MxPx started as three 15-year-old kids calling themselves Magnified Plaid pounding out music inspired by and similar to The Descendents and other Southern California punk rock bands. They didn’t really love their band name, however, which was a tribute to the original guitarist’s penchant for wearing one particularly loud plaid shirt. Consequently, the name was abbreviated to M.P., but in Yuri’s handwriting, periods become “X“‘s and since he made up the show posters for the band, the four-letter moniker stuck.
Andy Husted, the former guitarist, left the band in 1995 to continue college.
Andy was replaced by Tom to solidify the line-up that would take the band into their post-teen years. Maybe Tom’s background as a drummer made up for his relative inexperience playing guitar (he had only played for a year at the time). He and Yuri lock into backbreakingly fast rhythms that rank with vintage Minor Threat for speed and percussive attack. Mike then adds to the mix his signature sing-along melodies that call to mind SoCal punk bands from the early ’80s.
Bremerton had been a town most famous for its naval shipyards until MxPx caught the attention of Tooth & Nail Records when they played a “showcase” for the T&N label in 1993 in Herrera’s parents’ garage. Mike Herrera had practiced so much before the first show, he lost his voice.
MxPx released three albums with Tooth & Nail Records: Pokinatcha in 1994, Teenage Politics in 1995, and Life in General in 1996. After a falling out with Tooth & Nail, MxPx left the label and signed with A&M Records.
In July 2010 drummer Yuri Ruley announced he would be retiring from the band to focus on his family. Ruley played his last show with the band in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 18, 2010. In a recent video message from Mike, he stated that Tom and Yuri have both finished touring full time, but will continue to play one-off shows with the band.
Can't See Not Saying
MxPx Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thoughts cloud my heart and head
I think I think too much
The narrow path I follow, is it the right way?
I keep on dwelling in tomorrow
I should be living in today!
I'm having trouble with my thought process
And I'm no engineer
And the directions just aren't clear
I can't sit back and let all of this go
Want you to feel what I feel and to know what I know
I can't see not saying what's on my mind
are all things meaningless and a waste of time?
The lyrics to MxPx's song Can't See Not Saying reveal a sense of disconnection and confusion felt by the singer. The opening lines express a feeling of being out of touch with oneself and the world around them. The confusion is further highlighted with the line "thoughts cloud my heart and head, I think I think too much." It seems like the singer is over-analyzing their life, leading to being unsure about the direction they're heading in.
The lyrics suggest that the singer is searching for answers about their path in life, and wondering if they're making the right choices. They're struggling to live in the present, instead of focusing on the future, which seems to be causing more problems. Their thought process is convoluted, and they feel like they're lost in their own mind. They're looking for direction, but they can't seem to find any clear-cut answers.
Throughout the song, the singer makes it clear that they can't see themselves not speaking their mind. They seem to be holding onto the belief that if they can connect with someone else and share their thoughts and feelings, then they won't feel as alone or lost. The final lines asking if all things are meaningless and a waste of time seems to express the singer's sense of hopelessness, but it also suggests they're still searching for meaning and purpose in their life.
Line by Line Meaning
It's been so long, I feel so out of touch
It has been a long time since I truly felt connected to the world around me.
Thoughts cloud my heart and head
My mind is consumed by worries and anxieties, making it hard to think or feel clearly.
I think I think too much
I tend to overanalyze things and get lost in my own thoughts.
The narrow path I follow, is it the right way?
I am unsure if the path I have chosen for myself is the correct one.
I keep on dwelling in tomorrow
I often get caught up in worries about the future and forget to live in the present moment.
I should be living in today!
I need to focus on the present and enjoy the moment, rather than always worrying about the future.
I'm having trouble with my thought process
My mind is struggling to make sense of everything, and I feel stuck in my own head.
And I'm no engineer
I am not skilled at fixing or figuring out complex problems on my own.
All the road to my brains are there
My mind is full of different perspectives and ideas, but they are all jumbled and confusing.
And the directions just aren't clear
I am struggling to find a clear path forward, and it feels like there is no right answer.
I can't sit back and let all of this go
I feel compelled to take action and try to make sense of my thoughts and feelings.
Want you to feel what I feel and to know what I know
I want others to understand my perspective and share in my experiences, so they can see things the way I do.
I can't see not saying what's on my mind
I cannot hold back my thoughts and emotions, and feel compelled to express them to others.
Are all things meaningless and a waste of time?
I am questioning the value of my own thoughts and experiences, and wondering if they have any real significance in the world.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Michael Herrera
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind