Indie punk pioneer Jeff Rosenstock is a must-know name in the Long Island p… Read Full Bio ↴Indie punk pioneer Jeff Rosenstock is a must-know name in the Long Island punk scene. Hailing from Baldwin NY, he fronted the iconic ska-punk band The Arrogant Sons of Bitches, he toured the world with his critically acclaimed anti-capitalist punk collective Bomb The Music Industry!, carrying t-shirt stencils and spray paint to all-ages venues and house show basements in lieu of merch. He started the first donation-based record label, Quote Unquote Records, a full 2 years before Radiohead popularized the idea of pay-what-you-want music.

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.

Yr Throat
Jeff Rosenstock Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

What's the point of having a voice?
What's the point of having a voice
When it gets stuck inside your throat?

Ramble incessantly
On pointless rattlings in my head
First person shooter games
Guitar tones, ELO arrangements
Difference in an MP3
And a vinyl record that you can hear!
But when it means something
I always disappear

What's the point of having a voice?
What's the point of having a voice
When it gets stuck inside your throat?
When it gets stuck inside your throat?
When it gets stuck inside your throat?

After the contest I saw my neighbors
Line up the shots and say to each other
That "There's nothing left we can do right now
There's nothing left we can do right now"

After the tape leaked I searched for answers
Accountability, all I discovered gave me
Fever sweats from the inside out
It made me cold from the inside out
It's not like any other job I know
If you're a piece of shit they don't let you go
If you're a piece of shit they don't let you go
If you're a piece of shit they don't let you go

What's the point of having a voice?
What's the point of having a voice
When it gets stuck inside your throat?
When it gets stuck inside your throat?

When it gets stuck inside your throat?
When it gets stuck inside your throat?

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of Jeff Rosenstock's Yr Throat expresses a feeling of powerlessness and the struggle to find ways to relax. The singer laments that they cannot make an impact or use their voice effectively, even after "emptying out" their brain in search of clarity. The repetition of the question, "What's the point of having a voice?" further emphasizes the singer's frustration and feelings of inadequacy.

The second verse focuses on the singer's thoughts and distractions, such as first-person shooter games and music preferences. However, these thoughts are ultimately pointless and do not provide any fulfilling purpose. The line, "But when it means something, I always disappear," highlights the singer's struggle with being present and engaged in meaningful moments.

The final verse takes a more societal and political approach as the singer reflects on the failure of those in power to take responsibility or action. The imagery of the neighbors lining up shots and giving up on hope and the singer's search for accountability that only led to coldness and fever sweats depict a sense of desperation and apathy. The repetition of the line, "If you're a piece of shit they don't let you go," underscores the corrupt and stagnant systems in place.

Overall, the song seems to convey a frustration with the struggle to make a meaningful impact and use one's voice effectively, as well as a disillusionment with societal and political systems that perpetuate inaction and corruption.

Line by Line Meaning

I can't find any way
I'm struggling to find a solution

I can't find any way to relax
Even when I have time, I can't calm down

I can't do anything
I feel powerless

I can't do anything of impact
Even when I do something, it doesn't make a difference

I emptied out my brain
I tried to clear my thoughts

In hopes that I would have some success
With the expectation that it would help me

Finding some clarity
Achieving a sense of understanding

But I just made a mess
But it just made things worse

What's the point of having a voice?
What's the use of speaking up?

When it gets stuck inside your throat?
When you're unable to express yourself

Ramble incessantly
Talking excessively

On pointless rattlings in my head
About trivial matters

First person shooter games
Video games that involve first-person shooting

Guitar tones, ELO arrangements
Musical techniques and styles

Difference in an MP3
The distinction between digital audio formats

And a vinyl record that you can hear!
And the tactile experience of listening to a vinyl record

But when it means something
When it's important

I always disappear
I'm unable to speak up

After the contest I saw my neighbors
After the competition, I observed my community

Line up the shots and say to each other
Drink together and discuss

That "There's nothing left we can do right now
That there are no further options

After the tape leaked I searched for answers
After the information was released to the public, I sought understanding

Accountability, all I discovered gave me
Responsibility was the only thing I found

Fever sweats from the inside out
Intense sweating and internal discomfort

It made me cold from the inside out
It chilled me deeply

It's not like any other job I know
This is an unusual situation

If you're a piece of shit they don't let you go
If you are a bad person, you are not removed from the situation

What's the point of having a voice?
What's the use of speaking up?

When it gets stuck inside your throat?
When you're unable to express yourself

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Jeff Rosenstock

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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PT2M43S

04All This Useless Energy2:57

05Powerlessness2:43

06TV Stars4:20

07Melba3:04

08Beating My Head Against a Wall1:40

099/103:57

10Let Them Win11:10

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@Aleph-Noll

2y↑7

I can't find any way
I can't find any way to relax
I can't do anything
I can't do anything of impact
I emptied out my brain
In hopes that I would have some success
Finding some clarity
But I just made a mess
What's the point of having a voice?
What's the point of having a voice
When it gets stuck inside your throat?
I'll ramble incessantly
On pointless rattlings in my head
First person shooter games,
Guitar tones, ELO arrangements,
And a vinyl record that you can hear!
But when it means something,
I always disappear.
What's the point of having a voice?
What's the point of having a voice
When it gets stuck inside your throat?
When it gets stuck inside your throat?
When it gets stuck inside your throat?
After the contest
I saw my neighbors
Line up the shots
And say to each other,
"There's nothing left we can do right now."
After the tape leaked,
I searched for answers.
Accountability.
All I discovered gave me
Fever sweats from the inside out
It made me cold from the inside out.
It's not like any other job I know.
If you're a piece of shit they don't let you go.
If you're a piece of shit they don't let you go.
If you're a piece of shit they don't let you go