Easily the most cynical of the D.C. Dischord bands, Smart Went Crazy combin… Read Full Bio ↴Easily the most cynical of the D.C. Dischord bands, Smart Went Crazy combine the ironic and honest portraits of their surrounding scene with well-orchestrated, edgy, angular post-hardcore punk. The band started as a studio project with Chad Clark (vox, guitar, piano), Abram Goodrich (bass), and Hilary Soldati (vox, cello) and added Tony Dennison on drums to record the Cubbyhole EP released on their own label Cozy Disc. They began playing live shows as a quintet with Jeff Boswell on guitar and farfisa in their native Washington D.C. and Devin Ocampo came in after Dennison late in 1997. Their 1996 full-length, Now We're Even, begins the band's ultra-black humor and noisy brand of art-punk. Con Art shows the band at their best with razor-sharp portraits of old lovers and depraved friends falling over Ocampo's mid-tempo tumult drumming and Soldati/Clark's sing-sneer vocals. The group disbanded shortly after their 1998 tour.

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Smart Went Crazy Lyrics

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My eyes are as dull and useless As canadian pennies in mexico And they don't say "in god we trust" They say "I don't have the time To make you mix tapes anymore" You know full well It's over now

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Smart Went Crazy's song Tijuana 3/28/96 reflect someone's realization that their current state is akin to that of a useless object, in this case a Canadian penny in Mexico. The imagery is used to convey a sense of worthlessness and lack of purpose. The line "they don't say 'in god we trust'" can be interpreted as a rejection of any higher power or faith that might give meaning to life. The following line "they say 'I don't have the time to make you mix tapes anymore'" suggests that the singer's relationships have faded away, and that they no longer have the time or energy to invest in creating something for someone else.

The lyric "you know full well it's over now" is the emotional climax of the song, revealing that the singer has accepted their current state of uselessness and inability to connect with others. The song is a meditation on isolation and the struggle to find meaning in a world that seems indifferent to our existence.

Interesting Facts:

Line by Line Meaning

My eyes are as dull and useless
My eyes lack enthusiasm and purpose.

As canadian pennies in mexico
Just as Canadian pennies have no value in Mexico, similarly, my dull eyes have no value to anyone.

And they don't say 'in god we trust'
Unlike American currency, my eyes don't carry a message of faith or trustworthiness.

They say 'I don't have the time
My eyes convey a message of apathy and indifference, indicating that I don't have time to devote to certain things anymore.

To make you mix tapes anymore'
I've lost interest in creating mix tapes for someone, it's not something I want to do anymore.

You know full well
You are fully aware of the situation at hand.

It's over now
The relationship or endeavor that was once crucial to me has come to an end and there's no going back.

Contributed by Sophie T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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