The band's sound is diverse, utilizing elements of skate punk, hardcore punk, reggae, and other music genres. Their lyrics generally satirize issues such as politics, society, various subcultures, racism, the music industry, and religion, often using a large amount of comedy.
NOFX's first recording was a demo from 1983, produced by The Germs drummer Don Bolles, which did not sell any copies. They released their self-titled debut EP on Mystic Records in 1985, which was later re-released in 1992 as part of the Maximum RocknRoll CD. For a year, Erik Sandin left the band and was replaced by Scott Sellers, then Scott Aldahl. Dave Allen was in the band for about four months, until he died in a car accident. In 1986, the band released So What if We're on Mystic!. Dave Casillas joined the band on second guitar in 1987 and was featured on the EP The P.M.R.C. Can Suck on This!, attacking the PMRC's call for censorship of music. The original cover was an edited S&M photo, but the re-released version was changed to a photo of Eric Melvin.
Eric Sandin returned and they recorded Liberal Animation in 1988 (before Dave was replaced by Steve) with Brett Gurewitz of Bad Religion. Although the title and some lyrics mocked vegetarianism and animal rights, Fat Mike says that he became a vegetarian after he wrote Liberal Animation. 'If a big enough animal had a chance it would eat you up!' The album was re-released in 1991 on Gurewitz's label Epitaph. Dave then left the band and was replaced by Steve Kidwiller. NOFX had signed to Epitaph by 1989, releasing their second album, titled S&M Airlines. 1990 saw the release of Ribbed. By 1991, Aaron Abeyta (aka El Hefe), joined to round out the group. White Trash, Two Heebs and a Bean was released in 1992, which originally had the title White Trash, Two Kikes, and a Spic. The original title was changed because Eric Melvin's grandmother was upset about the racial epithets.
It was not until the 1994 release of Punk in Drublic that the band had a commercial breakthrough, with the album going gold. In the same year, pop punk entered the mainstream with the success of The Offspring's Smash and Green Day's Dookie.
In 1996 they released Heavy Petting Zoo, which wasn't very popular among its fans because it showed a different sound in some tracks. Their 1997 record So Long and Thanks for All the Shoes was faster, with more ska and reggae, and was well received by the public, although its title shocked everybody because it seemed as it was going to be their last album. They soon stated it wasn't true.
In 1999, the band released The Decline, a fiery and pessimistic social commentary. Having a duration of 18 minutes and 23 seconds, it is nearly the longest punk song to date, second only to "Yes Sir, I Will" by Crass, which spans more than 22 minutes.
The coming of a new century marked the end of NOFX in Epitaph Records. In 2000 they released Pump Up the Valuum, which in many people's opinion is a good record but still is missing something.
In 2003, NOFX released War on Errorism, and launched their anti-George W. Bush campaign. Fat Mike organized the website Punkvoter.com, compiled two chart-topping Rock Against Bush compilations, and kicked off a Rock Against Bush United States tour. The band has released many EPs (i.e. Fuck the Kids, The Longest Line) on Fat Mike's own label Fat Wreck Chords. In February 2005, they launched the NOFX 7" of the Month Club, a subscription-based service which saw the release of one new EP almost monthly, from February 2005 to March 2006 (a total of 12 releases). The cover art for these EPs were chosen from fan-submitted entries. The first 3000 subscribers to the club received all of their records on colored vinyl. Fat Wreck Chords later released full sets of the EPs.
On March 14, 2006, an EP entitled Never Trust a Hippy was released. The EP was followed on April 18 by the album Wolves in Wolves' Clothing. On September 12, 2006, the video game EA Sports NHL07 was released, featuring the title track of the latter album on its soundtrack.
The band recorded three nights of shows in San Francisco, California for the live album, They've Actually Gotten Worse Live! that was released on November 20, 2007.
NOFX aired in 2008 a reality show on Fuse TV called NOFX: Backstage Passport, chronicling their recent worldwide tour full of mishaps and fun stuff.
NOFX released their eleventh full length, Coaster, on April 28, 2009.
NOFX released their twelfth full length, Self/Entitled, on September 11th, 2012.
Official site: http://nofxofficialwebsite.com
Creeping Out Sara
NOFX Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
talking to a cute fair skinned brunette
I asked her if she wanted to have a beer and if she liked our set
I noticed that her hair was longer in the back
I figure that's cause she's Canadian
That's why I was surprised when she told me she was fully lesbian
That's when I realized it was Sara, or maybe it was Tegan
Cause Johnny Sampson said she was the cooler one
I told her I was a big fan of her band
She asked me if I had a favorite song
I admitted that I'd never actually heard them, but I like k.d. lang
I told her this Jew knows about the Juno's
And how they got robbed three times in a row
And then I asked her if she knew of anyone who was selling pills or blow
That's when I creeped out Sara or maybe I just pissed her off
When I asked her if her sister and her had ever had a threesome?
Where they both ganged up one girl, a forgy or a five some?
Do they think strap-ons are groovy, and had they ever seen the movie
Bound and did they like Jennifer Tilly, did they like Jennifer Tilly?
Sara said she preferred Gina Gershon, Angelina Jolie
In the Gia movie that was on HBO
And If These Walls Could Talk made Tegan cry a lot
After that I forgot what she said
That's the problem with Diazepam, so many things I don't remember
But I've got a sinking feeling, it's not that I'm a clairvoyant
But I think that I creeped out Sara, I was creeping out on Sara
I hope it wasn't Tegan, cause Matt Skiba said she is the cooler one
The lyrics to NOFX's song "Creeping Out Sara" narrate an embarrassing situation where the lead singer Fat Mike meets a woman at a festival in Germany and tries to impress her by talking about her band, but in the process, he ends up asking inappropriate questions related to her sexual preferences. The song's playful, humorous tone is centered around this uncomfortable scenario where Fat Mike is trying to flirt with the woman but ends up "creeping her out." The lyrics also reference other musicians and movies, adding to the comedic effect of the song.
The song's title alone gives a hint that what follows will be an awkward exchange. As the song progresses, it becomes apparent that Fat Mike is trying too hard to show off his knowledge about music and pop culture; he tries to bond with the woman over music but ends up making her uncomfortable with his probing questions about her sex life. The lyrics are written in a conversational tone, adding to the sense of embarrassment and awkwardness. They also make several pop culture references, which add to the witty, humorous feel of the song.
Overall, "Creeping Out Sara" is a hilarious yet cringe-worthy tune that pokes fun at the desperation to impress someone and the perils of asking the wrong questions. The song's silly and awkward lyrics coupled with upbeat music make it an instant classic among NOFX fans.
Line by Line Meaning
I was backstage at a festival in Germany
The singer was at a music festival in Germany.
talking to a cute fair skinned brunette
He was having a conversation with a fair-skinned brown-haired girl.
I asked her if she wanted to have a beer and if she liked our set
He asked the girl if she would like to have a beer and if she enjoyed their music performance.
I noticed that her hair was longer in the back
He observed that the girl had longer hair at the back.
I figure that's cause she's Canadian
He assumed that the reason for the girl's hairstyle was that she was Canadian.
That's why I was surprised when she told me she was fully lesbian
He was surprised to find out that the girl he was talking to was a lesbian.
That's when I realized it was Sara, or maybe it was Tegan
The singer realized that he was talking to one of the two twin sisters: Sara or Tegan.
I'm pretty sure that it was Sara
He believed that he was talking to Sara instead of Tegan.
Cause Johnny Sampson said she was the cooler one
He thought that Sara was the cooler twin based on what Johnny Sampson had said.
She asked me if I had a favorite song
The girl asked the singer about his favorite song of their band.
I admitted that I'd never actually heard them, but I like k.d. lang
He confessed that he had never listened to their songs, but he was a fan of k.d. lang.
I told her this Jew knows about the Juno's
The singer stated that he, as a Jewish person, knows about Juno awards.
And how they got robbed three times in a row
He talked about how Juno awards were snubbed three years in a row.
And then I asked her if she knew of anyone who was selling pills or blow
He uncomfortably asked the girl if she knew someone who was selling illegal drugs.
That's when I creeped out Sara or maybe I just pissed her off
The singer suspected that he might have made Sara uncomfortable or angry.
When I asked her if her sister and her had ever had a threesome?
He inappropriately asked Sara if she and her sister had indulged in a threesome.
