Ness was born in Stoneham, Massachusetts and raised in Fullerton in Orange County, California. Kicked out of his parents' home in Fullerton at the age of fifteen, he dabbled in drugs and petty crime, involving himself in the punk scene and founding Social Distortion in 1978. The band signed a contract with Posh Boy Records in 1981, releasing the Mainliner/Playpen 7" record. Then the band moved to 13th Floor Records in 1982 and released the album Mommy's Little Monster (1982).
By this time, Ness's drug addiction and self-destructive behavior had deepened to the point that the band almost broke up. The turmoil was captured on a video, Another State of Mind, which chronicled a cross-country tour. Five years passed before Social Distortion released their next album, 1988's Prison Bound, on Restless Records but Ness emerged from the time off free of his addictions and ready to work.
In 1989, Social Distortion signed a deal with Epic Records and released four albums with that label: the self-titled album (1990), Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell (1992) and White Light, White Heat, White Trash (1996).
The band left Epic Records after White Light, White Heat, White Trash (1996) and joined Time Bomb Recordings, releasing Mainliner: Wreckage From the Past (a collection of old recordings and singles that were done in the early '80s) and Live at the Roxy (1998).
In 1999, Ness released his first solo album, Cheating at Solitaire. Although Social Distortion's music had contained country inflections as far back as Prison Bound, Cheating at Solitaire was an unalloyed expression of Ness's country side. 'Solitaire' included guest appearances by rock icon Bruce Springsteen, former Stray Cat Brian Setzer and drumming legend Josh Freese as well as members of Royal Crown Revue. Springsteen had touted Social D's 'Heaven and Hell' as his favorite record of the year in a Rolling Stone interview in 1992. Ness continued in this vein, releasing a compilation of country covers entitled Under the Influences that same year. Both albums came out on Time Bomb Recordings. Ness toured extensively in the U.S. in support of these albums, backed partially by the present-day (2006) incarnation of Social Distortion; Charlie Quintana (drums) Brent Harding (standing & electric bass) and Johnny Wickersham (guitar tech). Ness and the band played at Woodstock '99. After that, his bandmate and guitarist Dennis Danell died on February 29, 2000 due to an aneurysm, but Social Distortion did not completely disband.
In 2004, Social Distortion came back with a live DVD called "Live In Orange County," and then recorded an album titled Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll, which was released on Time Bomb Recordings. These efforts marked the first recordings with a line up consisting of Ness on Guitar and vocals, Wickersham on guitar, and Quintana on drums and also consisted of songs co-written by Ness and Wickersham. This is the first time Ness collaborated with another songwriter since 1990's self-titled album, on which he and then bassist John Maurer wrote 'Let it be Me'. The band's lineup changed twice after Maurer left the band, just a month before the release on Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll. He was replaced by Operation Ivy/Rancid bassist Matt Freeman until early 2005 and current member Brent Harding joined as his replacement.
In February 2006, Ness broke his wrist while skateboarding in Las Vegas. T.S.O.L. guitarist Ron Emory is filling in on guitar duties while Mike's wrist heals. Mike is still performing, just not playing guitar.
Social Distortion is currently working on their next studio album, which is due for release in late 2006/early 2007.
Ness currently lives in Santa Ana, California with his wife Christine Marie, and two sons Johnny and Julian. He is also a hot rod enthusiast, driving a chopped 1954 Chevy leadsled, a 1936 Ford, and a 1960 Chevy Impala.
(from Wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Ness).
All I Can Do Is Cry
Mike Ness Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Left her cryin' in the rain,
I told her that I made my mind up,
I didn't want to see her again.
What makes the night so lonely?
What makes the night so long?
Why I guess its just because I'm a man,
That's done a good woman wrong.
I can't sleep....
All I can do is cry.
All I can do is cry.
I told her that she was a driver,
Told her that she played around,
But I was just a lying man,
Tryin' to hide the tracks she had found.
