No Cash Has sold over 1,000 copies of their only album and are continuing to gain popularity.
As of early 2005, they have broken up.
Brief history:
No Cash was founded in Nazareth, PA. They recorded a split CD with New York based band Team Spider. Their debut solo album, Run Your Pockets, sold well. Due to differences within the band, they broke up in 2005. Their music continues to sell today and No Cash has developed a devoted group of fans . They have said a reunion show is impossible. Nonetheless, their music will continue to speak volumes to teenagers living in hostile environments.
Skate or Die
No Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
breakin out and breakin in i have got an evil soul
rippin shit with a wicked grin i know my enemies
everyone who's not like me dont ya try and stop me, pig
i'm on my board and now i'm free
what the fuck is sense of pride
shut yer mouths and live yer lives
with this motto i'll survive
we'll rot away on that played out curb
resting on broken glass and dirt
and to all of you who stood in our way:
you will get what you deserve
The lyrics to No Cash’s “Skate or Die” are about breaking free from societal constraints and the joy and freedom that comes with skateboarding. The first two lines- “I’m bustin out of this hole/ breakin out and breakin in I have got an evil soul”- suggest a sense of rebellion against a confining environment that the singer is leaving. The phrase “evil soul” could be interpreted as the persona that the skater takes on when they have their board and the freedom it affords. The next line- “rippin shit with a wicked grin”- points to the thrill that the singer gets from skating and perhaps the satisfaction that comes from defying expectations of what they should be doing.
The next lines shift the focus to the skater’s relationship with society, specifically their enemies- “I know my enemies/ everyone who’s not like me.” This suggests a countercultural attitude where the skater sees themselves as against the mainstream. The use of “pig” to refer to an obstacle in their way also points to an anti-authority mentality. The chorus-- “what the fuck is sense of pride/ shut yer mouths and live yer lives/ live to skate, skate or die/ with this motto I'll survive”-- further emphasizes the idea of skating as a rejection of societal norms and expectations; needing nothing but the skate life to be fulfilled.
The final two lines lay it all out: “we'll rot away on that played-out curb/ resting on broken glass and dirt/ and to all of you who stood in our way: you will get what you deserve.” Here, the singer acknowledges the difficulties and risks of skating in urban environments, but accepts them as a part of the lifestyle they’ve chosen. The phrase “played-out curb” could also be interpreted as commentary on the state of urban life, suggesting that the singer sees the environment they’re in as deteriorating. The line “and to all of you who stood in our way: you will get what you deserve” echoes the anti-authority sentiment from earlier in the song and hints at a combative spirit on the part of the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
i'm bustin out of this hole
I'm breaking free from my current situation
breakin out and breakin in i have got an evil soul
I'm causing chaos and destruction everywhere I go
rippin shit with a wicked grin i know my enemies
I take pleasure in causing harm to those who oppose me
everyone who's not like me dont ya try and stop me, pig
I won't let anyone who doesn't share my ways stand in my way
i'm on my board and now i'm free
Skateboarding is the only escape I have
what the fuck is sense of pride
Having pride doesn't make any sense to me
shut yer mouths and live yer lives
Stop talking and start doing something with your life
live to skate, skate or die
Skateboarding is my reason for living and I'll do anything to protect it
with this motto i'll survive
Following this motto is the only way I can make it through life
we'll rot away on that played out curb
Without skateboarding, we'd be miserable and stagnant
resting on broken glass and dirt
We'll take any terrain we can get, even if it's dangerous or dirty
and to all of you who stood in our way:
We've faced a lot of opposition from those who don't understand our lifestyle
you will get what you deserve
We won't back down and will make sure that our detractors get what's coming to them
Contributed by Ian H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.