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.
Over The Hill
Lagwagon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and I'm clinging to this rocky edge, a rose thorn in my side
It's fabled contradiction,
it's bitter sweet and blind
And I'm balancing the mountain
of compromise
I went over the hill to be with you
I am over the hill to be with you
Am I holding on to lies or holding onto life?
Standing in position objectivity goes by
'cause it's hard to ignore losing when you're winning all the time
and the weight of this too heavy,
the ceiling far too low
This commitment is restraining
and I can't grow
I went over the hill,
over the hill
I am over the hill to be with you
Am I holding on to life or holding onto lies?
In retrospect in your absence my disposition's gone
as I close my eyes to search for treasure in what I once lost
I let go of the noose and breath again
I am falling from the game and mending a foot (?)
The lyrics of Lagwagon's song, "Over the Hill," explore the complexities of a relationship and the struggle to balance compromise and individuality. The opening line, "Scaling the mountain, I have given up my pride," reveals that the singer has sacrificed something important to be with their partner. As they cling to the "rocky edge" and feel the "rose thorn in [their] side," the singer acknowledges the contradictions and challenges that come with compromise. The metaphor of "balancing the mountain" suggests that maintaining this compromise is an ongoing, delicate process.
The chorus of the song highlights the uncertainty and doubt that the singer feels about their choices. They repeatedly question whether they are "holding on to lies or holding onto life." The contrast between these two options suggests that the singer sees the relationship as a double-edged sword - it brings them fulfillment but also carries the risk of deception.
The second verse reveals more about the singer's inner turmoil. They note that "standing in position objectivity goes by," indicating that they are struggling to maintain an objective perspective on the relationship. The mention of "losing when you're winning all the time" further reinforces this sense of confusion and imbalance. Despite their commitment to the relationship, they feel "restrained" and unable to grow.
Overall, "Over the Hill" is a reflection on the challenges of maintaining a relationship and the difficult choices that come with it. The lyrics suggest that compromise and sacrifice are necessary but also come with a price.
Line by Line Meaning
Scaling the mountain, I have given up my pride
I have sacrificed my pride to climb this mountain.
and I'm clinging to this rocky edge, a rose thorn in my side
I am holding on tight to this difficult path, despite the pain it causes me.
It's fabled contradiction, it's bitter sweet and blind
This journey is both full of contradictions and bittersweet, but I cannot see what lies ahead.
And I'm balancing the mountain of compromise
I am attempting to maintain a balance between my own desires and the compromises necessary to reach my goal.
I went over the hill to be with you
I made a difficult journey to be with the person I love.
Am I holding on to lies or holding onto life?
I question whether the sacrifices I've made were worth it, and whether I am living according to truth or just surviving.
Standing in position objectivity goes by
I cannot maintain objectivity in my current position.
'cause it's hard to ignore losing when you're winning all the time
It is difficult to ignore that, despite my successes, I am still losing something important.
and the weight of this too heavy, the ceiling far too low
The burden of my situation is too heavy, and I feel trapped by its limitations.
This commitment is restraining and I can't grow
The commitment I've made is holding me back from personal growth.
In retrospect in your absence my disposition's gone
Without you here, I feel like a part of me is missing and my mood has shifted.
as I close my eyes to search for treasure in what I once lost
I am trying to find something valuable in what I've left behind.
I let go of the noose and breath again
I have released the thing that was strangling me and can breathe freely once more.
I am falling from the game and mending a foot (?)
I am stepping away from the competition and healing my wounds.
Lyrics © Fintage House Publishing
Written by: PAUL BLISS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ovidio
on Never Stops
twin towers coming down