In addition, Joey Cape released a split CD with Tony Sly of No Use for a Name, featuring acoustic versions of Lagwagon favorites and one original song (Violet), which would later appear on Bad Astronaut's final album, Twelve Small Steps, One Giant Disappointment.
In 2009 Joey put out "Bridge" on Suburban Home Records, a solo album four years in the making, including original versions of songs from Lagwagon's latest album.
Violet
Joey Cape Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We're on our way
As if they drop by to see me uninvited
And I am a wallflower
Maybe a better father
This is a job
For seconds I miss the bentleys
You describe every prison
You pass through them all
Then he asked you for your head
As I vowed to burn your bed
Try to pretend but this is your life
Somehow it feels right
I'm calling this evolution
I'm falling for institution
Warm submission enveloping you
Tomorrow I'll survive the questions
Knives buried with cold indifference
My world is true
Rendered by you
Here they come again
I could never find the words
So I disguised them in verse
Until it comes out dumb and wrong
The simplest song if you sing along
Marry me Kristen
I want to be the only one
I'm painting a revolution
I'm falling for institution
Warm colors enveloping blue
Shot of comfort in a warm convention
Medicinal injection
36 years ended by you
Tonight the drunks are infected
We're on our way
The lyrics to Joey Cape's song Violet are both contemplative and melancholic in nature, weaving a story about the struggles of life and the need for comfort and security. The opening lines set the stage for a night of emotional turmoil, with the singer observing the effects of alcohol on those around him. The line "We're on our way" suggests a sense of aimlessness, as they drift from one place to another without a clear purpose. The reference to being "uninvited" is particularly poignant, as it speaks to a sense of isolation and disconnect from the world around them.
The second stanza delves deeper into the past, with references to prisons and violence. The line "Then he asked you for your head" is particularly jarring, as it suggests a threat of physical harm. Despite the darkness of these memories, there is a sense of defiance in the line "Try to pretend but this is your life". The singer is accepting of their past and the hardships they have faced, but refuses to let it control their life moving forward.
The final stanza is a mix of hope and despair, with a plea to "Marry me Kristen" offering a glimmer of happiness amidst the darkness. The line "36 years ended by you" speaks to a sense of loss, as if the singer has lost something precious and vital to their life. Throughout the song, there is a sense of longing for comfort and security, whether it be through marriage, revolution, or institutionalization. It is as if the singer is searching for a place or person to call home, a sense of belonging that has eluded them thus far.
Line by Line Meaning
Tonight the drunks are infected
The environment is filled with the corruption brought by drunkenness
We're on our way
We are heading towards that corrupted environment
As if they drop by to see me uninvited
As if those corrupted individuals visit me without an invitation
And I am a wallflower
I am a passive and unnoticed observer in this environment
Maybe a better father
Perhaps I can be a better parent than I currently am
This is a job
Being a better parent requires work and effort
For seconds I miss the bentleys
There are brief moments when I miss the luxury or extravagance of my past
Today, maybe they'll call
Maybe I will receive a call from someone or something related to my past
You describe every prison
You narrate the details of every situation that feels like a prison to you
You pass through them all
You have experienced and overcome every challenging situation or obstacle
Then he asked you for your head
Someone demanded something valuable or crucial from you
As I vowed to burn your bed
I made a promise to myself to retaliate or get revenge on someone who hurt me
Try to pretend but this is your life
You might try to escape or distract yourself from your reality, but the truth is that this is your life
Somehow it feels right
Despite the challenges or difficulties, it feels right to persevere or continue with your current path
I'm calling this evolution
I see my experiences and growth as an evolution or progression towards something greater
I'm falling for institution
I am surrendering to societal norms or institutions, possibly as a way of coping or surviving
Warm submission enveloping you
A sense of comfort or safety from surrendering or submitting to societal norms or expectations
Tomorrow I'll survive the questions
I will make it through the difficult or challenging questions or situations that may arise in the future
Knives buried with cold indifference
Enemies or negative elements from the past have been put away or forgotten, without any emotion or feeling
My world is true
My reality is authentic and genuine
Rendered by you
Shaped or influenced by the people or experiences in my life
Here they come again
Those corrupted individuals are returning or making another appearance
I could never find the words
I struggle to express or articulate my thoughts or emotions
So I disguised them in verse
I hide my thoughts or emotions behind artistic expression, such as poetry or music
Until it comes out dumb and wrong
Despite my attempts to express myself through art, my message feels foolish or incorrect
The simplest song if you sing along
Simpler forms of expression, such as music, can often be the most effective or impactful
Marry me Kristen
A personal or romantic expression of love towards someone named Kristen
I want to be the only one
A desire to have exclusivity or a special relationship with that person named Kristen
I'm painting a revolution
I am using art or creativity to convey or inspire change or rebellion
Warm colors enveloping blue
The use of warm colors in art can evoke positive or comfortable emotions, even in a blue or sad situation
Shot of comfort in a warm convention
Finding some relief or refuge in traditional or customary environments or practices
Medicinal injection
Something that provides relief or healing, similar to a medicine or injection
36 years ended by you
A significant event or relationship ended after 36 years, likely caused by someone named or associated with 'you'
Contributed by Carson S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
M.L.
on I Know How to Run
Thanks for these! Two very minor corrections: "the natural bizarre" should be " the natural bazaar" (which might a reference to the First Amendment concept of an open marketplace of ideas), And what you have as "feelings spewed as facts" sounds more like "feelings viewed as facts"