Screeching Weasel is an American punk band from Chicago, Illinois. They wer… Read Full Bio ↴Screeching Weasel is an American punk band from Chicago, Illinois. They were formed in 1986 by Ben Weasel (aka Ben Foster who also used to be a columnist for the punk fanzine Maximum Rocknroll) and John Jughead (aka John Pierson). The band gained prominence in the early 1990s after signing to East Bay punk label, Lookout! Records and are cited to be a major influence over many bands playing that style of punk music.

Through the years, the band went through many line-up changes, with Ben and John being the only constant members since the band's inception. Screeching Weasel officially broke up for (roughly) the third - and allegedly final - time on July 6, 2001.
The band did a few surprise shows between 2001-2009.

Ben Weasel reformed the group in March 2009 with a new line-up, and without John Jughead. Ben had released solo albums that were the same just in his name. John finally settled for T-Shirt money for being an original member of the band and a royalties for a handful songs he co-wrote, and let Ben play as Screeching Weasel with the hundreds of song lyrics and music has written.

Former Members include renowned punk rock record producer Mass Giorgini on bass guitar, Dan Panic (born Dan Sullivan) on drums, and Danny Vapid (born Dan Schafer,on guitar or bass, depending on the band's necessity. Dan is currently fronting The Methadones and formerly of Sludgeworth)

Members of Screeching Weasel have gone on to form bands such as: The Methadones, The Mopes, Even in Blackouts, and Sweet Black And Blue.

Screeching Weasel has also included members of Green Day, Sludgeworth, Common Rider, Squirtgun, and Teen Idols.

During one of the band's many break-ups, Weasel and Vapid also formed the Riverdales. Additionally, Ben Weasel released a solo record in 2002 entitled Fidatevi.

In 2004 Ben Weasel rescinded all of the Screeching Weasel and Riverdales masters from Lookout! Records in the wake of long-running financial and personal conflicts. The masters were subsequently licensed to and reissued by Asian Man Records.

On December 7, 2010, it was announced that Screeching Weasel will release a new album on March 15, 2011, the band's first album in eleven years. The album will be titled First World Manifesto and will be released on Fat Wreck Chords. It will contain 14 new songs and is produced by Mike Kennerty of The All-American Rejects. It was announced that the label will also be releasing the back catalogs of Screeching Weasel, the Riverdales, and Ben Weasel.

On March 18, 2011, during Screeching Weasel's South by Southwest Festival performance at the Scoot Inn in Austin, Texas, Foster reached from the stage and slapped a female audience member who had spit on him several times. This sent off a fire storm web frenzy from all of the self -righteous non Screeching Weasel fans. Ben apologized for his actions, but all of the perfect people who never loose there cool were not satisfied.

Ben and his hired band had a falling out. He found out who his true friends and fans were. After over a year of spending time with his family and raising a new baby, he released Carnival of Schadenfreude EP in 2011 with huge interest and has resumed his music career again full swing.

I Will Always Be There
Screeching Weasel Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You keep on trying too hard
To make something work out
You're so afraid of your own loneliness
And doubts
I've had to stand by too many times
While you got burned
And I hope someday you'll finally learn

That I will always be there
I will always be there
I will always be there
I will always be there

This isolation oppresses
It's bringing you down
And you're still smashing and crashing
Your head against walls
And if you're not really happy
Well, no one is
But I just hope you'll remember this

That I will always be there
I will always be there

I will always be there
I will always be there

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Screeching Weasel's song "I Will Always Be There" depict a situation where the singer is witnessing someone they care about constantly struggling and trying too hard to make something work out. The person is afraid of being alone and plagued by doubts, and the singer has witnessed them getting hurt multiple times while they stood by helplessly. The singer expresses their hope that someday this person will finally learn from their experiences.

The song also highlights the isolating and oppressive nature of this person's situation. They are constantly feeling down and continuously banging their head against metaphorical walls, causing themselves pain. The lyrics suggest that if this person is not truly happy, then no one is truly happy. Despite all of this, the singer reassures the person that they will always be there for them, offering support and stability.

In summary, "I Will Always Be There" explores the dynamic between two individuals. One is constantly seeking validation, struggling, and afraid of loneliness, while the other remains a steadfast presence, observing their struggles and offering unwavering support.

Line by Line Meaning

You keep on trying too hard
You persistently exert excessive effort

To make something work out
In order to achieve a favorable outcome

You're so afraid of your own loneliness
You have deep fear of being alone

And doubts
And uncertainty

I've had to stand by too many times
I have been there too often

While you got burned
While you suffered the consequences

And I hope someday you'll finally learn
And I desire that one day you will gain understanding

That I will always be there
That I will forever offer my support

This isolation oppresses
This state of being alone overwhelms

It's bringing you down
It's causing you to feel discouraged

And you're still smashing and crashing
And you persistently collide intensely