Where they both ganged up one girl, a forgy or a five some?
He asked Sara if they had participated in group sex with one girl or with multiple partners.
Do they think strap-ons are groovy, and had they ever seen the movie Bound and did they like Jennifer Tilly, did they like Jennifer Tilly?
He asked Sara if they found strap-ons cool and if they have watched the movie Bound, besides their opinion on Jennifer Tilly.
Sara said she preferred Gina Gershon, Angelina Jolie
Sara replied that she liked Gina Gershon and Angelina Jolie more than Jennifer Tilly.
In the Gia movie that was on HBO
Sara referred to Angelina Jolie's movie Gia, which was aired on HBO.
And If These Walls Could Talk made Tegan cry a lot
Sara mentioned that Tegan was emotionally touched by the movie If These Walls Could Talk.
After that I forgot what she said
The singer couldn't remember what Sara said next.
That's the problem with Diazepam, so many things I don't remember
He blamed his inability to remember episodes on his medication Diazepam.
But I've got a sinking feeling, it's not that I'm a clairvoyant
He had a premonition that he might have made Sara uncomfortable.
But I think that I creeped out Sara, I was creeping out on Sara
The singer believed that his inappropriate questions made Sara uncomfortable, and he realized that he was creeping out on her.
I hope it wasn't Tegan, cause Matt Skiba said she is the cooler one
He hoped he was not talking with Tegan, as his friend Matt Skiba said that Tegan was the cooler twin.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Austin
on Doornails
These two shots are for Derrick
The singer is dedicating these two shots to Derrick.
For rifle, not the handgun
“Rifle” is a song from Lagwagon, a band Derrick played drums for. “the handgun” was likely what he used to commit suicide, hence why the singer is dedicating the two shots to rifle, not the handgun
For coffee and cigarettes
The singer is dedicating these shots to the act of enjoying coffee and cigarettes.
Give it back
It's unclear what the singer wants Derrick to give back.
You know, suicide isn't painless
The singer is pointing out that suicide isn't painless, despite what the famous song suggests.
When you leave everyone in pain
Suicide can cause a lot of pain for the people left behind.
Two shots will never go down the same
Each shot is a unique experience and can never be replicated exactly.
This beating's for Jimmy
The singer is dedicating this beating to Jimmy.
For ultimate devotion
The beating is dedicated to the idea of ultimate devotion.
For your mind of my own
It's unclear what this line means.
Bring out your dead
This line may be a reference to the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, where a man goes around collecting dead bodies while saying 'bring out your dead'.
Sedated, flagellated
The singer is describing someone who is sedated and flagellated.
You were the one most loved and hated
The person being described was both loved and hated by people.
Thanks for all that carpet and your songs
The singer is thanking someone for their carpet and their songs.
Oh, this patron's for Jason
The singer is dedicating this patron to Jason.
And this lager's for Andy
The singer is dedicating this lager to Andy.
And these doses are for bomber
The singer is dedicating these doses to someone referred to as 'bomber'.
And this fix is for Bradley
The singer is dedicating this fix to Bradley.
This ritalin's for Lumpy
The singer is dedicating this ritalin to someone referred to as 'Lumpy'.
And this speedball's for friday
The singer is dedicating this speedball to someone on Friday.
This nitrous hit is for Lynn and best friend Dobbs
The singer is dedicating this nitrous hit to Lynn and her best friend Dobbs.
This bowl is for my mom
The singer is dedicating this bowl to their mom.
For drinking more than I did
The dedication is for the singer's mom who drank more than they did.
For posting bail for me in New York
The singer's mom posted bail for them in New York.
And in Hollywood that first time
It's unclear what this line means.
And that joint we smoked was the worst time
The singer is reflecting on a time when they smoked a joint and it ended up being a bad experience.
'Cause doing drugs with parents is just wrong
The singer thinks it's wrong to do drugs with parents.
This song is for winning losers
The singer is dedicating this song to people who may have lost some battles, but have won in the end.
It's for lucky substance abusers
The song is dedicated to people who have been lucky enough to be substance abusers and still have their lives together.
The ones who left their black marks on us all
The singer is acknowledging people who have made an impact on our lives, whether good or bad