After releasing numerous demos, splits, and EPs, Left Alone released their first full-length, Streets of Wilmington, in 2002. A year later, the band compiled their earlier, out-of-print recordings on the anthology Left Alone: 1996-2000. In 2003, Cortez went on the Warped Tour as a roadie. After Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman heard Left Alone's music, he chose the band to be the Warped Tour BBQ band for the 2004 tour. The band were invited back to be the BBQ band for the 2005 tour. While on the Warped Tour, Tim Armstrong of Rancid heard Left Alone's 2004 album, Lonely Starts & Broken Hearts. Armstrong signed the band to his label, Hellcat Records, and re-released Lonely Starts & Broken Hearts. The band released their third full-length album, Dead American Radio, on August 8, 2006, which features guest appearances from Tim Armstrong and Patricia Day of the Horrorpops.
The band released their self-titled album on April 7, 2009.
Bastard Son
Left Alone Lyrics
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I'm a drunk just like you
As I sit here counting the change in my pocket
To get a drunk and try to forget you
So many days I questioned and I wondered
Wondering what did I do wrong
Cause mama said it was all cause of me
And every day
I prayed and I wished and I wondered
When you would come back
When you would return
But I found comfort and courage
Inside of a bottle
Now I don't care if you return
I grew up alone with no direction
I learned about life the hard way
Made mistakes and learned about rejection
I was a kid out on the streets running astray
I began to look for my place in life
Cause I knew I didn't fit with every one
I was the kid with no father and no Monday
But I found a home in my guitar and my songs
Now I don't care if you return
The lyrics of this song, Bastard Son by Left Alone, deal with the painful struggle of growing up without a father figure, and the subsequent attempt to find comfort in alcohol. The song's narrator laments the fact that his father left when he was young, and even though he longs for him to return, he has lost hope and has turned to drinking to numb the pain.
The opening lines of the song make it clear that the singer is an alcoholic just like his absent father. He sits counting the change in his pocket, desperate for a drink to help him forget the pain of his childhood. He reflects on the days when he was young, questioning what he did wrong to make his father leave. He believes his mother blamed him for the departure and this likely had a lasting impact on him. Despite his longing for his father's return, he has given up hope and finds solace in the bottle.
As the song progresses, the singer discusses his rough upbringing and how he was forced to learn about life the hard way, making mistakes and learning about rejection. He was a kid who went astray in the streets, looking for his place in the world. However, he eventually found comfort and home in his guitar and music.
Overall, Bastard Son is a moving song that delves into the painful issues surrounding absent fathers and the emotional scars they leave on their children. It highlights how important it is for kids to find a place of belonging and support and how sometimes, music can provide the perfect escape from a difficult life.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I know it's no secret
I am aware that everyone around me knows about my drinking habit
I'm a drunk just like you
I consume excessive amounts of alcohol, similar to your drinking patterns
As I sit here counting the change in my pocket
While I'm collecting spare change from my pockets
To get a drunk and try to forget you
My intention is to drink and forget about you completely
So many days I questioned and I wondered
There were countless times where I felt the need to find answers and solutions
Wondering what did I do wrong
I was contemplating about what went wrong in our relationship
Cause mama said it was all cause of me
My mother claimed that our break up was entirely my fault
You left that Friday night and never returned
You abandoned me on a Friday night and never bothered to come back
And every day
Each and every day
I prayed and I wished and I wondered
I begged and hoped and speculated
When you would come back
The thought of whether you would ever return or not
When you would return
The curiosity of when you'd come back to me
But I found comfort and courage
Eventually, I came across solace and bravery
Inside of a bottle
Via consuming large amounts of alcohol
Now I don't care if you return
The feeling of apathy towards your potential return
I grew up alone with no direction
I had no clear guidance and direction as I was raised in solitary
I learned about life the hard way
My life lessons were learned via adversity and tribulations
Made mistakes and learned about rejection
I've made several errors and got accustomed to being disregarded
I was a kid out on the streets running astray
At a young age, I was wandering without direction in the outside world
I began to look for my place in life
I started searching for where I belong in this world
Cause I knew I didn't fit with every one
I always felt like I didn't click with anyone else
I was the kid with no father and no Monday
I was the child without a paternal figure and a sense of routine
But I found a home in my guitar and my songs
I found comfort and solace in playing my guitar and penning songs
Now I don't care if you return
I have become indifferent to the thought of you coming back
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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