Sarah Kirsch (guitar, vocals) of Fuel (think Monuments to Excess) was in the band when they first formed in 1991, but eventually left, citing personal differences with Green Day (the band for which Billie Joe Armstrong is most famous).
The band's name comes from a brand of "high octane" green tea discovered serendipitously by Aaron Cometbus during one of his many dumpster diving adventures. Aaron Cometbus, who releases the "Cometbus" fanzine, has played with many other bands, such as Crimpshrine and Cleveland Bound Death Sentence, and has long been a part of East Bay's punk culture.
Pinhead Gunpowder's music has been released through Lookout Records and Adeline Records (the latter co-owned by Billie Joe Armstrong and a major occupation of Jason White).
Backyard Flames
Pinhead Gunpowder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It made me think of you
All the pain the loss of love
That's gone from inside
You both seem so happy you could cry
She says she don't love you anymore
He says he doesn't need her anyway
Dreams have feltered
The kids are caught up in your wake
I had a dream you were having a party
Martinis, skins, and backyard flames
It seemed to last all night
She says she don't love you anymore
He says he doesn't need her anyway
She was Jusus you were Satan
Red lights flashing you saw green
Went ahead full bore
Pinhead Gunpowder's song "Backyard Flame" tells a story of lost love and heartbreak. The singer hears a song that reminds them of someone they love, but that love is no longer there. The song talks about the pain that comes from losing love, and how both parties in the relationship seem to have moved on, despite the lingering emotions. The lyrics reveal a sense of hopelessness and helplessness in the face of lost love, as the singer describes how dreams have faltered and plans have failed.
The second half of the song takes a more surreal turn, with the singer describing a dream they had where the person they love is having a party with martinis, skins, and backyard flames. This dream is juxtaposed with the reality of the situation, where both parties are struggling to move on from the love they once shared. The lyrics are full of conflicting emotions, as the singer struggles to come to terms with the loss of love and the ways in which it has impacted not just them, but also the children caught up in the aftermath.
Overall, "Backyard Flame" is a poignant and emotional song that explores the complexities and challenges of lost love. It speaks to the universal experience of heartbreak and the lingering emotions that can continue long after a relationship has ended.
Line by Line Meaning
I heard a song tonight
The singer listened to a song that reminded them of someone.
It made me think of you
The song made the singer think of a specific person.
All the pain the loss of love
The song brought up painful memories of a failed relationship.
That's gone from inside
The artist has moved on from the pain they felt inside during the failed relationship.
You both seem so happy you could cry
The artist observes that the former couple seems blissful, in spite of their failed relationship.
She says she don't love you anymore
The woman in the failed relationship has explicitly stated that she no longer has feelings for the man.
He says he doesn't need her anyway
The man in the failed relationship has expressed that he doesn't care about the woman's feelings anymore.
Dreams have feltered
The hopes and aspirations that the couple had for their future together have become lost and unachievable.
Plans have failed
The couple's plans for their life together have not come to fruition.
The kids are caught up in your wake
The children of the failed relationship are left dealing with the consequences of their parents' separation.
I had a dream you were having a party
The singer had a dream about the person that the song reminds them of.
Martinis, skins, and backyard flames
The dream featured a party with cocktails, socializing, and a bonfire in the backyard.
It seemed to last all night
The party in the singer's dream felt like it went on forever.
She says she don't love you anymore
The woman in the failed relationship has explicitly stated that she no longer has feelings for the man.
He says he doesn't need her anyway
The man in the failed relationship has expressed that he doesn't care about the woman's feelings anymore.
She was Jusus you were Satan
The artist is describing the former couple as complete and total opposites.
Red lights flashing you saw green
The artist is suggesting that the man refused to acknowledge warning signs in the relationship and continued with his actions regardless.
Went ahead full bore
The man continued pursuing the relationship with all of his efforts, regardless of obstacles or potential consequences.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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