The band has 11 releases through Fat Wreck Chords: eight studio albums, one EP, one live album and a collection of B-sides, compilation tracks and demos. Lagwagon has never had, nor have they seemed to pursue, strong mainstream success, but they do have a devoted underground following in North America, Europe and Asia. Their moderate success reflected a growing interest in punk rock during the 1990s, along with fellow California bands Rancid, Green Day and The Offspring. Their song 'May 16' was also featured in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2.
The story about the name Lagwagon is that Joey’s mom was often late picking him and his brother up from school. She drove a station wagon, which his brother dubbed the "lagwagon". After signing to Fat Mike's label Fat Wreck Chords, Lagwagon released their debut album for the label, Duh, in 1992. Frontman Joey Cape commented on how the album was made, "Back then, we were inexperienced in the studio. It was less about the recording process and more about rehearsing. We recorded and mixed Duh in 4 days. There's something to be said for a budget. You have to have your shit together before you go into the studio and the end result is a record that better reflects the band's sound at the time." Two years later, Lagwagon released Trashed, their second record on Fat, which turned out to be highly successful, leading to the eventual production of a video for "Island of Shame." During this time, a number of punk bands, such as Green Day, The Offspring and Rancid, had hit the mainstream and Lagwagon turned down offers to join several major labels. Hoss, the third Lagwagon album, was released on November 21, 1995. After the release of that album and an extensive tour in Europe, Australia, and Japan, both guitarist Shawn Dewey and drummer Derrick Plourde would leave the band and be replaced temporarily by Ken Stringfellow (The Posies) on guitar, and permanently by Dave Raun (RKL) on drums. Shawn Dewey, already in the side project band Buck Wild on Lobster Records would go on to release two full-length LPs Beat Me Silly and Full Metal Overdrive and do two European tours with Good Riddance and Ten Foot Pole.
After two more albums, Double Plaidinum and Let's Talk About Feelings, the band went on indefinite hiatus in 2000, due to all members working on side projects. Lagwagon resurfaced in 2002, and released their sixth album Blaze the following year. In 2004, frontman Joey Cape released a split album with No Use for a Name vocalist Tony Sly featuring acoustic versions of songs by both bands. On November 1, 2005, Lagwagon released Resolve, which is a homage to the life of Derrick Plourde, original drummer for Lagwagon and Bad Astronaut.
In 2008, Lagwagon released an EP titled I Think My Older Brother Used to Listen to Lagwagon. Despite earlier reports that the band would begin recording their next full-length studio album by 2009, Lagwagon had gone on hiatus from touring and writing again, due to Cape launching a solo career, releasing Bridge in 2008 and Doesn't Play Well with Others in 2010.
In January 2010, Joey Cape announced during an interview with Canada's Exclaim! magazine[4] that Jesse Buglione had left Lagwagon, having been with the band since its foundation in 1990. However, Cape dismissed rumors of Lagwagon breaking up. While he was not sure if Lagwagon would record a new album or embark on another full-scale tour, he said that he was open to playing shows and possibly recording and releasing new Lagwagon songs sporadically. Jesse Buglione confirmed his departure on Lagwagon's official message board himself, as reported by sputnikmusic.com and punknews.org. Lagwagon toured with No Use for a Name that summer. In an interview with fasterlouder.com.au Joey Cape, revealed former RKL bassist Joe Raposo is Lagwagon's new bassist. In a June 2011 interview with ExploreMusic however, Joey Cape said that things didn't work out with Raposo, and the band is testing a new bassist. After first announcing Patrick Solem as the new bass player in August 2011, the band decided that Raposo would remain in the band permanently.
On September 22, 2011, Fat Wreck announced they would be re-issuing expanded editions of the first 5 albums on CD, vinyl, and digital download. The albums were available both separately and in a box set titled Putting Music In Its Place. The reissues were released November 22, 2011, with a short line-up of concerts in the USA played in December and January, and a European tour following in April 2012. As of October 2012, Lagwagon is headlining a full U.S. tour titled The Fat Tour 2012, with Dead To Me, The Flatliners, and Useless ID as support.
