In April 2006, Japanther teamed up with Aquadoom, a synchronized swimming group at New York University to play the Dangerous When Wet event at the school's Palladium Pool. On July 2, 2006, Japanther played under a plastic tarp in the rain at CitySol, an annual summer music and market series on Manhattan’s East River waterfront (Stuyvesant Cove Park) to raise awareness for environmental issues.
Visit their website for news and merchandise, http://www.japanther.com
The Boss
Japanther Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Move back and forth. Move back and forth.
Move back and forth. Move back and forth. (na na... na na)
I don't know why you would try and run away
Resistance is futile, tomorrow becomes today
When you see that sun arise, you'll know you have survived
Ya ya, now zombies line up in yer hallway
Six feet down they've been waiting all day to
Move back and forth. Move back and forth.
The song "The Boss" by Japanther is an anthem for anyone who's ever felt controlled and stifled by authority figures, whether it be parents, teachers, or bosses. The lyrics are an ode to breaking away from the constraints and expectations placed upon individuals from a young age, and instead embracing one's individuality and autonomy. The repetitive refrain "Move back and forth" emphasizes the liberation and joy that come with breaking free from the shackles of authority and doing what one pleases.
The opening lines of the song assert the message at the heart of "The Boss": that everyone has a right to be their own boss, and no one should dictate how they live their life. The following lines suggest that resistance and rebellion are inevitable, and that trying to suppress the desires and aspirations of young people is futile. The chorus repeats the call to "move back and forth", encouraging listeners to embrace their freedom and celebrate their independence.
Line by Line Meaning
When you're a kid, everyone tries to tell you what to do.
Adults often try to assert their control over kids and dictate what they should and shouldn't do.
Your bosses, your teachers, your parents, and those bullies at school.
Specifically, bosses, teachers, and bullies at school, as well as parents, are often the ones who try to control young people.
Well we say fuck that! YOU'RE NOT THE BOSS OF ME!
Japanther is rejecting the idea that anyone else has the right to tell them what to do, and they choose to exercise their own autonomy.
Move back and forth. Move back and forth.
This repetition could be interpreted as a kind of resistance or pushing back against authority figures.
I don't know why you would try and run away
It's unclear why someone would attempt to flee from their problems or responsibilities.
Resistance is futile, tomorrow becomes today
No matter how much someone might try to resist or escape their obligations, the future will inevitably become the present, and they will be faced with them once again.
When you see that sun arise, you'll know you have survived
After enduring a difficult experience, the sight of the sun rising can be a sign of hope and proof that you've made it through the night.
Another nightmare passed and you're still alive
The trials and tribulations of life can often feel like a nightmare, but making it through those experiences is an accomplishment in itself.
Ya ya, now zombies line up in yer hallway
The image of zombies lining up in a hallway could symbolize the pressures of daily life, including the figurative 'zombies' that keep us from living the lives we truly want to lead.
Six feet down they've been waiting all day to
This line could suggest that we're all stuck six feet below the ground, waiting for something to happen or for permission to take back control of our lives.
Move back and forth. Move back and forth.
This repetition serves as a kind of rally cry to resist those who would try to control us and to assert our own agency instead.
Contributed by Liam W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.