Osker was a Los Angeles melodic punk rock band who formed in 1998 and split… Read Full Bio ↴Osker was a Los Angeles melodic punk rock band who formed in 1998 and split in February 2002, ultimately due to the departure of their drummer. The line up originally consisted of Devon Williams on vocals and guitar and Dave Benitez on bass. They never had a full time drummer, however Phil Drazik was the longest standing.
Osker broke away from the typical Southern California punk band with the release of their second CD "Idle Will Kill". Previous to this was their first full length album "Treatment 5. Both contained cynical and snotty lyrics about teen angst. As a consequence to their stage antics, among which was Devon's brutal sincerity, criticizing conformity in the punk scene and "fashion", as well as their crowd-taunting habit, Osker were labelled as one of the most hated and mean acts on Epitaph.
"I decided that it is about just doing what you want, while you have gallons of mohawks and leather jackets telling you that they do what they want, I don't believe them... I respect the person that says, 'I don't care for that' because there is no extreme, it's pure sincerity. Punk is doing what you want despite the infiltrators, outside of the skateboards and shoes and hair and patches and the diets and the tattoos. I am Devon and I have 5 close friends, the rest of the world is divided into the helpers and the clueless."
After the split, Williams announced they had been working on a new album (tentatively titled "Thriller"), however it was later said by Benitez to be a joke.
"The split between Dave and I is astounding to me. I always thought we were the next Simon and Garfunkel. I thought we would be our generations Hall and Oates ... Of course, I plan on killing Dave." - Devon Williams
Devon Williams recently played in folk/acoustic band Fingers-Cut, Megamachine! He currently plays music under his own name with the same essence while playing guitar in a folk rock/psychedelic band Lavender Diamond. Drummer Phil Drazik now plays in punk/hardcore band End on End and emo/punk band Life Support.

Members
Devon Williams - Vocals and guitar
Dave Benitez - Bass
Phil Drazik - Drums

13
Osker Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Heartbroken, I watched
The rain beat on the sidewalk,
Complete with gray skies,
And headlights,
And puddles on the sidewalk.
Everyone's ruined like me...
It's weird now,
Now that I look back.

Each day spent carefully
Still consumes over time.
I think it's worse to be aware
And know this change
Than to go on everyday unknowing.
I'm having trouble with realizations.
Why's it gotta be a regretful mess?
If I could have one day back now,
I swear I'd use it well.
Oh 13, where did you go?
You're gone when I needed you most.
I know that from here it's downhill,
Make the best of a...
People change, yeah,
And that can't be good.
I liked it that way,
Why did you stray?
Well, maybe I'm unhealthy.
Oh won't you stop
And stay frozen in time with me?
I'm having trouble with realizations.
Why's it gotta be a regretful mess?
If I could have one day back now,
I swear I'd use it well.
Oh 13, where did you go?
You're gone when I needed you most.
I know that from here it's downhill,
Make the best of a slow death.
I'm having trouble with realizations.
Why's it gotta be a regretful mess?
If I could have one day back now,
I swear I'd use it well.
Oh 13, where did you go?
You're gone when I needed you most.
I know that from here it's downhill,
Make the best of a...
Oh 13, where did you go?
You're gone when I needed you most.

I know that from here it's downhill,
Make the best of a slow death.

Overall Meaning

The song “13” by Osker is about the feeling of helplessness and heartache that comes with facing the harsh realities of life. The lyrics are based on the singer’s personal experiences and his inability to deal with the fact that everything around him is changing. The repetition of the line “having trouble with realizations” reflects the singer’s struggle to come to terms with his situation. He looks back at his past and wonders why everything has changed, why people drift apart and why life becomes more complicated as we grow older.

The imagery used in the song is rather depressing as it focuses on the bleakness of everyday life - the gray skies, the rain, the puddles on the sidewalk. The singer feels like he is stuck in a rut, unable to move forward or effect any change in his situation. He wishes he could go back to a time when life was simpler and he was happier. The chorus line, “Oh 13, where did you go? You’re gone when I needed you most” emphasizes how he is yearning for a time when he felt more secure and less conflicted.

In conclusion, Osker’s “13” is a poignant song that deals with the emotional turmoil that accompanies growing up and facing the harsh realities of life. The singer is struggling to come to terms with his situation and the changes happening around him. Through the use of stark imagery and repetition, the song captures the essence of that feeling of helplessness that accompanies these realizations.

Line by Line Meaning

Heartbroken, I watched
Feeling sad and forlorn, I observed

The rain beat on the sidewalk,
The raindrops forcefully hit the pavement

Complete with gray skies,
Accompanied by colorless and overcast skies

And headlights,
The glow of car headlights

And puddles on the sidewalk.
Pools of water accumulating on the pavement

Everyone's ruined like me...
Everybody is destroyed in the same way as I am

It's weird now,
It's strange and unusual at present

Now that I look back.
As I reflect on the past

Each day spent carefully
Every day dedicated to cautiousness and deliberation

Still consumes over time.
Nonetheless, it ultimately exhausts resources and energy

I think it's worse to be aware
I believe it's more distressing to be conscious

And know this change
And realize this transformation

Than to go on everyday unknowing.
Than to continue without knowledge day-to-day

I'm having trouble with realizations.
I'm struggling with recognizing the truth

Why's it gotta be a regretful mess?
Why does it have to be a disappointing chaos?

If I could have one day back now,
If I could get one day again today

I swear I'd use it well.
I promise I would use it wisely.

Oh 13, where did you go?
Oh 13, where have you disappeared to?

You're gone when I needed you most.
You departed when I required you the most.

I know that from here it's downhill,
I am aware that moving forward will be difficult

Make the best of a...
Attempt to optimize the situation somewhat

People change, yeah,
Individuals evolve, indeed

And that can't be good.
This fact might not be advantageous

I liked it that way,
I enjoyed things as they were

Why did you stray?
Why did you deviate?

Well, maybe I'm unhealthy.
Perhaps I am defective.

Oh won't you stop
Wouldn't you cease

And stay frozen in time with me?
And continue to be stagnant in time alongside me?

Oh 13, where did you go?
Oh 13, where have you disappeared to?

You're gone when I needed you most.
You departed when I required you the most.

I know that from here it's downhill,
I am aware that moving forward will be difficult

Make the best of a slow death.
Attempt to optimize the situation somewhat even though it's a gradual decline