The band packed it in 2005 not long after the release of In The Mean Time and In-Between Time. Marc "Muc" Belke went back to school, and the other band members went their own ways rather than try to replace him.
That is, until 2007 when Ken "Mr. Chi Pig" Chinn appeared on stage again fronting a band he was calling "asSNFU" for a small number of shows to celebrate the band's long history.
Allegedly an acronym for Society's No Fucking Use, SNFU initially comprised Chi Pig, the Belkes, bassist Warren Bidlock and drummer Evan "Tadpole" Jones. However, over the next decade the group's rhythm section changed from album to album and tour to tour. As you can see from the list to the left, there are currently 17 people on the SNFU roster that have played at one time or an other with the band.
SNFU's first two releases, 1985's ...And No One Else Wanted to Play and If You Swear, You'll Catch No Fish, were straight- ahead skate punk albums with strongly political lyrics, released on BYO Records. For 1988's Better Than a Stick in the Eye the quintet moved to the larger indie label Cargo Records, for whom they also recorded 1992's mostly live The Last of the Big Time Suspenders, intended to be their final album.
Just as SNFU appeared to be finished, Epitaph Records -- the most commercially successful U.S. independent label of the 1990s -- offered them a record contract. Along with new bassist Rob Johnson and drummer Dave Rees, Chi Pig and the Belkes returned with 1993's Something Green and Leafy This Way Comes, which, not surprising, had a more typical West Coast/Epitaph sound. Following the release of 1995's The One Voted Most Likely To Succeed, the group returned with 1996's FYULABA (produced by Dave Ogilvie of Skinny Puppy), their first album not to have a seven word title (though it does have a seven letter title). In 1997 Brent Belke and David Rees left the group; SNFU decided to continue on as a four-piece with new drummer Sean Stubbs, recording the Canada-only live release Let's Get It Right the First Time.
In 2000 SNFU released a 5 song EP on Alternative Tentacles titled The Ping Pong EP. Currently (Sept. 2004), SNFU has recorded their 8th full-length album In the meantime and in between time. This future release is set to be released on their own record label, Rake Records. On July 16th, 2020 Ken Chinn pasted away at the age of 57.
Past SNFU Lineups:
SNFU mach 1:
mr. chi pig - vocals
marc "muc" belke - guitar
brent "bunt" belke - guitar
warren bidlok - bass
evan c "tadpole" jones - drums
SNFU mach 2:
mr. chi pig - vocals
marc belke - guitar
brent "bunt belke - guitar
jimmy schmitz - bass
evan c "tadpole" jones - drums
SNFU mach 3:
mr.chi pig - vocals
marc belke - guitar
brent belke - guitar
dave bacon - bass
jon card aka seth hornblend - drums
SNFU mach 4:
mr.chi pig - vocals
marc belke - guitar
brent belke - guitar
dave bacon - bass
ted simm - drums
SNFU mach 5:
mr. chi pig - vocals
marc bellke - guitar
brent belke - guitar
curtis creager - bass
ted simm - drums
SNFU mach 6:
mr.chi pig - vocals
marc belke - guitar
brent belke - guitar
curtis creager - bass
jon card - drums
SNFU mach 7:
mr. chi pig - vocals
marc belke - guitar
brent belke - guitar
ken fleming - bass
david rees - drums
SNFU mach 8:
mr. chi pig - vocals
marc belke - guitar
brent belke - guitar
rob "starbuck" johnson - bass
david rees - drums
SNFU mach 9:
mr. chi pig - vocals
marc belke - guitar
rob johnson - bass
sean stubbs - drums
SNFU mach 10:
mr. chi pig - vocals
marc belke - guitar
rob johnson - bass
chris "cpl. ninny" thompson
SNFU mach 11:
mr. chi pig - vocals
marc belke - guitar
matt warhurst - bass
shane smith - drums
The Ceiling
SNFU Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Go out there and kill em, it's another working day
But I just want to go back to sleep, I really don't wanna go
But I know I'm gonna have to cause I need the money so
My ceiling, it knows what I'm feeling
It knows I don't want to go to work
So it keeps me pinned down
My ceiling, it knows what I'm feeling
I'm looking up at my ceiling
And it's looking back down at me
It can see what a mess I am and it knows I need the sleep
Now the ceiling's level with the floor
and my blankets are now the floorboards
I can't move a fuckin' inch, I'll be late for work again
The lyrics to SNFU's song The Ceiling speak to the struggle many people have with the monotony and repetitiveness of work. In the first stanza, the singer is faced with the reality that it is time to wake up and face another day of work. However, the singer is overwhelmed with a sense of lethargy and a desire to go back to sleep. The singer recognizes that they must go to work to earn money, but the task seems daunting and unbearable.
The chorus uses the metaphor of the ceiling to convey the feelings of entrapment and helplessness. The ceiling represents a barrier that is keeping the singer from doing what they truly want to do, which is to stay in bed. The ceiling also symbolizes the many things in life that hold people back from achieving their dreams and desires. The repetition of the line "my ceiling, it knows what I'm feeling" underscores the idea that the singer is not alone in their struggles and that many people can relate to the feeling of being trapped by life's circumstances.
The second stanza of the song takes the metaphor of the ceiling to the next level. The singer imagines that the ceiling has become level with the floor, and the blankets have become the floorboards. The singer feels completely immobilized and helpless, unable to move or break free from the constraints that are holding them back. The final line of the stanza, "I'll be late for work again," is a poignant reminder that the singer is still stuck in the vicious cycle of having to work to survive.
Overall, SNFU's The Ceiling is a powerful and relatable song that speaks to the struggles many people face when it comes to work and feeling trapped by life's circumstances. The use of the ceiling as a metaphorical device is clever and effective, and the repetition of the chorus adds to the emotional impact of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
My alarm clock starts ringing much to my dismay
I wake up to the sound of my alarm clock, and I am disappointed that it is morning already.
Go out there and kill em, it's another working day
Society requires me to go work and give it my all, even if I don't want to.
But I just want to go back to sleep, I really don't wanna go
I dread having to go to work and wish I could just go back to bed.
But I know I'm gonna have to cause I need the money so
I am aware that I need to work so I can earn money and live my life.
My ceiling, it knows what I'm feeling
The ceiling is witnessing my struggles and knows the emotions I am feeling.
It knows I don't want to go to work
The ceiling recognizes that I am not enthusiastic about going to work.
So it keeps me pinned down
I feel trapped and unmotivated by my surrounding environment.
My ceiling, it knows what I'm feeling
The ceiling empathizes with my displeasure and emotional state.
Yes, I'm talking about my ceiling
I am having a conversation with myself about how my ceiling has become a manifestation of my internal struggles.
I'm looking up at my ceiling
I am staring at my ceiling.
And it's looking back down at me
In an abstract way, the ceiling is reciprocating my gaze and acknowledging my presence.
It can see what a mess I am and it knows I need the sleep
I recognize that I am not mentally or physically prepared to face the day ahead and that I need more rest.
Now the ceiling's level with the floor
Through my imagination, the ceiling appears to be level with the floor, indicating a shift in perception or a sudden loss of balance and control.
and my blankets are now the floorboards
In a moment of confusion, I feel disoriented and the physical space around me appears to have transformed.
I can't move a fuckin' inch, I'll be late for work again
I am thoroughly blocked in my current position, which will result in me arriving to work late for yet another day.
Contributed by Dylan D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Gorilla Mojo
1986-89 what a great time to be alive, a punk & for hardcore, punk, metal, crossover, thrash... i feel sorry for the kids today... they definitelty have been robbed.
Cameron Bartholomew
Nah not really..... Check this out -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTZOBihFfSo
Phil Garner
I love this song. The perfect antithesis of punk feeling toward society. Thanks so much SNFU for the great music. ...an old schooler.
sik Phil
best intro ever
Kris Mrzitelj
it brings so many nice memories
Fic Ticious
SNFU, heard them on WNHU in Connecticut, music for the whole family👍🏻. You betcha Aye!!!
Chris Schweitzer
every morning i wake up and ask my ceiling if its even worth waking up
Stef Nevatie
Oops yes SNFU is still playing. On tour right now .
Philip Hollingworth
Saw them at the duchess in Leeds....awesome awesome night
Paul Rosado
Intro is harmonious to pennywise all day, fuck yah!