1. L7 is a rock band founded in Los Angeles, California, first active from 1985 to 2001 and re-formed in 2014. Their longest standing line-up consists of Suzi Gardner (vocals, guitar), Donita Sparks (vocals, guitar), Dee Plakas (drums, vocals) and Jennifer Finch (bass, vocals). L7 has released seven studio albums and has toured widely in the US, Europe, Japan, Australia, and South America. L7's song "Pretend We're Dead" became a Top 10 hit on the Billboard Modern Rock chart in 1992. A documentary film about the band entitled L7: Pretend We're Dead premiered in 2016.
2. L7 was a visual kei band from Fukuoka, Japan. They formed on the 1st of October, 2019. The members were KEN as vocalist, Ray on guitar, Taikou on bass and Ryuta on drums. All members were previous members of Blue Blood Boa. L7 released one single - LOVE&HATE - on the 5th of November, 2019. They disbanded shortly after on the 4th of July, 2020, after Taikou and Ray secceded the band. Ken and Ryuta went on to form BAD ROMANCE and are current members of 201号室.
Mr. Integrity
L7 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
a rust car pulled along side of me
i looked behind the wheel
and i started to squeal
an idol's face was staring at me
don't preach to me
Mr. integrity
sittin' shotgun,
out of my brain
our muffler draggin'
through the art ghettos
stepped on the gas
gums started to flap
punk rock manifestoes
spittin', fumin',
streets are filled with so much glass
that i wanted to break
eyes spinnin' 'round
as my feet shook the ground
like the san francisco earthquake
don't preach to me
Mr.. integrity
don't preach to me
Mr. integrity
i'm not the enemy
please don't preach to me
Mr. integrity
don't preach to me
Mr.. integrity
i'm not the enemy-- no
please don't preach to me
Mr.. integrity
The song "Mr. Integrity" by L7 is a rebellious punk rock track that speaks to the pleasurable lure of living life on the edge. In the first verse, the singer is stranded in the streets of San Francisco when a rusty car pulls up beside her, startling her. She then sees an idol's face behind the wheel, causing her to squeal. In the ensuing verses, she changes tone and is defiant in her questioning of the concept of integrity, especially as it is enforced upon her by societal figures, such as the police and government.
The singer is tired of being preached to by a "Mr. Integrity," which to her is little more than an abstract concept rather than a strictly defined set of values. She's living in the moment, with her gums flapping and the muffler dragging on the car. The punk rock spirit is alive and well in her, as she lists off her rebellious tendencies in the song. The singer doesn't see herself as anyone's enemy, but she's fed up with being told how to live her life. She's hoping to avoid being lectured by anyone, especially not someone who invokes the notion of "integrity."
Line by Line Meaning
stranded in the streets of san francisco
I found myself stuck in San Francisco.
a rust car pulled along side of me
A rusty car pulled up next to me.
i looked behind the wheel
I took a look inside the car.
and i started to squeal
I was surprised by what I saw.
an idol's face was staring at me
I saw the face of a famous person.
don't preach to me
Mr. integrity
I don't want to hear your moral lessons.
sittin' shotgun,
out of my brain
I was in the passenger seat and feeling out of it.
our muffler draggin'
through the art ghettos
Our car's muffler was scraping on the ground as we drove through a rundown part of town.
stepped on the gas
gums started to flap
We accelerated and my lips started flapping in the wind.
punk rock manifestoes
spittin', fumin'
People were angry about the state of the world and expressing themselves through punk rock music.
streets are filled with so much glass
that i wanted to break
The streets were littered with broken glass that made me feel angry and destructive.
eyes spinnin' 'round
as my feet shook the ground
like the san francisco earthquake
I felt disoriented and unsteady, like an earthquake was happening.
don't preach to me
Mr.. integrity
i'm not the enemy
please don't preach to me
Mr. integrity
I don't want to be judged or lectured, and I'm not your enemy.
don't preach to me
Mr.. integrity
i'm not the enemy-- no
please don't preach to me
Mr.. integrity
I'm still not your enemy, so please stop preaching to me.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DONITA SPARKS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Fartley Hawgshlong
on Pretend We're Dead
The L7 song "Scrap" explores themes of identity, rebellion, and self-destruction. The narrator of the song describes a skinhead named Scrap who lives in his friend's garage and spends his days inhaling spray paint fumes. The lyrics suggest that he is searching for something, perhaps a sense of purpose or meaning, but is unable to find it. He meets some Christians from hell and goes on a trip to Las Vegas with them, but ultimately returns to the garage only to find it gone. The song ends with the suggestion that he is now growing his hair and moving on, perhaps to a new phase of his life.
The lyrics use vivid imagery to convey the sense of disorientation and desperation that Scrap feels. The repetition of the line "Grab a paper bag like an oxygen mask / Until your mind starts to gel" suggests that he is constantly seeking some kind of escape or release from his reality. The reference to the "funky dying brain cell" adds a sense of urgency and danger to the situation, emphasizing the potentially harmful effects of his lifestyle.
Overall, "Scrap" is a powerful and thought-provoking song that explores the darker aspects of human nature. It paints a vivid picture of a troubled individual trying to find his way in a confusing and sometimes hostile world.