1) Lit, a pop punk/alternative … Read Full Bio ↴Lit is the name of more than one artist:
1) Lit, a pop punk/alternative rock band
2) LIT, alias of the DJ Alex Roan
Lit is a pop punk/alternative rock band, based in Fullerton, California, United States. They had several hits singles in the 1990s and early 2000s including My Own Worst Enemy, Miserable, Zip-Lock, Over My Head, Lipstick and Bruises, Addicted, Looks Like They Were Right and Times Like This.
The band was formed in 1990 as a metal-oriented band, under the name "Razzle", and gained a large following. A few years later, the group changed its name to "Stain", but due to another band owning the name, it changed its name to "Lit" in 1996. The group shot to stardom with the platinum album A Place in the Sun in 1999. A Place In The Sun yielded the smash single "My Own Worst Enemy," which held the number one position for three months, and received a Billboard Music Award for the biggest Modern Rock Song of 1999. It was followed by "Zip-Lock" (which featured Blink-182) and "Miserable", the latter of which was among the top ten most played songs of 2000 and famously featured Pamela Anderson in the video. The band performed over 286 shows and toured worldwide in support of A Place in the Sun. In addition to the Vans Warped Tour and a coveted slot on Woodstock 1999, the band toured with The Offspring, Garbage, and No Doubt.
Lit followed up A Place in the Sun with the 2001 release of Atomic which gave the band another Top 10 hit with "Lipstick And Bruises"; the album wasn't as successful as "A Place In The Sun". Lit toured to support Atomic with Kid Rock, and Butch Walker. The group asked to be released from their contract with RCA Records shortly after the release of Atomic due to RCA firing Lit's RCA label representative the day of Atomic's release. Lit went on a small, intimate club tour that Fall before releasing the self-titled Lit on the DRT Entertainment label on June 24, 2004. The single "Looks Like They Were Right" made it on the top 40 charts but the album was again largely unsuccessful due to lack of promotion on the label's behalf. That year the group also put out its first long-form DVD called "All Access" on November 16, 2004.
In March 2006, "The Slidebar" restaurant/bar opened in Fullerton, California, of which the band are co-owners.
It was announced on May 5, 2008, that Lit's drummer Allen Shellenberger was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor.
On July 26, 2008, Lit held a benefit for Allen at House Of Blues in Anaheim, CA. A number of bands performed including Sugar Ray and Handsome Devil. No Doubt drummer Adrian Young filled in for Allen on the drums for a few songs. Allen and Adrian also played at the same time for a few songs as well. The show was a great success.
On August 14, 2008, A. Jay and Allen were featured on DJ Rossstar's online show, there the band revealed they were working on "a few new ones." Although the band had not announced anything in regards to a new album release any time soon.
In April 2010 during an interview with OC Talk Radio, Lit hinted they were currently talking with and would return to a major label for their next release. They also revealed they were working on a new management deal as well as performing new material live.
On September 24, Lit had formally revealed on their Facebook page that they were in fact working on a new album. More so, they had already hit the studios and recorded new material. Click the link above for a statement of Bass player Kevin Baldes.
Sadly, in August 2009, drummer Allen Shellenberg passed away due to brain cancer. Shellenberger was only 39 years old.
The band issues this statement:
"To know Al was to know laughter. He had a heart of gold and would do anything for anyone. Words cannot begin to express how much he will be missed. This was our brother and not a day will go by that we won't think about him. Right now we're trying to find the balance of mourning his loss and celebrating his life. Allen has experienced more in his 39 years than most people dream of in ten lifetimes. This is a tremendous loss for us, our fans, and also for Allen's family who took such good care of him during his battle with cancer."
Spirits left in ruins, still A. Jay, Jeremy and Kevin found the wherewithal to make the music. With the help of a new drummer, Nathan Walker and guitarist/keyboardist Ryan Gillmor, the band stepped into the studio less than a year later and would bro down for the tracking with artist/producer Butch Walker in 2011, who had recently helmed records by Panic! At The Disco, Avril Lavigne and Weezer, along writing credits on countless hits. Lit emerged victorious and not worse for the ware with a handful of brilliant new songs.
