A demo tape titled "Be Afraid" was quickly recorded and heavily circulated around the New York City area which responded with high praise. The demo is the only recording made by the group to feature guitarist Eric Cooper. The band recorded their 1997 debut LP "She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not..." for Revelation Records. Produced by Billy Anderson, the album had the same familiar sound that fans of Deadguy and Rorschach had come to know along with Singer's melodramatic screams and ramblings. The tracks "Preacher" and "Target Practice" which were omitted from "She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not" were also released this same year as a 7" EP through Revelation.
In 1997, the band toured with Unsane. They also toured with death metal outfit Obituary. Shortly after the tour, Huckins decided the touring and music were no longer to his liking and was replaced by Seattle hardcore veteran and Kiss It Goodbye illustrator Demian "Headboy" Johnston. The band recorded material in 1998 for an EP that was to be released by Sub Pop Records but was never released by the label as Tim Singer soon decided to leave the band, effectively dissolving it. The tracks were eventually released by Revelation Records as the Choke CD/7" EP.
The band briefly reunited to perform a short westcoast reunion tour during 2012. To celebrate, Revelation Records repressed She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not on vinyl.
What If
Kiss It Goodbye Lyrics
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I hope it's good enough for you.
I'd like to taste some of your freedom.
Shine that light into my eyes. Blind me with your light. Remind me that I have no rights.
How quickly freedom fades. It's good to know my place. But I could have sworn somebody said "feel free."
They made it sound so easy. But this isn't easy.
There's nothing easy about this. This doesn't feel free. FREEDOM.
Let me taste your freedom. Mine's hard to swallow.
Right over my shoulder.
Always looking at me. This suffocating authority.
What if I had a badge? What if I had a gun?
Try tasting some of my freedom.
Try tasting some of this. Ask me another question.
"Is that what I think it is?" "What's that over there?" "Don't get wise with me."
Looking down the barrel of peace.
I need freedom from police. Blind me with your light. Remind that I have no rights.
This doesn't feel free. Words aren't free.
But don't mind me. I'm just sitting here thinking.
Am I allowed to do that?
Is that still free? Just sitting here thinking.
The song "What If" by Kiss It Goodbye is a commentary on the limited freedom experienced by individuals who feel suffocated by authority. The lyrics start with a question about the singer's behavior, asking if they have been a good citizen. This sets the stage for the theme of a lack of freedom in society. In the second line, the singer expresses a desire to taste some of the freedom enjoyed by others, which they feel is not accessible to them. The third line includes a request for someone to shine a light into their eyes, implying that the singer wishes to be blinded by the idea of freedom.
The following lines contain frustration and a sense of powerlessness. The singer ponders the fading of freedom and their place in society. Despite hearing that they are free, they feel the opposite. The song's title is repeated here as a kind of challenge or call-to-action, almost as if asking what would happen if people tried to taste freedom that they do not currently have. The second verse includes more imagery and emotion about authority, culminating in the question about what would happen if the singer had a badge and a gun. This question implies that freedom is not just about being able to do what you want but also about having the power to enforce your will on others.
In summary, the song paints a bleak picture of a world where freedom is not evenly distributed, and some people are unable to taste or access it. The tone is one of frustration and powerlessness, and the lyrics suggest that freedom may be more of an illusion than a reality for many people in society.
Line by Line Meaning
Have I been good? Have I been the good citizen?
I question if I have been good enough to fit in as a law-abiding citizen.
I hope it's good enough for you.
I hope my actions meet your expectations of what a good citizen should be.
I'd like to taste some of your freedom.
I want to experience the freedom that you have and see how it differs from mine.
Shine that light into my eyes. Blind me with your light. Remind me that I have no rights.
The light represents the authority that blinds me and reminds me of the lack of freedom I have and the little rights I possess.
How quickly freedom fades. It's good to know my place. But I could have sworn somebody said "feel free."
Freedom vanishes quickly, and it's comforting to know where I stand. However, wasn't I told to feel the liberation that is supposed to come with it?
They made it sound so easy. But this isn't easy.
People make it seem easy to acquire freedom, whereas in reality, it is a difficult and challenging feat.
There's nothing easy about this. This doesn't feel free. FREEDOM.
Freedom doesn't come easily, and my current situation doesn't feel like freedom at all. I crave the true essence of freedom.
Let me taste your freedom. Mine's hard to swallow.
I ask for a taste of your freedom because mine is difficult to accept or comprehend.
I know I'm not free. I feel him watching over me. Right over my shoulder. Always looking at me. This suffocating authority.
I have a sense of being monitored and suffocated by the overbearing authority, which makes me recognize that I am not truly free.
What if I had a badge? What if I had a gun? Try tasting some of my freedom.
If I had the authority and power of the law enforcement officers, I would show you what my freedom feels like, and you would want to taste it for yourself.
Try tasting some of this. Ask me another question. "Is that what I think it is?" "What's that over there?" "Don't get wise with me."
I challenge you to try to taste my current situation and ask me the same questions while understanding the circumstances. But beware, do not try to challenge me, or you'll face the consequences.
Looking down the barrel of peace. I need freedom from police. Blind me with your light. Remind that I have no rights.
The peacekeeping officers represent a threat to my liberty, and I need to be free from their oppression. The light signifies that even the tiniest form of authority can remind me of my lack of rights and freedom.
This doesn't feel free. Words aren't free.
I don't feel free, and even my words are restricted and monitored in some ways.
But don't mind me. I'm just sitting here thinking. Is that allowed? Is that still free? Just sitting here thinking.
I am pondering my situation and wonder if it's allowed or still considered a form of freedom. Can I just think, or is that restricted as well?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANTHONY MARCHELLO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind