And through decades of solid output, rigorous touring, and unyielding punk ethos, he cemented himself as one of the most influential heroes of the DIY scene.
Rosenstock is a self-made artist who's built a bridge between enraged, angst-ridden political catharsis and hard-hitting depressive emotional introspection. His voice is loud, raspy, and on the cusp of anger, but underneath that lies enough nuance and subtlety to make his music fun and arresting all at once.
In just a couple of years, Jeff Rosenstock has gone from beloved underground punk mainstay to a DIY legend and one of the most acclaimed figures in modern punk.
Bang on the Door
Jeff Rosenstock Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There was a bang on the door
And we can keep pretending that this isn't really happening
Or wait until the noise goes away
We can declare our grand ambitions about living somewhere different
But we aren't doing anything today
We can avoid the telephone when it's a number we don't know
I'm tired of the downstairs neighbors judging me
When I come home late and drunk
I'm tired of them judging me from across the street
For the time that I wake up
I'm tired of the constant fear of building something here
When I know for sure they'll leave us high and dry
Without thinking twice when we can't pay more
There was a bang on the door
The lyrics of "Bang On The Door" by Jeff Rosenstock explores the theme of anxiety and fear in the face of uncertainty. The opening line, "I wanna say I'm just paranoid, but I'm not," sets the tone for the song. It suggests a level of unease that goes beyond normal paranoia. The reference to a "bang on the door" serves as a metaphorical representation of unexpected challenges or disruptions that can come crashing into our lives at any moment.
The song acknowledges the temptation to ignore or deny the reality of difficult situations. The line "And we can keep pretending that this isn't really happening or wait until the noise goes away" reflects a common inclination to avoid directly confronting problems. However, the lyrics also highlight the consequences of such avoidance, emphasizing the importance of taking action.
Throughout the song, Rosenstock also addresses the pressure to conform or meet societal expectations. The references to the downstairs neighbors judging and the fear of building something permanent reveal a fear of being scrutinized and judged by others. This fear can hold us back from pursuing our dreams or taking risks.
Overall, "Bang On The Door" captures the struggle to navigate through life's uncertainties and the internal conflicts that arise from the fear of judgment and the pressure to conform.
Line by Line Meaning
I wanna say I'm just paranoid, but I'm not
I want to convince myself that I'm only being overly worried, but deep down, I know it's true.
There was a bang on the door
Suddenly, there was a loud noise, most likely someone knocking on the door.
And we can keep pretending that this isn't really happening
Instead of facing the reality of the situation, we can continue to act as if it's not occurring.
Or wait until the noise goes away
Alternatively, we could choose to wait until the loud disturbance subsides on its own.
We can declare our grand ambitions about living somewhere different
We have the ability to express our big dreams of residing in a completely new place.
But we aren't doing anything today
However, in the present moment, we are not taking any action towards realizing those dreams.
We can avoid the telephone when it's a number we don't know
When an unfamiliar number appears on the phone, we have the option to ignore it.
But we don't even know what they're gonna say
Yet, we remain unaware of the content of the message they intended to convey.
I'm tired of the downstairs neighbors judging me
I am exhausted by the constant criticism from the people living below me.
When I come home late and drunk
Especially when I return home in the late hours, intoxicated.
I'm tired of them judging me from across the street
Furthermore, I am weary of their disapproving stares from a distance, most likely from across the street.
For the time that I wake up
Their judgment is aimed at the specific time I awaken each day.
I'm tired of the constant fear of building something here
I am utterly exhausted by the ongoing worry and anxiety of constructing a future in this place.
When I know for sure they'll leave us high and dry
Because I am certain that when we face difficulties, they will abandon us without hesitation.
Without thinking twice when we can't pay more
They will not even hesitate when we are unable to afford any additional expenses.
There was a bang on the door
Suddenly, once again, there was a loud noise, possibly another knock on the door.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Jeff Rosenstock
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ade Bird
I wanna say I'm just paranoid, but I'm not
There was a bang on the door
There was a bang on the door
I wanna say I'm just paranoid, but I'm not
There was a bang on the door
There was a bang on the door
And we can keep pretending this isn't really happening
Or wait until the noise goes away
We can declare our grand ambitions about living somewhere different
But we aren't doing anything today
We can avoid the telephone when it's a number we don't know
But we don't even know what they're gonna say
I wanna say I'm just paranoid, but I'm not
There was a bang on the door
There was a bang on the door
I wanna say I'm just paranoid, but I'm not
There was a bang on the door
There was a bang on the door
I'm tired of the downstairs neighbors judging me
When I come home late and drunk
I'm tired of them judging me from across the street
For the time that I wake up
I'm tired of the constant fear of building something here
When I know for sure they'll leave us high and dry
Without thinking twice when we can't pay more
There was a bang on the door
There was a bang on the door
There was a bang on the door
There was a bang on the door
There was a bang on the door
Ella Brown
h o w ?
TheUrbanGhost
an absolute blinder
Danny Dorko
Can confirm- I am blind.
B J
Y’all heard “Controller” by Oingo Boingo...?