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.
Souvenir
Lifetime Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
unity meant something we were gonna be friends
until the very end do you remember when hardcore was everything?
dancing, diving, always good times but, i guess it had to end
young and full of energy punk rock shows every friday night was the
life for me we swore we'd change the world, we swore with sincerity
but a few years down the line punk proved a false reality
minor threat, 7 seconds, s.s.d. straight edge hardcore was
free it's been a life time now since i felt your walls surrounding me
remember when
i can't help but get down at the state of things
today are unity and togetherness remnants of yesterday sorry, i'm
not willing to throw it all away our memories are souvenirs of
yesterday i still feel the passion and the energy i can't help but
feel hardcore as a part of me times will change and people change
and so will styles but something in the music just makes me smile
remember when
The lyrics to Lifetime's song Souvenir are a reflection on the past and a yearning for the unity and energy of the punk rock scene. It begins with a nostalgic reminisce of a time when “unity meant something” and they were “gonna be friends until the very end”. The song then goes on to talk about how “hardcore was everything”, with the fun of mosh pits and punk rock shows being the “life” for the singer. The lyrics pivot to talk about how the scene changed for the singer with the introduction of straight edge hardcore. While it was a shift for the singer, they note that it’s something that was “etched forever”, showing the long-lasting impact that music can have.
The lyrics then come back full circle to the yearning for the past. There’s sadness in the current state of things, with “unity and togetherness” seeming like remnants of yesterday. But the singer is not “willing to throw it all away”. Memories are noted as “souvenirs of yesterday” and the passion and energy of the punk rock scene is still palpable. The song ends with a call back to the title and the opening lines of the song with a simple “remember when” that invites the listener to join in the reflection.
Overall, Lifetime’s “Souvenir” is a love letter to the punk rock scene, the unity it fostered, and a yearning for a time past. The song highlights the impact of music on youth culture and how these experiences can stay with a person for a lifetime.
Line by Line Meaning
do you remember when
Reflecting on a past time and asking if you share the same memory.
unity meant something we were gonna be friends
The belief that shared interests and goals would bring people together in friendship.
until the very end do you remember when hardcore was everything?
Asking if you remember a time when a shared love for a certain genre of music was all that mattered.
dancing, diving, always good times but, i guess it had to end
The fun and carefree nature of the past, with an acknowledgement that all good things must come to an end.
young and full of energy punk rock shows every friday night was the life for me
A nostalgic look back on a time when going to punk shows and being surrounded by like-minded people was the highlight of one's week.
we swore we'd change the world, we swore with sincerity
A belief that the rebellious and anti-establishment nature of the punk scene could lead to real change in the world.
but a few years down the line punk proved a false reality
The realization that the lofty ideals and beliefs of the punk scene didn't necessarily translate to real-world change or success.
minor threat, 7 seconds, s.s.d. straight edge hardcore was introduced to me and in my heart, like stone it's etched forever free
Discovering a new sub-genre of hardcore punk music that resonated deeply and left a lasting impression.
it's been a life time now since i felt your walls surrounding me remember when
Missing the sense of community and belonging that came with being a part of the punk scene.
i can't help but get down at the state of things today are unity and togetherness remnants of yesterday sorry, i'm not willing to throw it all away
Feeling disillusioned with the current state of the world and society, but not willing to give up on the ideals of unity and togetherness that were once so important.
our memories are souvenirs of yesterday i still feel the passion and the energy i can't help but feel hardcore as a part of me
Memories of the past and the intense emotions associated with being a part of the punk scene are still a part of who we are today.
times will change and people change and so will styles but something in the music just makes me smile remember when
Acknowledging that things will always change, but the power and emotion of music can still bring joy and comfort, even years later.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Ari Zev Katz, Daniel Benjamin Yemin, David J Palaitis, Peter M Martin, Scot Golley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
23D1998
do you remember when
unity meant something we were gonna be friends
until the very end do you remember when hardcore was everything?
dancing, diving, always good times but, i guess it had to end
young and full of energy punk rock shows every friday night was the
life for me we swore we'd change the world, we swore with sincerity
but a few years down the line punk proved a false reality
minor threat, 7 seconds, s.s.d. straight edge hardcore was
introduced to me and in my heart, like stone it's etched forever
free it's been a life time now since i felt your walls surrounding me
remember when
i can't help but get down at the state of things
today are unity and togetherness remnants of yesterday sorry, i'm
not willing to throw it all away our memories are souvenirs of
yesterday i still feel the passion and the energy i can't help but
feel hardcore as a part of me times will change and people change
and so will styles but something in the music just makes me smile
remember when
mats brigade
i can´t ... i just can´t...