Over the past 12 years, OFF! have proven to be more than just a band. They … Read Full Bio ↴Over the past 12 years, OFF! have proven to be more than just a band. They also raise a series of challenging questions. After four decades of heavy use, does punk rock still have any life left in it? Do Keith Morris and his gang of grown-ass punk heroes still have the goods?

They’ve answered their own questions with a resounding yes through a packed itinerary of shows and a handful of recordings that are among the rawest musical experiences of the new decade. Combining reckless improvisational energy with the combined skills of four deadly sharp musicians, OFF! have dug down through a decades’ worth of accumulated stylistic garbage, and rediscovered the stripped down core of noise, speed, and rock & roll that punk seemed to have lost forever.

Harbor Freeway Blues
OFF! Lyrics

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Loaded on loads
Peach flavored nod
He was out there
Beyond the law
Walking disaster
High speed chase
Harbor Freeway blues

Was it an accident?
Or was a suicide?
There is no place
Higher left to go

Pinpoint eyes
Gotta shoot to feel
Self infected wounds
Won´t ever heal
Hit the ramp
Smashed through the rail
Couldn´t go back to
Torrance Jail

Was it an accident?
Or was a suicide?

There is no place
Higher left to go

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to OFF!'s song "Harbor Freeway Blues" paint a picture of a reckless and self-destructive individual who is on a downward spiral. The use of drug-related terms such as "loaded on loads" and "peach-flavored nod" suggest that they are deep into addiction and pushing the boundaries of what is considered acceptable behavior. The lyric "beyond the law" suggests that they have already crossed lines that society deems as appropriate.

The individual seems to be living in the moment, enjoying the thrill of high-speed chases and walking on the edge of danger. However, as the song progresses, there is a sense of hopelessness that creeps in. The lyric "there is no place higher left to go" suggests that they have hit rock bottom and there is no way out.

The second half of the song describes a tragic incident, which may have been either an accident or suicide. The individual drives their vehicle off a ramp, crashing through a rail and ending up in an unknown location. The lyric "self-infected wounds won't ever heal" suggests that the individual was suffering from internal pain and that this incident was a way to end that pain.

Overall, the song is a poignant reflection on the dangers of addiction and the consequences of engaging in reckless behavior. It highlights the importance of seeking help in times of crisis and the tragic results when help is not sought.

Line by Line Meaning

Loaded on loads
Intoxicated with drugs

Peach flavored nod
Drug-induced drowsiness

He was out there
He was reckless

Beyond the law
He had no regard for the law

Walking disaster
He was a danger to himself and others

High speed chase
The pursuit to escape law enforcement was at high speed

Harbor Freeway blues
This is a reference to a road where law enforcement is known to be aggressive

Was it an accident?
The cause of the act is unknown

Or was a suicide?
This may have been an intentional act of self-harm

There is no place
The individual had reached a point of no return

Higher left to go
The individual had no more hope for a better future