Lifetime was rooted in the New York/New Jersey hardcore punk scene & formed… Read Full Bio ↴Lifetime was rooted in the New York/New Jersey hardcore punk scene & formed in New Brunswick, NJ, USA (1990). The band's founders were Ari Katz (vocals) & Dan Yemin (guitars - also of Kid Dynamite, Paint It Black, and Armalite). In contrast to the negative, sometimes violent, tone promulgated by New York hardcore contemporaries - Katz's lyrics emphasized more positive / personal themes, in their two-minute songs. In 1992, Lifetime released their first full length album, Background, which bore only passing resemblance to the more melodic work to follow. By 1995, the band achieved greater stability, with the addition of Pete Martin (guitar), David Palaitis (bass) & Scott Golley (drums). That same year, they released their second album, Hello Bastards (Jade Tree Records). This marked a slight shift in direction, incorporating more melodic punk leanings, over a driving hardcore tempo. Katz's lyrics, though sometimes undecipherable, dealt mainly with more introspective / personal themes, such as relationships & youthful disaffection. Hello Bastards also includes a cover of Hüsker Dü's '80s It's Not Funny Anymore - hinting at the band's musical influences.

In 1996, Lifetime issued a compilation of their 7" releases and unreleased songs, on Glue Records, also released in Europe by Day After Records. In 1997, the band completed its third full-length Jersey's Best Dancers. With twelve songs clocking in at under 24 minutes, Jersey's Best Dancers continued in the same vein as Hello Bastards. However, after a short tour in support of their new album, Lifetime decided to disband in 1997.

After disbanding, Dan Yemin went on to become a member of two other punk bands, the short-lived Kid Dynamite & Paint It Black. Dave Palaitis, Ari Katz and, his wife, Tannis Kristanjson went on to form Zero Zero.

Most recently, the band got together for a series of three well-received reunion shows, over the weekend of 19 to 21 Aug 2005. The shows were a result of the cancellation of Hellfest, in which Lifetime was scheduled to play on 20 Aug (Saturday). Two shows took place in Philadelphia, one at The Trocadero Theatre (where they played with Vision) & one, 20 Aug, at the Starlight Ballroom (featured the reunion of hardcore band 108). The final reunion show was held at The Stone Pony (Asbury Park, New Jersey), which featured opening bands The Loved Ones & The Bouncing Souls. Some profits from the show went to charities such as New Labor, The OUT Fund, the Nature Conservancy & Linda Ann's Greyhound Rescue Inc.

On 14 Nov 2005, Jade Tree Records announced that Lifetime would be playing three more reunion shows, on a January weekend, in California: Troubadour (Los Angeles, 27 Jan), Chain Reaction (Anaheim, 28 Jan) & Slims (San Francisco, 29 Jan).

On 17 Nov 2005, it was officially announced that the band would reform. In March 2006, the band announced that they were signing to Decaydence (Pete Wentz's imprint of Fueled by Ramen records) & the fourth album's release - self-titled, Lifetime - followed Feb 2007.

Pieces
Lifetime Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

When nothing's left
But shattered pieces of my dream
I find it hard to face the day
My motivation's disappeared

It seems pieces of my dreams lying on the ground
I close my eyes, but I hear their sound
So when I turn around

And see those pieces on the ground I go on back and pick them up

And built it up like stone
I now stand stronger
I benefit from pain

I find it easier to face the day
My heart knows nothing, but gain

Overall Meaning

The song “Pieces” by Lifetime talks about how it can be challenging to face the day when all that is left are shattered pieces of one's dreams. The lyrics paint the picture of someone who has lost their motivation and feels lost, unsure about how to move forward. The line “It seems pieces of my dreams lying on the ground” highlights a sense of despair and hopelessness that comes with losing something that was once so important. However, the chorus turns this narrative around, as the singer decides to pick up those pieces of their dream and build them up like stone. This is a clear message about resilience and the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity.

The lyrics of this song have a deeper meaning beyond just facing challenges. They speak to the idea that pain and suffering can actually be beneficial because they can challenge individuals to grow and become stronger. The line “I benefit from pain” highlights this idea, as the singer recognizes that it is through their struggles that they have become stronger and more resilient. This message is particularly powerful because it suggests that even in our darkest moments, there is always hope for growth and transformation.

Line by Line Meaning

When nothing's left
After losing everything

But shattered pieces of my dream
All that remains are broken parts of what I once hoped for

I find it hard to face the day
I struggle to move on and cope with what's left

My motivation's disappeared
I've lost my drive to continue

It seems pieces of my dreams lying on the ground
The broken parts of my aspirations are scattered before me

I close my eyes, but I hear their sound
Even when I try to ignore the shattered pieces, they still haunt me

So when I turn around
Despite the difficulty, I face the broken pieces head-on

And see those pieces on the ground I go on back and pick them up
I collect the broken parts of my dreams in order to rebuild them

And built it up like stone
I construct a new dream, strong and steadfast

I now stand stronger
I emerge from the pain even more resilient

I benefit from pain
My struggles have brought wisdom and growth

I find it easier to face the day
Now I have the strength to take on each day

My heart knows nothing, but gain
I have gained something far greater than what I lost

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Peermusic Publishing, A SIDE MUSIC LLC D/B/A MODERN WORKS MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: REBECCA MARTIN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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