The body of work, a sixth album appropriately titled, The View From The Bottom, mixed by Joe Zook (Katy Perry, The Hives, One Republic, Pink) tangibly tells the story of Lit's in between days with tracks like, "The Broken" and most poignantly, "Here's To Us," but the new record is not without its lighter, Big Rock Moments- reference the absolutely monolithic kick-starter, "C'mon" and the equally tremendous "You Tonight," co-written by Marti Frederiksen whose collabs include Aerosmith, Ozzy Osbourne, Mick Jagger, and Carrie Underwood among others, not to mention the glam stomper, "Same Shit, Different Drink," (co-written with Walker).
These Are the Days (2015–2021)
On October 1, 2015, the band announced that they had been working on new music at SoundStage in Nashville, Tennessee. The band released their sixth album, These Are the Days, on December 15, 2017. Lit's song "My Own Worst Enemy" went double platinum on May 8, 2020.
On June 12, 2020, the band released their first live album Live in NY, 99, which was taken from their performance at Woodstock '99. On July 3, 2020, they released a video for a rare song called "Get Back", which was originally recorded in 2004.
The band released a new single titled "Yeah Yeah Yeah" on October 25, 2021.
Tastes Like Gold (2022-current)
Lit announced their seventh studio album Tastes Like Gold on April 8, 2022 and released the song "Kicked Off The Plane" that same day. The album was released through Round Hill Records on June 17 and featured a pure alternative rock sound. Lit joined Bowling for Soup in April for Europe's two week Crowd Surf the UK Tour which was originally to take place in 2021. and the following month the Spring Loaded tour took the band across most of the eastern United States.
Fireman
Lit Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't take anymore
My head is like a cage
I'm feeling in a rage.. Yeah!
I ain't got nothing to lose
I'm left with what I had
My head is like a cage
I'm feeling in a rage
I want to feel like a flame from a gun
CHORUS:
I'm soaken; Empty out my can
I'm broken; You won't understand
I'm runnin; Catch me if you can
I'm burnin; I'm the fireman
I want to be like the sun
I want to feel like a flame from a gun
CHORUS
The lyrics to Lit's song Fireman describe a person who is feeling trapped and frustrated. The first verse refers to someone who is overwhelmed, perhaps financially, and feeling like they have reached their limit. The image of a head like a cage adds to the feeling of being trapped and unable to escape the stress of their situation. The desire to be like the sun and feel like a flame from a gun suggests a yearning for power and control over the situation. This is amplified in the chorus where the person declares themselves to be the fireman - someone who can control and put out a fire, but also someone who is fueled by the same flames they are trying to contain.
The repeated phrase of "I'm soaken; Empty out my can, I'm broken; You won't understand, I'm runnin; Catch me if you can, I'm burnin; I'm the fireman" adds to the sense of desperation and frustration. The person is saturated with their circumstances and feels broken, with nobody able to truly understand or help them. They are running from the situation, but unable to escape it, hence the image of a person burning.
Overall, the song is a cry for help or release from a difficult situation. The imagery of flames and power adds to the intensity of the lyrics, emphasizing the sense of urgency and frustration.
Line by Line Meaning
Give me a dollar on four
I am desperate and need to gamble to escape my situation, please give me money for me to bet on the number four.
I can't take anymore
I have reached my limit and cannot handle any more of this pain and frustration.
My head is like a cage
I feel trapped and unable to escape my thoughts and emotions.
I'm feeling in a rage.. Yeah!
I am overwhelmed by anger and frustration, and it is consuming me.
I ain't got nothing to lose
I have already lost everything and have nothing left to risk or give up.
I'm left with what I had
I am only left with what I started with and cannot expect anything more.
I want to be like the sun
I want to radiate warmth, light, and positivity like the sun does, and be admired for it.
I want to feel like a flame from a gun
I want to feel as powerful and impactful as a gunshot flame, and make a difference in the world.
I'm soaken; Empty out my can
I am feeling defeated and have nothing left to give, please help me pour out my emotions.
I'm broken; You won't understand
I am too damaged and hurt for others to comprehend, and need to deal with my pain alone.
I'm runnin; Catch me if you can
I am trying to escape my problems and pain, and hope that no one will try to stop me.
I'm burnin; I'm the fireman
I am consumed by my own passionate and intense emotions, and am trying to control and contain them like a firefighter deals with flames.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALAN JAY POPOFF, ALLEN A SHELLENBERGER, JEREMY A POPOFF, KEVIN R BALDES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind