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.
Educated Guess
MxPx Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now you're older now you're jaded
You despise what you used to love
Cursing everything under the sky above
When you think back does it ever make you cry?
Like it does me with the tears all in my eyes
Crying, driving in my car
All the things that you believe in
Lies all lies they've been deceiving you
Deceiving me, deceiving you
When we were young we were told so many times
Prepare for your future cause it won't be easy
They never did tell us to enjoy life, here it is
Because before you know it life has passed you by
All the things. . .
All the time you have invested
Wasted time not to be trusted
Washed away from you away from me
They've been deceiving, you deceiving me
The song "Educated Guess" by MxPx deals with the disillusionment of adulthood and the disappointment and frustration that comes with facing the realities of the world. The opening lyrics convey a sense of overwhelming complexity and a sense of loss of innocence as the person grows older and becomes jaded. The frustration is palpable as they curse everything under the sky above, suggesting a feeling of helplessness and anger at the world's shortcomings.
The second verse brings a sense of nostalgia, as the singer looks back on their life so far with tears in their eyes. They question whether the listener has ever felt the same way, highlighting the universal experience of feeling lost or disappointed as we age. The chorus speaks to the theme of deception and disillusionment as the person realizes that everything they once believed in was a lie.
The third verse speaks to the guidance we are given as young people, which often revolves around preparing for a difficult future. But the song suggests that we are not often reminded to enjoy the present, and before we know it, our lives have passed us by. The song ends with a sense of frustration and betrayal as the person laments the wasted time that has been washed away from them.
Overall, "Educated Guess" is a poignant and relatable song that speaks to the universal experience of growing older and facing the realities of the world. It highlights the importance of enjoying the present moment and not losing sight of what truly matters in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Everything's gotten so complicated
Life has become increasingly complex and difficult to navigate.
Now you're older now you're jaded
As you've grown older, you've become disillusioned and tired of life's challenges.
You despise what you used to love
Things that once brought you joy now bring you frustration and disappointment.
Cursing everything under the sky above
You blame the world and its endless problems for your own struggles.
When you think back does it ever make you cry?
Reflecting on the past can be emotional and painful.
Like it does me with the tears all in my eyes
The singer is admitting to feeling emotional when reminiscing about the past.
Crying, driving in my car
The singer is so emotionally overwhelmed that they are crying while driving.
Looking back on my life so far
Taking a retrospective view of one's life experiences.
All the things that you believe in
The singer is questioning the validity of beliefs they once held to be true.
Lies all lies they've been deceiving you
What was previously believed to be true was all a lie and served to mislead.
Deceiving me, deceiving you
The lies were not only harmful to the singer, but to the people around them as well.
When we were young we were told so many times
As children, we were given a lot of advice and warnings about the future.
Prepare for your future cause it won't be easy
Advice given to children warning them that life is not easy and that they should prepare accordingly.
They never did tell us to enjoy life, here it is
The singer acknowledges that no one ever said to enjoy the present moment, here and now.
Because before you know it life has passed you by
If we don't stop and appreciate life as it comes, it can slip away from us before we realize it.
All the time you have invested
The effort and energy one has put into a certain path in life.
Wasted time not to be trusted
The singer is expressing disappointment in the fact that the time they invested didn't result in anything worthwhile.
Washed away from you away from me
The time invested is gone and can't be reclaimed by either the singer or anyone else.
They've been deceiving, you deceiving me
The singer is expressing frustration with being misled by others and how it has negatively affected them.
Lyrics © DistroKid, BMG Rights Management
Written by: MICHAEL HERRERA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind