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In 2004 Ben Weasel rescinded all of the Screeching Weasel and Riverdales masters from Lookout!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.
If I Was You
Screeching Weasel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're saying that you would basically have it made
Well if I was in your boots
I'm telling you I would be making things my way
I'd take what's mine if I was you
You'd never catch me killing time
If I was you
If I was you
I'd go and live my life
If I was you
If I was you
I'd wake up every day
And every day I'd save all my energy
For making everyday the someday
I talk about all the time
I'd take what's mine
If I was you
You'd never catch me killing time
If I was you
And I'd take everything that's mine
If I was you
I'd try and live my life
If I was you
If I was you
I would refuse to let anything pass me by
I would insist on a better life now
If I was you I'd know what to do
In Screeching Weasel's song "If I Was You," the lyrics depict a sense of envy towards someone else's life. The first verse speaks of the two sides switching shoes, and the second verse talks about the singer's plan of action if they were to take over the other person's life. They would no longer waste their time on pointless activities, but instead they would take control and make things the way they want them to be. They would wake up every day with a purpose; saving their energy to turn each day into the someday they dreamed of. They would refuse to let anything pass them by and insist on a better life now.
The lyrics resonate with anyone who has ever felt stuck or envious of someone else's life. It's a song about taking control and making the most of every moment. The idea of the grass being greener on the other side is a common theme in popular culture, but this song takes it a step further by suggesting that if we were in someone else's shoes, we would have the power to make our dreams a reality. It's a call to action to stop living in our own heads and start taking steps towards a better life.
Line by Line Meaning
So if you were in my shoes
If you were in my position
You're saying that you would basically have it made
You believe that you would have everything in order
Well if I was in your boots
If I were in your situation
I'm telling you I would be making things my way
I would take control and do things the way I want
I'd take what's mine if I was you
If I were you, I would take what rightfully belongs to me
You'd never catch me killing time
I would always be productive and make good use of my time
And I'd take everything that's mine
Moreover, I would grab everything that belongs to me
If I was you
If I were in your shoes
I'd go and live my life
I would live my life to the fullest
If I was you
If I were in your position
I'd wake up every day
Every morning, I would be determined
And every day I'd save all my energy
And I would use all my energy productively
For making everyday the someday
To make every day count in making my dreams come true
I talk about all the time
Something I have always thought about often
I'd take what's mine
I would grab everything that belongs to me
If I was you
If I were in your position
You'd never catch me killing time
I wouldn't waste my time
And I'd take everything that's mine
I would seize all that belongs to me
If I was you
If I were in your situation
I'd try and live my life
I'd make an effort to make the most of my life
If I was you
If I were in your shoes
I would refuse to let anything pass me by
I would not let any opportunity go by
I would insist on a better life now
I would demand a better life for myself immediately
If I was you I'd know what to do
If I had your experiences, I would know exactly what steps to take
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: BENJAMIN M. FOSTER, BENJAMIN M FOSTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind