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.
Petrified Life and the Twice Told Joke
Gym Class Heroes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Simply for lack of better stimulation
motivation comes and goes like gas station patrons
so sedation compensates for unexpected vacations
(Thank you )
that's my pre-gratitude
Post-please leave me alone that's just my rude attitude
No dysfunction flipside, I'm just your ordinary citizen
I'm really mommy's little angel,
but that angel on my shoulder got strangled
For trying to tangle with his nemesis he caught him on the wrong day
And got cut like DJs spinning doubles -(let the fucking song play)
I'm on my way to the store,
ignoring the city to purchase a pack of marb reds
with a stack of rolled pennies
I could go for Denny's, and my stomach holds plenty,
but my pockets got holes, I guess the goal is to stay empty...
Quite simply put, me and my pockets share interest
I never fall in love with that pretty green-eyed temptress,
twice (yeah right)
I learned my lesson the first time
I just couldn't keep up with that ever-changing Jordan line of foot apparel
Parallel to many clones, my eye's vision monochromes
With seven shades and twenty tones
Plus I breath artistic, they eating everything I'm feeding them
Put myself in every painting and use my spit as mat medium
And results of my children
We share the same genes,
cast the same reflection and interpret the same dreams.
like whoa (x3)
whao (x7)
Chorus:
And at night, I roam these streets with absolutely no purpose
Feeling like I'm worthless
But contrary to my last statement, I feel fine
Content with the fact that I know this city's mine
And at night, I roam these streets with absolutely no purpose
Feeling like I'm worthless
But contrary to my last statement, I feel fine
Content with the fact that I know this city's mine
I walk down dead end streets like I didn't see the sign
Just to turn around and walk back
That's fine and dandy, but what's whack is the fact I'm still walking
...like... "thank god for walkmans"
I'm only yawning because these simply minded
mortals make me sleepy
So what do I do? I resort to TV
In the seemingly lousy attempt to numb myself
with lackluster images
And insignificant information like "Willis was really Ty Bridges"
just to have the upper hand in monotonous conversation,
and for lack of better stimulation
I'm painting portraits of dysfunctional families
with gloomy faces rockin;
"Don't Worry, Be Happy" t-shirts, and you're assuming I'm tasteless?
You misconstrue it but your babies will embrace it
The basic essentials of a very bitter young man
that kicks rusty soda cans
and walks on decrepit bricks
with a permanent pair of headphones
trying to make these lectures stick
I'll let the protestors picket,
like they are going to make a difference
And watch them die before they realize that their cause was nonexistent
Chorus:
And at night, I roam these streets with absolutely no purpose (absolutely no purpose)
Feeling like I'm worthless (feeling like I'm worthless)
But contrary to my last statement, I feel fine
Content with the fact that I know this city's mine
And at night, I roam these streets with absolutely no purpose (absolutely no purpose)
Feeling like I'm worthless (feeling like I'm worthless)
But contrary to my last statement, I feel fine
Content with the fact that I know this city's mine
I walk on shitty city sidewalks stepping on every single crack
Reminiscent of that joke we used to say when we were snotty nose
my purpose got defeated when my mom turned paraplegic,
plus I failed my civil service exam,
they said I cheated.
…not to mention tainted urine samples and the attention span of a second-grader
more fascinated with building blocks than wasting time stressing his daily lesson
hence the ridilin I've been gone with the wind like lucky lottery tickets since day one (one)
I stepped on the left cause rights wrong (wrong)
So what do I do? Resort to friendly games of ping pong and sing a song of sixpence
I'm none the richer, I just kiss her on the lips and keep trucking
Chorus:
And at night, I roam these streets with absolutely no purpose (absolutely no purpose)
Feeling like I'm worthless (feeling like I'm worthless)
But contrary to my last statement, I feel fine
Content with the fact that I know this city's mine
And at night, I roam these streets with absolutely no purpose (absolutely no purpose)
Feeling like I'm worthless (feeling like I'm worthless)
But contrary to my last statement, I feel fine
Content with the fact that I know this city's mine
The lyrics of "Petrified Life and the Twice Told Joke" by Gym Class Heroes talks about the mundane routine of the singer's life. They walk on decrepit bricks and kick rusty soda cans, not because it is entertaining but for lack of a better stimulation. Though motivation comes and goes, they prefer to take sedation as an escape from unexpected vacations. The song reflects the internal struggles of the singer, who gets blinded by society's expectations and chooses to numb themselves with television and monotonous conversations.
The singer expresses their worthlessness and the city's ownership at night while roaming the streets with no purpose. They have a permanent pair of headphones and walk on shitty sidewalks with every single crack. They reminisce about their snotty nose and the joke they used to say. The singer also mentions their mom turning paraplegic, failing the civil service exam, and cheating urine samples while having a second-grader attention span. The song concludes with the singer finding solace in friendly games of ping pong, and kissing someone on the lips.
The song paints a picture of the struggles faced by people every day, from the mundanity of life to struggles with identity and self-worth.
Line by Line Meaning
I walk on decrepit bricks and kick sticks and rusty soda cans
I walk around kicking anything around, out of boredom.
Simply for lack of better stimulation
Because I'm bored and there's nothing else to do.
motivation comes and goes like gas station patrons
Sometimes I'm motivated, sometimes I'm not.
so sedation compensates for unexpected vacations
When I'm not motivated, I just sedate myself.
(Thank you )
Grateful for nothing, sarcasm.
that's my pre-gratitude
More sarcasm, no real gratitude here.
Post-please leave me alone that's just my rude attitude
I have a rude attitude and want to be left alone.
