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.
Make up Your Mind
MxPx Lyrics
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'Cause no ones gonna do it for you this time
Make up your mind
Maybe your afraid of the things you'll find
You say that nothing really matters to you
You say that nothing really matters to you
Never has
You say that nothing really matters to you
It's all made up in your head
The life your living is overrated
It's all made up in your head
There nothing you can do but to leave you stranded
From morning noon, and night
Till the sun goes out outside
No one knows what's yet to come
Or what's about to come undone
The lyrics to MxPx's song Make Up Your Mind call for the listener to take responsibility for their own decisions and actions. The opening lines urge the listener to make a choice because no one else will do it for them. The singer then suggests that the reason the listener might not be making a decision is out of fear of what they will find. The chorus repeats the same sentiment of encouraging the listener to make a decision and then addresses the listener's feeling that nothing really matters to them. The song argues that this feeling is not actually true, and that the listener needs to take control of their life and their choices.
Line by Line Meaning
Make up your mind
You need to make a decision.
'Cause no ones gonna do it for you this time
You're on your own for this one.
Maybe your afraid of the things you'll find
Fear is likely what's holding you back.
You say that nothing really matters to you
You claim indifference, but you're not sure.
Never has
This isn't a new feeling for you.
Never will
You don't see this changing anytime soon.
It's all made up in your head
Your perception of reality is based on your own thoughts.
The life your living is overrated
You're not satisfied with the way things are right now.
There nothing you can do but to leave you stranded
You feel stuck and helpless.
From morning noon, and night
This feeling is present all the time, no matter the hour.
Till the sun goes out outside
This feeling will persist until it naturally fades away, over time.
No one knows what's yet to come
The future is uncertain and unknown to everyone.
Or what's about to come undone
You sense that something is likely to happen soon, and it may lead to further chaos.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: MICHAEL ARTHUR HERRERA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind