Modern Life Is War 7-inch EP was released through Lifeline Records in early 2002. Their two subsequent studio albums, 2003's My Love. My Way. and 2005's Witness are now available through the Deathwish Inc. record label, which is owned and operated by Converge singer Jacob Bannon.
In mid-2005, after the release of Witness, guitarist Matt Hoffman and bassist Chris Honeck left the band. They were replaced by Sjarm 13 and Tim Churchman, respectively. On February 9, 2007, M.L.I.W. announced that they had inked a record deal with Equal Vision Records. The band's third full length album, Midnight in America, was released on August 21, 2007 to positive reviews.
On February 19, 2008, the band announced on their Myspace page that they would be breaking up, and that they were planning one final American tour, starting March 29 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and reconvening on April 26 in the band's hometown of Marshalltown. In a separate interview conducted several weeks before the tour, the band members discussed their hopes and achievements in playing together for the last six years: "I hope that we have made some people feel less alone. I hope we have motivated people to think for themselves; to be themselves and to take action. Punk rock changed our lives, and I hope that we as a band contributed something to keep the whole thing going. We are leaving soon, but the future is unwritten..."
In September 2012, the original lineup reunited and wrote an album in John Eich's basement. Modern Life is War formally announced its reunion in April 2013 and the intent to record and release the new album through Deathwish by September 2013. The band didn't expect to heavily tour during the reunion; as of April 2013, Modern Life Is War were only booked to headline This Is Hardcore Festival and a record release show. Retrospectively, Modern Life is War wished they hadn't broken up, but instead scaled back their efforts so they could do it, "without so much stress and life crushing commitment." The band released their fourth studio album Fever Hunting on September 9, 2013 through Deathwish, which was produced by Kurt Ballou of Converge. Modern Life is War embarked on a six-date tour in celebration of the new album in October 2013.
Jeffrey Eaton - Vocals
John Paul Eich - Guitar
Matt Hoffman - Guitar
Chris Honeck - Bass
Tyler Oleson - Drums
Night Shift at the Potato Factory
Modern Life Is War Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Finding solace in your hidden thoughts.
Taking orders from fucking fools.
Everything about it grinds down on you.
Just do what you gotta do to get where you wanna go.
Paychecks while you scheme.
Pledge no loyalty to anything but your dreams.
They'll give you just enough to keep your mouth shut.
Waste of talent. Daily degradation.
You better get moving kid, case time's a wastin'.
You got the power... but only if you know you do.
The path is dim and twisted but there's nothing stopping you.
Too many love songs.
Too many unanswered prayers.
Nobody is gonna save you cause nobody cares.
The years are raining down.
You gotta find your own way out.
The lyrics of the song "Night Shift at the Potato Factory" by Modern Life Is War describe the struggles of working in a dead-end job and feeling trapped in a cycle of daily degradation. The lines "punching that clock" and "taking orders from fucking fools" encapsulate the frustration and lack of autonomy that comes with working for someone else. The singer finds solace in their "hidden thoughts" but ultimately must do what they can to get ahead and achieve their dreams.
The lyrics go on to describe the harsh reality of being stuck in a job that doesn't allow for personal growth or creative expression. The phrase "waste of talent" suggests that the singer has skills and talents that are being underutilized in their current situation. The lines "too many love songs, too many unanswered prayers" convey a sense of hopelessness and disillusionment with life.
However, the overall message of the song is one of empowerment and self-reliance. Despite the difficulties of their situation, the singer urges themselves (and the listener) to keep moving forward and not let anything stand in their way. They remind themselves that they have the power to make their own path and achieve their dreams, as long as they are willing to put in the effort.
Line by Line Meaning
Punching that clock.
Starting your work day by punching a time clock machine.
Finding solace in your hidden thoughts.
Taking comfort in your inner thoughts and feelings to cope with the stress of work.
Taking orders from fucking fools.
Following orders from incompetent superiors.
Everything about it grinds down on you.
The daily grind of work wears you down mentally and physically.
Just do what you gotta do to get where you wanna go.
Taking whatever steps necessary to achieve your goals and aspirations.
Paychecks while you scheme.
Earning money while secretly planning your next move.
Pledge no loyalty to anything but your dreams.
Vowing to prioritize your personal ambitions over any other loyalties or allegiances.
Stuck in a rut.
Feeling trapped in a monotonous work routine.
They'll give you just enough to keep your mouth shut.
Employers will only provide their workers with the bare minimum to keep them compliant and obedient.
Waste of talent. Daily degradation.
Feeling like your skills and abilities are being wasted due to doing mundane tasks every day.
You better get moving kid, case time's a wastin'.
Urging someone to take action before it's too late and too much time has passed.
You got the power... but only if you know you do.
Having the capability to succeed, but only if you recognize your own abilities and strength.
The path is dim and twisted but there's nothing stopping you.
The road to success may be unclear and challenging, but there are no external obstacles getting in the way of achieving your goals.
Too many love songs.
There are too many songs about love and not enough about personal empowerment and success.
Too many unanswered prayers.
Having too many hopes and desires that never come to fruition.
Nobody is gonna save you cause nobody cares.
No one else will help you succeed because they do not care enough to do so.
The years are raining down.
Time continues passing without stopping or slowing down.
You gotta find your own way out.
It is up to you to create your own path towards success and personal fulfillment.
Contributed by Emily R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.