No dysfunction flipside, I'm just your ordinary citizen
I'm just a regular person with no major issues.
They're waiting patiently for me to sin again, but then again (shit...)
People are waiting for me to mess up again, and I know it's going to happen.
I'm really mommy's little angel,
I pretend to be a good kid.
but that angel on my shoulder got strangled
My good conscience got overpowered.
For trying to tangle with his nemesis he caught him on the wrong day
My good conscience tried to stop me from doing something bad, but it didn't work.
And got cut like DJs spinning doubles -(let the fucking song play)
The consequences of my actions hurt, but I just want to ignore it.
I'm on my way to the store,
I'm heading to the store.
ignoring the city to purchase a pack of marb reds
I'm ignoring everything around me to buy cigarettes.
with a stack of rolled pennies
I have to use pennies to buy cigarettes because I'm broke.
I could go for Denny's, and my stomach holds plenty,
I'm hungry and could eat a lot at Denny's.
but my pockets got holes, I guess the goal is to stay empty...
I can't afford to eat at Denny's or anywhere else, so I'll just be hungry.
Quite simply put, me and my pockets share interest
I'm broke and have nothing, like my pockets.
I never fall in love with that pretty green-eyed temptress,
I don't love or get attached to money (green-eyed temptress).
twice (yeah right)
Sarcasm, I've actually been attached to money a lot more than twice.
I learned my lesson the first time
I've learned from my past mistakes with money.
I just couldn't keep up with that ever-changing Jordan line of foot apparel
I can't afford to keep buying the latest shoes like everyone else.
Parallel to many clones, my eye's vision monochromes
I feel like everyone is the same and everything is boring.
With seven shades and twenty tones
I see the world in black and white.
Plus I breath artistic, they eating everything I'm feeding them
I'm creative and everyone else just accepts what I give them.
Put myself in every painting and use my spit as mat medium
I put myself in my art and use my spit as paint thinner.
And results of my children
My art is like my children.
We share the same genes,
My art reflects who I am.
cast the same reflection and interpret the same dreams.
My art shows my dreams and how I see myself.
like whoa (x3)
An exclamation of excitement or surprise.
whao (x7)
Same as above, just more excited/surprised.
And at night, I roam these streets with absolutely no purpose
I walk around at night with no real reason or goal.
Feeling like I'm worthless
I feel useless and unimportant.
But contrary to my last statement, I feel fine
Despite feeling useless, I'm actually okay.
Content with the fact that I know this city's mine
I feel like I own this city in some way.
I walk down dead end streets like I didn't see the sign
I walk down streets with no real purpose or destination.
Just to turn around and walk back
I don't really have a goal or direction.
That's fine and dandy, but what's whack is the fact I'm still walking
I'm walking without knowing where I'm going or what I'm doing.
...like... "thank god for walkmans"
Sarcasm, there's nothing to be thankful for right now.
I'm only yawning because these simply minded
I'm bored and uninterested in people who are simple-minded.
mortals make me sleepy
People make me tired and uninterested.
So what do I do? I resort to TV
I turn to TV to numb my boredom.
In the seemingly lousy attempt to numb myself
TV isn't really helping me feel better.
with lackluster images
The TV shows are boring and uninteresting.
And insignificant information like "Willis was really Ty Bridges"
I don't care about the information on TV, it's all meaningless.
just to have the upper hand in monotonous conversation,
I watch TV just so I can have something to talk about with others.
and for lack of better stimulation
I watch TV because I'm bored and there's nothing else to do.
I'm painting portraits of dysfunctional families
I create art that is dark and sad.
with gloomy faces rockin;
The faces in my art are sad and unhappy.
"Don't Worry, Be Happy" t-shirts, and you're assuming I'm tasteless?
I use an ironic phrase in my art and people misunderstand its meaning.
You misconstrue it but your babies will embrace it
People don't understand my art, but future generations will appreciate it.
The basic essentials of a very bitter young man
My art represents who I am, a bitter person.
that kicks rusty soda cans
I kick things out of boredom and frustration.
and walks on decrepit bricks
I walk around aimlessly in old areas.
with a permanent pair of headphones
I always have headphones on, listening to music to numb my boredom.
trying to make these lectures stick
I listen to music to focus and learn something.
I'll let the protestors picket,
I don't care about protests or what they're fighting for.
like they are going to make a difference
Protests don't really change anything or make a difference.
And watch them die before they realize that their cause was nonexistent
I think protesting is pointless and people are wasting their time.
I walk on shitty city sidewalks stepping on every single crack
I walk on bad sidewalks and don't care about stepping on cracks.
Reminiscent of that joke we used to say when we were snotty nose
Thinking back to an old joke I used to make as a kid.
my purpose got defeated when my mom turned paraplegic,
My life felt meaningless when my mom became paralyzed.
plus I failed my civil service exam,
I failed an important exam for my job.
they said I cheated.
People accused me of cheating on the exam.
...not to mention tainted urine samples and the attention span of a second-grader
I have a history of messing up and not focusing.
more fascinated with building blocks than wasting time stressing his daily lesson
I care more about playing and having fun than focusing on work.
hence the ridilin I've been gone with the wind like lucky lottery tickets since day one (one)
I've been taking ADHD medication since I was young, but it hasn't really helped.
I stepped on the left cause rights wrong (wrong)
I don't always do the right thing because I'm rebellious.
So what do I do? Resort to friendly games of ping pong and sing a song of sixpence
I turn to simple activities to distract myself from my problems.
I'm none the richer, I just kiss her on the lips and keep trucking
I don't have anything to show for my life, but I keep moving forward.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind