Rich Kids on LSD (R.K.L.) was a hardcore punk band formed in 1982 in Montec… Read Full Bio ↴Rich Kids on LSD (R.K.L.) was a hardcore punk band formed in 1982 in Montecito, California, a suburb of Santa Barbara. They were associated with the "Nardcore" scene that evolved out of nearby Oxnard. Their music expanded over the years from pure West Coast hardcore to an extraordinary mix of hardcore with rock elements. This style, along with touring, made them very popular on the European scene, especially among skaters in the eighties and nineties.

The groups name came about as a mere fluke from some light hearted criticism. According to vocalist Jason Sears in a 2002 interview with Thrasher magazine: “It happened that some guy said, 'Ha, those kids will never be anything, they're just a bunch of rich kids on LSD, man.' The first party we played we didn't have a name for the band, so we put that one on the flier and it just stuck.”

Why?
Rich Kids on LSD Lyrics

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They seem to be in a state identical to that curious 20th century earth disease called hard drug abuse.

I had to get high,
Didn't matter how at the time.
Dirty needles,
Gave me a disease.
Yellow eyes, yellow skin,
My liver bleeds!

But I don't need it anymore,
And why I ever did before?
Why? Why?
All my insecurities.
An escape that led to this disease.
Addiction is something I don't need!
I had to get high,
Didn't matter how at the time.
Dirty needles,
Gave me a disease.
Yellow eyes, yellow skin,
My liver bleeds!
But I don't need it anymore,
And why I ever did before?
Why? Why?
All my insecurities.
An escape that led to this disease.
Addiction is something I don't need!
But I don't need it anymore,
And why I ever did before?
Why? Why?
Why? Why? Why? Why?
All my insecurities.
An escape that led to this disease.

Addiction is something I don't need!
As a Vulcan, I find the need for hard drugs to be totally illogical

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Rich Kids on LSD's Why? discuss a personal struggle with drug addiction and the consequences it has brought upon the individual. The opening line refers to the character's state as being the same as someone suffering from the disease of hard drug abuse; this sets the tone for a confessional, introspective song. The first stanza delves deeper, as the artist describes the desperation they felt to get high regardless of the method - this led them to using dirty needles and contracting a disease that is evident through their physical appearance, such as yellowing skin and eyes and bleeding liver. The second stanza repeats the same lyrics, highlighting how the addiction took over and led to insecurity and a dangerous escape from reality.

The chorus is the most poignant part of the song, as the artist declares that addiction is not needed anymore and questions why they ever fell into its trap in the first place. They reaffirm their independence from the destructive substance and denounce the need for it. The song closes with a reference to the logical, unemotional nature of Vulcans (from Star Trek), acknowledging the irrationality of drug abuse.

In summary, the lyrics to Why? tackle the self-destructive nature of drug addiction and the personal struggle it brings, while also highlighting the need for rationality in the face of addiction.

Line by Line Meaning

I had to get high,
I felt it was necessary to use drugs to deal with my problems.

Didn't matter how at the time.
The method I used to get high wasn't important to me at the time.

Dirty needles,
I resorted to using unsterilized needles to inject drugs.

Gave me a disease.
Using dirty needles caused me to contract a disease.

Yellow eyes, yellow skin,
My drug use caused physical symptoms such as jaundice.

My liver bleeds!
My liver is damaged from drug use.

But I don't need it anymore,
I have overcome my addiction and no longer need drugs.

And why I ever did before?
I question why I felt I needed drugs in the first place.

Why? Why?
I am filled with confusion about my past addiction.

All my insecurities.
My drug use was a way of coping with my feelings of inadequacy.

An escape that led to this disease.
Drugs were a temporary means of avoiding my problems, which ultimately led to negative consequences.

Addiction is something I don't need!
I have realized that addiction only creates problems and is not something beneficial.

Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?
My confusion and questioning about my past drug use is heavily weighing on my mind.

As a Vulcan, I find the need for hard drugs to be totally illogical
I, as a Vulcan, see human drug use as an illogical factor that goes against rational thinking and decision-making.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LOUIS BIANCANIELLO, SAM WATTERS, CHRISTINA CHRISTIAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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