Gonna catch myself a flyer,
One that's Kansas City bound,
I'm goin' lookin' for my baby,
Good lord I hope she's still around.
I can't eat
I can't sleep
All I can do is cry
All I can do is cry
I can't eat
I can't sleep
All I can do is cry
All I can do is cry
The song "All I Can Do Is Cry" by Mike Ness is a blues-inspired piece that centers around the theme of heartbreak and the regrets of a man who has wronged his woman. The opening lines establish the setting where the man has left his girlfriend in Kansas City and made her cry amidst the rain. He explains that he broke up with her because he had made up his mind, but the loneliness of the night is creeping up on him, and he realizes that it is because he is a man who has done wrong to a good woman. The repetitive lines, "I can't eat...I can't sleep...All I can do is cry," emphasize his state of despair and echo the sentiments of many people who have been heartbroken.
The second verse sheds light on the reason for the breakup. The man had accused his lover of being a driver and playing around, but he acknowledges that he was lying and only trying to cover up the tracks that she had found. He realizes his mistake and decides to go looking for her in Kansas City, hoping that she's still around. The final lines of the song underline the extent of his heartbreak, and how all he can do about it is cry, as he repeats the verse from before.
The lyrics of "All I Can Do Is Cry" evoke deep emotions of sadness and regret, and the slow tempo of the music underscores the gravity of the situation. The song's simplicity conveys the idea that heartbreak is a universal experience that can strip even the most confident people of their composure. The song resonates with audiences, and its mournful tone has made it a staple in blues music.
Line by Line Meaning
I left my gal in Kansas City,
I walked away from my girlfriend in Kansas City, leaving her in tears.
Left her cryin' in the rain,
I left her crying in the rain as I walked away from her.
I told her that I made my mind up,
I informed her that I had made up my mind to leave her.
I didn't want to see her again.
I did not want to have anything to do with her anymore.
What makes the night so lonely?
I wonder what causes the feeling of loneliness at night.
What makes the night so long?
I wonder why nights seem longer when one is lonely.
Why I guess its just because I'm a man,
I suppose it's just because I am a man.
That's done a good woman wrong.
And I have mistreated a good woman.
I can't eat...
I have lost my appetite.
I can't sleep....
I am unable to sleep at night.
All I can do is cry.
All I can do is cry because of the pain inside me.
All I can do is cry.
Crying is the only thing that comes naturally to me at this point.
I told her that she was a driver,
I lied to her by saying that she was the reason for our problems.
Told her that she played around,
I accused her of being unfaithful.
But I was just a lying man,
In reality, I was the one who was lying all along.
Tryin' to hide the tracks she had found.
I was trying to cover up my own mistakes and deceive her.
Gonna catch myself a flyer,
I am going to find a way to travel fast and far.
One that's Kansas City bound,
I am looking for a means of transportation that will take me back to Kansas City.
I'm goin' lookin' for my baby,
I am going to search for my girlfriend.
Good lord I hope she's still around.
I hope that I can still find her and make amends.
I can't eat
I still have no appetite.
I can't sleep
I am still having trouble sleeping.
All I can do is cry
And all I can do is cry, as the pain is still with me.
All I can do is cry
Crying is my only refuge, as I seek to make amends with my loved one.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: WAYNE P. WALKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tyler
awsome i love this song i own this album i bought it at a mike ness concert
Matt Ripley
damn, this makes me wish i'd bought some whiskey earlier tonight
Diecastinn Racing
@Matt Ripley Whisky's good, but I got myself a blunt....
Matt Ripley
@MOTO MINING still alive, switched to Scotch tho :-D
MOTO MINING
Still alive after 9 years of Mike Ness and whisky?
Sw Bradley
Kick ass cover Mike You Rock Big Dawg!
Sinny
I really can't wait to hear it. I'm going bat shit crazy looking for it.
jjkale1488
Fitting song for me right now.
The Delta Bombers
Since I was watching a Mike Ness video, you're right.
Lost Lost
King of everything