In October 2012, Joey Cape stated that there will be a new Lagwagon album, which will be their first since 2005's Resolve. While details and release dates are not yet known, the band announced on its Twitter feed that songs are being written for a new album. The September 22 Tweet reads, "Writing, writing, writing. New album... It's gonna happen!"
The band recorded their eighth album, Hang, with Bill Stevenson and Jason Livermore at The Blasting Room, Ft Collins, CO. The album was released on October 28, 2014, and debuted at #95 on the Billboard 200.
On October 4, 2019, the band released their ninth studio album Railer.
Never Stops
Lagwagon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Almost here, barely here
I knew that this day would have to come
Wailing on the wall watching giants fall
I know there's a message to receive
Written in debris streaming out to sea
The loss of innocence means nothing in the new world
All our hands our red everyone is guilty now
I'm alright, tell me you're alright
Stuck my eyes, open wide
Another idiot glued to the box frozen to the screen
Scared to turn it off
Quiet shock gives way to righteousness
Rattle on the bars vengeance will be ours
Fanatics on their knees pray for a swift and just revenge
Become what they condemn
Mirror image man
Hands across America
Lets catch contact hysteria
July 4th for ever more
Colors of democracy
Fly from every SUV
The misspelled bumper stickers here
Where did all the honor students go
Numbers on the news
This time with familiar names
This time on familiar ground
This reality in your backyard
So the fences fall
Will you redefine them all
Will you just shelter your empathy
The world we share has come too close
With borders blown from glass
We collect stones and cast them
They say the party never stops
I know we can not get off
Another idiot comes on the box
Breathing privileged air
preaching to the fair
Rallying one muscle under god
Leaning on a chair
Leaning on our fears
The state of ignorance means nothing to the faithful
God is with us now
They disregard the world beyond the wall
The lyrics of Lagwagon's "Never Stops" are a commentary on the state of the world, particularly in the wake of the September 11 attacks. The singer starts by assuaging their fear by asking someone else if they are alright, but ultimately acknowledges that they knew a day like this was coming. The world is falling down around them – "giants fall" – but the singer is still trying to find a message in the debris of the collapse.
As the lyrics progress, the singer becomes increasingly cynical about the state of the world. They note that "all our hands are red," indicating that everyone is guilty and complicit in what is happening. They are also frustrated with the media and the way in which people are glued to their TVs, unable to turn them off even when they are scared or shocked. The singer becomes critical of those who claim to want justice but behave in fanatical ways that merely perpetuate the cycle of violence.
The final lines of the song reflect a sense of hopelessness in the face of a world that seems to be crumbling. The party "never stops," indicating that the world will keep turning no matter what happens, and the singer acknowledges that they cannot "get off." They also criticize those who lean on fear and ignorance to rally people to their cause, disdaining the idea that "God is with us now" and urging people to look beyond the walls they have erected around themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm alright, tell me you're alright
Asking if everything is okay when things seem dire
Almost here, barely here
Being present physically but not mentally
I knew that this day would have to come
Anticipating an undesirable event
Wailing on the wall watching giants fall
Observing the destruction and feeling helpless
I know there's a message to receive
Believing there is a deeper meaning to the chaos
Written in debris streaming out to sea
The message being conveyed through the wreckage and destruction
The loss of innocence means nothing in the new world
Acknowledging that there is no place for naivete in the reality of today's society
All our hands our red everyone is guilty now
Accepting collective responsibility for the state of affairs
Stuck my eyes, open wide
Trying to stay alert and aware despite feeling numb
Another idiot glued to the box frozen to the screen
Referring to someone who is brainwashed by their media consumption
Scared to turn it off
Feeling trapped or unable to detach from the constant input
Quiet shock gives way to righteousness
Feeling compelled to take action as a response to what is being witnessed
Rattle on the bars vengeance will be ours
Feeling angry and vengeful
Fanatics on their knees pray for a swift and just revenge
Reference to extremists who take matters into their own hands
