Live, Seaweed were a full-on rock experience, a bouncing, bounding post-hardcore rock outfit who combined double fast melodic punk with crunching guitars.
Hard times
Seaweed Lyrics
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See the good news vanish way before it's shown
But i don't fake a smile
Cuz i know the time is going
Taking advantage while-while the chance is good
You got sad eyes, never realized
Lost your balance, got no talent
Yeah, you got the hard times on your side
Kicks you down
More than you ever been before
Take a second try
You'll be home before you know it
Taking advantage while,
While you're young and
While your chance is good
Policeman writes me up a big fine
He's filling up my year with talk about the law
But i don't hear his hassle
Cuz i know that he's an asshole
Writing up the slip and jacking off his jaw
The lyrics to Seaweed's song, Hard Times, paint a picture of the struggles and challenges that the singer is facing. The opening lines suggest that they have been experiencing difficult times, with good news disappearing before they have a chance to enjoy it. Despite this, the singer does not fake a smile, indicating that they are finding it tough to stay positive. They acknowledge that time is passing by and that it's important to take advantage of opportunities while they can still benefit from them.
The second verse introduces an additional character who is also facing hard times. They have sad eyes and have lost their balance, suggesting that they are struggling to keep their life in order. The phrase "broke and flat" implies that they are financially struggling as well, which can add to the difficulties they are facing. However, the chorus suggests that even during these hard times, one can still stay hopeful and keep moving forward. The singer advises that the person takes a second try and that they will eventually find their way home, indicating that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
The final verse introduces a confrontation with law enforcement, where the singer receives a big fine from a policeman. The officer is described as filling up the singer's year with talk about the law, but the singer does not pay attention to this. Instead, they dismiss the officer as an asshole and continue with their life. This can be interpreted as an expression of frustration with the system that makes things harder for people facing hard times, but also as a form of rebellion against those who may try to bring the singer down.
Line by Line Meaning
We've been walking through the hard times
We've been experiencing tough times lately
See the good news vanish way before it's shown
Every positive thing we expect or hope for disappears even before it presents itself
But i don't fake a smile
Despite the hardships, I don't put on a fake smile
Cuz i know the time is going
Because I know time is fleeting
Taking advantage while-while the chance is good
Making the most of opportunities while they last
You got sad eyes, never realized
You have a look of sadness that you're not even aware of
Lost your balance, got no talent
You've lost your footing and don't seem to have any skills or strengths to rely on
Broke and flat is less you know that
Being broke and with nothing to your name is the least of your worries
Yeah, you got the hard times on your side
You're currently experiencing tough times
Kicks you down
Life keeps knocking you down
More than you ever been before
More frequently and worse than ever before
Take a second try
Give it another shot
You'll be home before you know it
You'll be in a better place sooner than you think
Taking advantage while, while you're young and while your chance is good
Making the most of opportunities while you're still young and have a chance to do so
Policeman writes me up a big fine
A police officer gives me a large ticket
He's filling up my year with talk about the law
He's making me deal with legal matters for a long time
But i don't hear his hassle
I don't let his bother me
Cuz i know that he's an asshole
Because I know he's being unreasonable
Writing up the slip and jacking off his jaw
Writing up the ticket and bragging about it
Contributed by Grace T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.