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
Stagger Lee
Modern Life Is War Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I'm walking through the ice and snow.
And my girl threw me out last week.
And I'm fucking broke.
Nothing but this dollar in my pocket and my Colt .45.
Don't look at me the wrong way...
cause I got nothing to lose tonight.
I put a dollar down.
I turn a dollar into a few.
I start drinking and I turn around.
Cause I feel a pair of eyes burning into the back of my neck.
He's whispering to the barkeep.
The goddamn fool won't stop staring at me.
So I shoot up from my seat and press the cold steel to his head and said
"Don't you know who the fuck I am?"
He said, "Stagger Lee, please don't take my life.
I've got a kid back home
and I've got a wife."
He said, "Please, Stagger, please.
I'm a friend, not a foe. But your girl is with Billy at the Flamingo.
I just thought you should know."
So I pistol whip him in the teeth and walk outside.
Steal the first fast car I see. A
nd as my blood starts to boil...
I start to take a little ride.
Leave the car running.
Pull down the brim of my Black Stetson Hat.
Look around and I see no witness.
One last drink from my silver flask.
I kick open the door. I see their bodies intertwined.
I see the fear in their eyes. I point my Colt .45
and I feel divine.
Stagger Lee... you're a bad, bad man.
Oh Stagger Lee, you're going straight to hell.
x2
The lyrics to Modern Life Is War's song Stagger Lee provide a vivid and violent portrayal of the titular character, who is presented as a dangerous and unstable figure with nothing to lose. The song begins with Stagger Lee walking through the ice and snow, reflecting on his recent breakup and financial woes. He enters JD's bar and turns a dollar into more money, but his night takes a dangerous turn when he notices someone staring at him. Stagger Lee confronts the man and discovers that his girl is with Billy at the Flamingo, prompting him to leave the bar, steal a car, and head to the Flamingo.
The final verse of the song is the most harrowing and brutal, as Stagger Lee confronts his girl and Billy and ends up killing them with his Colt .45. The lyrics are filled with violent imagery and phrases, including "pistol whip him in the teeth" and "bodies intertwined," and the chorus repeatedly emphasizes that Stagger Lee is a "bad, bad man" who is "going straight to hell." The song offers a bleak and unflinching portrait of a character consumed by anger, revenge, and violence.
Line by Line Meaning
My name is Stagger Lee.
I am Stagger Lee and I am introducing myself.
And I'm walking through the ice and snow.
It's a cold, harsh time right now and I'm braving it.
And my girl threw me out last week.
My girlfriend left me recently and I'm still hurting.
And I'm fucking broke.
I'm completely out of money.
Nothing but this dollar in my pocket and my Colt .45.
All I have is a dollar and a gun.
Don't look at me the wrong way... cause I got nothing to lose tonight.
I have nothing left to lose, so don't mess with me.
I walk into JD's.
I enter a bar called JD's.
I put a dollar down.
I bet a dollar on something.
I turn a dollar into a few.
I win more than what I originally bet.
I start drinking and I turn around.
I begin drinking and I turn my attention elsewhere.
Cause I feel a pair of eyes burning into the back of my neck.
I sense someone staring at me from behind.
He's whispering to the barkeep.
He's talking to the bartender quietly.
The goddamn fool won't stop staring at me.
The person won't stop staring at me, despite my discomfort.
So I shoot up from my seat and press the cold steel to his head and said "Don't you know who the fuck I am?"
I stand up suddenly, hold my gun to the person's head, and demand recognition and respect.
He said, "Stagger Lee, please don't take my life. I've got a kid back home and I've got a wife."
The person pleads with me to not kill them and mentions their family.
He said, "Please, Stagger, please. I'm a friend, not a foe. But your girl is with Billy at the Flamingo. I just thought you should know."
He tells me that he's not my enemy, but my girlfriend is with someone else.
So I pistol whip him in the teeth and walk outside.
I hit him with the butt of my gun and leave the bar.
Steal the first fast car I see.
I steal a fast car that I see nearby without hesitation.
And as my blood starts to boil... I start to take a little ride.
My temper rises and I go on a little drive.
Leave the car running.
I leave the car running as I exit it.
Pull down the brim of my Black Stetson Hat.
I adjust my cowboy hat's brim to cover my face more.
Look around and I see no witness.
I survey the area and notice no witnesses present.
One last drink from my silver flask.
I take one last drink from my silver flask before moving on.
I kick open the door. I see their bodies intertwined.
I forcefully enter and see my girlfriend and the other man together.
I see the fear in their eyes. I point my Colt .45 and I feel divine.
I see the fear in their eyes and I feel powerful as I aim my gun at them.
Stagger Lee... you're a bad, bad man.
Stagger Lee, you are not a good person.
Oh Stagger Lee, you're going straight to hell.
Stagger Lee, your actions will lead you to a terrible end.
Contributed by Joshua N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.