Become what they condemn
Becoming similar to the ones they are fighting against
Mirror image man
Seeing one's own reflection in the adversary
Hands across America
Referencing a movement for peace and unity, though now seems forgotten
Lets catch contact hysteria
Warning of overreacting to events and spreading fear
July 4th for ever more
Everything associated with Independence Day (democracy, patriotism) is now a constant presence, not just a holiday
Colors of democracy
Colors of the flag referenced as a symbol of the country's values and principles
Fly from every SUV
Nationalism and patriotism is on display everywhere you look
The misspelled bumper stickers here
The irony of displaying support and intelligence while spelling basic words wrong
Where did all the honor students go
Affecting education and encouraging conformity, leaving innovation behind
Numbers on the news
Reporting statistics of negative news events
This time with familiar names
The tragedy is personal to many people connecting individuals to the larger event
This time on familiar ground
Events happening where they never should, forces people to reevaluate their own reality
This reality in your backyard
The proximity of something shocking to your everyday life
So the fences fall
The borders collapsing around the world
Will you redefine them all
Thinking about new strategies and ways people can interact
Will you just shelter your empathy
Questioning if it is possible to emotionally disconnect witnessing atrocities
The world we share has come too close
Every single person is impacted by geopolitical upheaval around the globe
With borders blown from glass
There are no longer natural barriers to separate people
We collect stones and cast them
Choosing sides and fighting each other instead of resolving issues
They say the party never stops
There is always something happening around us
I know we can not get off
Feeling trapped or stuck in existing reality
Another idiot comes on the box
Continuing media exposure to uniformed ideas that encourage fear
Breathing privileged air
Someone feeling comfortable within their position despite the chaos taking place
preaching to the fair
Political campaign speeches with empty promises
Rallying one muscle under god
Religious extremist activities by justifying themselves in the name of God or a higher power
Leaning on a chair
Relaxing while holding a position of power or responsibility
Leaning on our fears
Using the public's fears to manipulate societal controls
The state of ignorance means nothing to the faithful
Religious belief could lead to ignorance of other perspectives or ideas
God is with us now
The religious divide among people, feeling their god is the only righteous one
They disregard the world beyond the wall
Refusing to accept or consider issues and situations happening outside of one's personal space
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ovidio
twin towers coming down
@hoshiref
I’m all right
Tell me you’re all right
Almost there
Barely here
I knew that this day would have come
Wailing on the wall
Watching giants fall
I know there’s a message to receive
Written in debris
It's meanings hard to see
The loss of innocence means nothing in the new world
All our hands are red
Everyone is guilty now
I’m alright, tell me you’re alright
Stop my eyes, open wide
Another idiot glued to the box
Frozen to the screen
Scared to turn it off
Quiet shock gives way to righteousness
Rattle on the bars
Vengeance will be ours
Fanatics on their knees pray for a swift and just revenge
Become what they condemn, mirror image men
Hands across America, let’s catch contact hysteria
Our flag erects from broken homes
July 4th, forever more
Colors of democracy fly from every SUV
The misspelled bumper stickers here
Where did all the honor students go?
Numbers on the news, this time with familiar names
This time on familiar ground, this reality in your backyard
So the fences fall, will you redefine them all?
Will you choose shelter or empathy?
The world we share has come too close
With borders flown from glass
We collect stones and cast them
They say the party never stops
But I know we cannot get off
Another idiot comes on the box
Breathing privileged air
Preaching to the fair
Rallying one muscle under God
Leading on the cheer
Leaning on our fears
This state of ignorance means nothing to the faithful
God is with us now
They disregard the world beyond the wall
@Zuriox
Timeless lyrics. Joey's got a gift.
@Azzy01012029
9-11-013. 12 years later, and it still hasn't stopped.
@Toast_the_Toaster617
9-11-2019. Still hasn't stopped.
@thewaz8926
This has to be the best Lagwagon song.
@LUCA7FOLD
yeah
@eatassonthefirstdate
thewaz 89 one of the top 5 for sure
@eatassonthefirstdate
Alien8 though or violins
@Sauron969
Pretty close
@Sauron969
I have to give it to coffee and cigarettes