitations and they minds is free
Tell them teachers that you want your money back this time
And tell Bob Ross for all the happy little trees

And tell my momma that her baby boy is doing just fine
Although hes running out of patience but his mind is free
And tell my pops that I'll pay his money back sometime
And that his son is two steps away from where he needs to be

Overall Meaning

In "Happy Little Trees," Gym Class Heroes' lead singer, Travie McCoy, explores his dual artistic passions: music and art. He makes a reference to the messiness of Jackson Pollock's canvases and likens his own rapid-fire lyrical style to throwing multicolored thoughts at his audience. He contrasts his approach to the lyrical process with that of his listeners, who dissect and make sense of his words. He speaks of his love of the craft of rapping, combining the use of his ears, vision, and ink to create the most compelling poetry.

The song speaks to the idea that true art comes from within and that it's not always appreciated by those hoping to make a quick profit. McCoy, who is one of the founding members of Gym Class Heroes, has been a successful solo artist as well. In "Happy Little Trees," he discusses the struggles of an artist who juggles his passion with the demands of the industry, including the pressure to create something that fits a "mass appeal" model. However, in the end, he implores listeners to create for themselves, tell their stories freely and color outside the lines.

Line by Line Meaning

Now who you know leave the scene
Who do you know that can exit a situation with such disorder? I make a mess, and you analyze it and give it meaning.

Messier than canvas's by Jackson Pollock
I make a mess more chaotic than even Jackson Pollock's abstract paintings.

Throwing multicolored thoughts at a rapid pace
I convey scatterbrained ideas in a high-speed manner

I make a mess you dissect it and make sense of it
I am chaotic, but I need you to organize my thoughts and explain them to me.

Then get back to me at your earliest convenience
Can you please analyze my thoughts and concepts at your earliest availability?

Check my verbal sequence as I texturize these tracks
Please examine the flow and melody of my rhymes as I add depth and complexity to my sound.

Seven layers to be exact eliminate the whack
I take pride in adding intricate layers to my music while eliminating any subpar content.

With a firm brush stroke I mc paintily
I convey my message with precision and intention, like a painter with a steady hand.

Lyricists begin crumbling from my scumbling technique
Other songwriters begin to falter under the pressure of my techniques.

As I tweak your audio and visual keep my drips minimal messages subliminal
I make subtler, underlying messages with minimal focus on flashy aspects. I aim to enhance the overall aesthetic, both visually and audibly.

'Cause me and rap go way back we compliment
I have a deep, lasting connection with rap music, and we mutually elevate each other's art forms.

High intensity catches the eye your jaw drops
My powerful, high-energy music grabs attention and leaves my listeners amazed.

Be a real critic not explicit with false props
Please genuinely evaluate the content without using false praise or encouragement.

I keep my darks deep my lights bright I'm very thorough
I craft my lyrics with depth and clarity, paying close attention to detail and quality.

With my churascurro inspiration spark and a knife
I use stark contrasts of light and dark to inspire and motivate others with my music.

Now watch me rock the spot like ? minus the heroin
I will take the center stage with a captivating performance, but without using drugs.

And make my face popular like Andy did to Marilyn
I will become a popular figure, much like how Andy Warhol transformed Marilyn Monroe into an icon.

It's kinda scary when real art gets left behind
It's concerning when true, powerful art is neglected and underappreciated.

While they take bullshit and start sellin it to blind folks
While the industry focuses on low-quality, meaningless music, marketed towards an unassuming audience.

But I remain humble as long as ? continues spinnin hot shit
I strive to stay humble as long as quality DJs continue to play and support my music.

On his twin twelve-hundred color wheels of steel
On the DJ's turntable system with two Technics SL-1200s.

Fuck mass appeal art is art only the real can truly feel it
I don't care about making popular, mainstream music. Only true fans can truly appreciate and understand my art.

So open your eyes and listen
I urge you to pay attention and truly listen to my music.

Combine your ears with vision
Use both your ears and eyes to truly understand the emotional depth of my music.

Or do it cause you love it
Listen to my music because you genuinely enjoy it.

Or for cash that's your decision
If you choose to listen for financial gain, that is up to you.

Its like I'm torn between two worlds
I feel conflicted, as if I must choose between dedicating myself to painting or music.

A paintbrush and a microphone
The tools I use to express myself: a paintbrush and a microphone.

A canvas or a beat
The platform I utilize to share my creativity: a canvas or a beat.

CD or LP
The format I release my music on: a CD or a vinyl LP.

Anything goes when my ink pen flows
I let ideas flow freely from my mind when writing music with a pen.

And God only knows where its gonna bring me next
Only God knows where my music endeavors will take me in the future.

So I'm inclined to like paint rhymes and spit kaleidoscopes with one eye closed
I feel drawn to combining my love of painting with my ability to write music, resulting in colorful, complex rhymes.

And I suppose if you chose the path that I chose
If you followed a similar path to mine.

You know the cycle ass ho don't front
You understand the pattern of creative ecstasy and depression that artists experience, so don't pretend.

It goes inspiration and productivity then a sense of self worth and in steps depression
I feel a wave of creativity and productivity, which is then followed by a loss of confidence and eventual depression.

Like back and forth and forth and back
This cycle repeats itself continuously, like a back-and-forth motion.

Should I paint a picture or record a track
This cycle leads to indecision, making it difficult to choose between painting and creating music.

A gift or a curse I don't know I'm still undecided
At times, my love for art can feel like both a gift and a curse, and I am still unsure which it really is.

But over the years I've found clever ways to hide it
Over time, I've developed ways to cope with these internal struggles and hide my emotions from others.

And those that lack the passion I have may despise it
Those who don't have deep-seated passion for art may not be able to understand the inner turmoil and struggles that artists face.

But my momma made me this way I thank her everyday
I am who I am because of my mother, and I am grateful for her every day.

So tell them kids to keep coloring outside the lines
Encourage young kids to be creative and not be constrained by rules and limitations.

Until they lose they limitations and they minds is free
Until they reach a point where they don't feel constrained and free to create whatever they want.

Tell them teachers that you want your money back this time
Express your disappointment to teachers who have failed to nurture and encourage creativity.

And tell Bob Ross for all the happy little trees
Send my regards to Bob Ross, the artist who taught people to embrace and appreciate their own creative expression.

And tell my momma that her baby boy is doing just fine
Assure my mother that I am doing well.

Although hes running out of patience but his mind is free
I am becoming impatient, but I am free to express myself creatively.

And tell my pops that I'll pay his money back sometime
Let my father know that I will repay any debts he may be owed.

And that his son is two steps away from where he needs to be
Let him know that I am almost there, and am in a good place to continue on this path.

Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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