The studio core comprises Spike Slawson on vocals, bassist Fat Mike, Joey Cape on guitar and backing vocals, Dave Raun on drums, and Chris Shiflett on guitar (his brother Scott of Face To Face/Viva Death fills in for Chris on tour). Touring members have included Brian Baker (Bad Religion/Minor Threat), Barry DaLive (Crosstops/RKL), Eric Melvin (NOFX), Matthew MacNasty (bagpipes player from the Real McKenzies), and Warren Fitzgerald (The Vandals).
Originally a themed 7" singles project, now each of their full length albums covers a different genre of music spanning the 50's to the 90's. Their first release in 1997 was entitled Have a Ball, followed by Are a Drag in 1999. In 2001 they released Blow in the Wind and two years later released Take a Break. Almost immediately after the release of Take a Break the released a live album Ruin Johnny's Bar Mitzvah The genres they've butchered now include country, on Love Their Country featuring covers of songs made popular by The Dixie Chicks, Johnny Cash and others. Their most recent release is a collection of B-sides from their album Have a Ball, simply titled Have Another Ball.
The Gimme Gimmes perform to entertain themselves as much as for the entertainment of their fans. Their albums and concerts are some of the most lighthearted and off the wall musical experiences in the punk world. Concerts are often interrupted between songs to freshen cocktails at the on stage tiki bar. CD liner notes relate the hardships of recording such as Fat Mike getting so caught up in "Wild World" that he believed he was Fat Stevens, a guitar-toting Islamic Extremist, so that when Spike sang "All My Lovin" he mistook it for "Allah my Lovin" and condemned Spike to death for heresy.
The Gimmes are also known for their costumes. Each album has a 'theme' for which they all dress up for the cover art and live shows. Some themes include red suits, metallic suits with fezzes, cheerleader outfits, drag (each Gimme dressed as a character from a musical they took songs from on the cover of Are a Drag: Chris Shiflett was Columbia and Spike was Dr Frank N. Furter from Rocky Horror, Joey Cape was Annie, Fat Mike was Sandy from Grease and Dave Raun was Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz). During a Warped Tour they dressed as AFI, to the confusion of many fans. Most recently they have been dressing as cowboys, but are possibly best known for their lurid Hawaiian shirts.
Or their live album, "Me First and the Gimme Gimmes Ruin Jonny's Bar Mitzvah", the band performed for a crowd of 30 at a Bar Mitzvah. The CD contained video of the actual event and the liner notes were written by attendee Benjamin Rosenblatt who describes the events: "They made a lot of mistakes. They even started a song then stopped, then started again." -track 7 "Strawberry Fields Forever" on the CD.
Brown Eyed Girl
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Down in the hollow, playin' a new game
Laughing and a running hey, hey! Skipping and a jumping
In the misty morning fog with our hearts a thumpin' and you ...
My brown eyed girl
You, my brown eyed girl
Whatever happened to Tuesday and so slow?
Standing in the sunlight laughing, hiding behind a rainbow's wall
Slipping and sliding, all along the water fall, with you ...
My brown eyed girl
You, my brown eyed girl
Do you remember when we used to sing?
Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da
Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da
... la te da
So hard to find my way, now that I'm all on my own
I saw you just the other day, my, how you have grown!
Cast my memory back there, Lord, sometimes I'm overcome thinking 'bout
Rollin' round in the green grass, behind the stadium with you ...
My brown eyed girl
You, my brown eyed girl
Do you remember when we used to sing?
Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da
Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da
Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da
The song "Brown Eyed Girl" by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes is a cover and reinterpretation of the classic Van Morrison song. The song tells the story of reminiscing on memories with someone special, the titular brown-eyed girl, and the nostalgic emotions that come with it. The first verse describes times spent in the rain and in misty morning fog with the girl, laughing and playing a new game. The chorus accentuates her significance, with the repetition of "You, my brown eyed girl" showing how important she is to the singer. The second verse reminisces on other memories with her, such as going to the mines with a transistor radio or slipping along a waterfall, all while laughing and having a good time. The bridge features the repeated phrase "Sha la la la la la la la la te da," representing the carefree, happy times they had together, simply enjoying each other's company. However, the last verse takes a somber turn as the singer speaks of struggling to find their own way after the girl is no longer with them. They have seen her recently and note how she has grown, but the memory of times with her still affects them as they roll around in green grass behind a stadium. Overall, the song is a powerful homage to the impact of someone special in one's life and how their memory can stick with someone long after they are gone.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey where did we go, days when the rains came?
Reminiscing about the past and wondering where it all went. Thinking about carefree days and good times in the rain.
Down in the hollow, playin' a new game
Playing and having fun in a secluded area with new experiences.
Laughing and a running hey, hey! Skipping and a jumping
Having a joyful and playful time, filled with laughter and physical activity.
In the misty morning fog with our hearts a thumpin' and you...
Being in a mysterious and exciting environment, feeling a racing heart while with a significant other.
My brown eyed girl
Addressing a beloved person with affectionate and endearing words.
You, my brown eyed girl
Continuing to address the same person, expressing admiration and fondness for them.
Whatever happened to Tuesday and so slow?
Wondering where time has gone and how it has passed so quickly.
Going down the old mine with a transistor radio
Recalling a specific memory of exploring an old mine while listening to music on a portable radio.
Standing in the sunlight laughing, hiding behind a rainbow's wall
Remembering a happy moment spent in the sun, giggling, and using a rainbow as a prop.
Slipping and sliding, all along the waterfall, with you...
Enjoying aquatic activities and excitedly exploring with a significant other.
Do you remember when we used to sing?
Reflecting on time spent singing with another person.
Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da
Mimicking the sound of humming or singing, without any specific meaning attached.
... la te da
Continuing to mimic the sound of humming or singing, without any specific meaning attached.
So hard to find my way, now that I'm all on my own
Feeling lost and struggling to navigate life when alone.
I saw you just the other day, my, how you have grown!
Surprised by how much someone has grown or changed since last seen.
Cast my memory back there, Lord, sometimes I'm overcome thinking 'bout
Looking back on past memories and feeling overwhelmed with emotion.
Rollin' round in the green grass, behind the stadium with you...
Revisiting a memory of playfully rolling in the grass with a significant other behind a stadium.
My brown eyed girl
Returning to addressing the beloved person with affection.
You, my brown eyed girl
Affirming admiration and fondness for the beloved person once again.
Do you remember when we used to sing?
Revisiting a memory of singing with another person.
Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da
Repeating the earlier portion of the song, remembering the sound of singing or humming with someone else.
Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da
Repeating the earlier portion of the song, remembering the sound of singing or humming with someone else.
Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da
Repeating the earlier portion of the song, remembering the sound of singing or humming with someone else.
Contributed by Lillian O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@sirobert
I have been searching this song for years
@brentwheeler4201
Awww
@Dr.WRATHBONE
Been a while since I heard this one... thanks
@ridwan8890
Lag wagon,,pennywise,,nofx,, masterpiece skate punk rock
@Andy-cz4xw
Me being a long-time Van Morrison fan, I LOVE THIS
@user-sq6yf9lw8j
Used to bop around to this like a nutter back in my teens, such a great cover
@MightyQ79
I still have this whole album on tape somewhere. saw them in concert when it came it out...love this album
@peanutman654
this song is reminiscent of a girl that the writer used to be with. everything is in this song is about memories and times they used to have and that they are no long together which indicated by the lines "do you remember when" and "now that i'm all on my own."
@kus88
always thought this was pennywise covering, that's what i had on the stuff i got off limewire back in the day anyway!
@specka13
Dude me too!