Despite the group's chart success, they had problems with exposure on then-critical MTV, due in part to the band being less than photogenic and "looking like a gang of Hell's Angels." They remained with DGC/Geffen for a sophomore release, Influence in 1992, but neither Rock nor Kalodner continued working with them. By this time, guitarist Apache had left and was replaced with Earl Slick. After Influence failed to match the success of their debut, the group disbanded. They were one of many metal bands whose careers faltered with the early 1990s rise of alternative rock. DGC - initially a label strongly devoted to metal/progressive rock label - began to favor alternative bands. Ron Young later went on to sing in The Four Horsemen, Manic Eden, and Dirt.
The band reformed for some live shows in 2001, and released a new album, Redemption, in 2009. They also introduced new guitar player Joey Brasler (who had played with Etta James, Bob Welch, Cherie Currie) replacing original member Apache. After touring in the US, Europe and the UK during 2010/2011, Little Caesar released their fourth album entitled American Dream on the Unison Music Group label in May, 2012. It was produced by Bruce Witkin. They embarked on a tour of Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and culminating in Wales in December 2012.
On 25 March 2013, it was announced that band would perform at the Download Festival on the 16 June 2013. Frontman Ron Young explained: “20 years ago we were offered to play the festival when it was called Monsters Of Rock. We had to turn it down because our label would not give us the funds to get there. Today, with no label, manager or big-money supporters, we finally made it. We got there because we have some amazing people that prop us up, inspire us, and bless us with their talent, energies – and most priceless, their friendship. They’ve helped us accomplish what we couldn’t do with a lot of powerful people behind us.”
Studio albums
Little Caesar (1990)
Influence (1992)
This Time It's Different (1998)
Redemption (2009)
American Dream (2012)
Eight (2018)
Midtown
Little Caesar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's halfway 'tween here and there, oh, yeah
I spend my time in Midtown
Tryin' hard to really care
Cheap intoxicated showdown
Cardboard corrugated dreams, oh, yeah
Brother's givin' you the lowdown
So what's the use of keeping clean
In Midtown, I like to call it home
It's my own asphalt
Midtown, where there ain't no black
Where there ain't no white
Midtown, from the curb
It's a long, long way to fall
You see 'em hangin' in the doorways
They're peerin' out with neon eyes
They're lookin' at ya
Someone's hangin' in the hallway
Habit's hard to subsidize
Well, it comes as no surprise
In Midtown, I like to call it home
It's my own asphalt
Midtown, where there ain't no black
Where there ain't no white
Midtown, from the curb
It's a long, long way to fall
In Midtown
I pray to God in Midtown
Semi-automatic faith, oh, Lord, yeah
He'll be hangin' out in Midtown
He'll be tryin' to find a trace
Pickin' thru the human waste
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
In Midtown, I like to call it home
It's my own asphalt
Midtown, where there ain't no black
Where there ain't no white
Midtown, from the curb
It's a long, long way to fall
In Midtown, I like to call it home
It's my own asphalt
Midtown, where there ain't no black
Where there ain't no white
Midtown, from the curb
It's a long, long way to fall
In Midtown
In Midtown, whoa, yeah
In Midtown, oh, yeah
Where there ain't no black
Where there ain't no white
Whoa, whoa, whoa, yeah
In Midtown
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, in Midtown
Where there ain't no black
Where there ain't no white
My Lord, down in Midtown
Oh, yeah
The lyrics of Little Caesar's song Midtown illustrate the singer's description of his life in Midtown. The location represents a midway point between here and there, perhaps indicating a general sense of stagnation or being stuck in a state of limbo. He describes Midtown as an area of cardboard corrugated dreams, a cheap and intoxicated scene. Throughout the lyrics, he talks about the sordid and desperate aspects of life in Midtown as well as the absence of race distinctions.
The use of the phrase "tryin' hard to really care" suggests that the singer is attempting to maintain a sense of optimism and positivity amidst the difficulties that he faces. He also touches on themes of religion and faith, referring to the idea of "semi-automatic faith" and praying to God in Midtown. Ultimately, the song conveys a sense of gritty realism and speaks to the struggles of those living on the fringes of society.
Line by Line Meaning
I live my life in Midtown
I spend most of my time in the Midtown area
It's halfway 'tween here and there, oh, yeah
It's located in the middle ground between here and there
I spend my time in Midtown
I invest most of my time in the Midtown area
Tryin' hard to really care
I make an effort to care deeply about my surroundings
Cheap intoxicated showdown
Low-priced, drunken clashes
Cardboard corrugated dreams, oh, yeah
Hollow hopes and aspirations
Brother's givin' you the lowdown
My friend is sharing the inside scoop with me
He says, he don't fit into their schemes
He doesn't fit into their plans
So what's the use of keeping clean
Why bother staying pure?
In Midtown, I like to call it home
I feel at home in Midtown
It's my own asphalt
I claim it as my own piece of the city
Midtown, where there ain't no black
A place not known for any specific race or culture
Where there ain't no white
A place not known for any specific race or culture
Midtown, from the curb
By just looking at the street view
It's a long, long way to fall
It's a big risk to jeopardize anything in Midtown
You see 'em hangin' in the doorways
You can see people loitering in front of buildings
They're peerin' out with neon eyes
They're taking a closer look with curiosity
They're lookin' at ya
They're watching you
Someone's hangin' in the hallway
Someone is loitering in the corridor
Habit's hard to subsidize
It's difficult to break a pattern of behavior
Well, it comes as no surprise
It's not shocking to witness this behavior in Midtown
I pray to God in Midtown
I find myself praying while in Midtown
Semi-automatic faith, oh, Lord, yeah
My faith is somewhat mechanical and artificial
He'll be hangin' out in Midtown
God will be around in Midtown
He'll be tryin' to find a trace
God will search for something
Pickin' thru the human waste
Picking through filth and debris left by people
In Midtown, whoa, yeah
Oh yeah, in Midtown
My Lord, down in Midtown
A reference to God in Midtown
Contributed by Sebastian O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.