Guitarist David Grubbs was subsequently a member of Bitch Magnet, Bastro and Gastr del Sol and has released a number of solo projects. Drummer Ben Daughtrey played with the Lemonheads and then with Love Jones. McMahan, Buckler, and Walford later formed the highly influential Slint, after which the latter two played with King Kong, and McMahan with The For Carnation and The Palace Brothers. Searcy played with Big Wheel and Starbilly before embarking on a solo career.
Hammering So Hard
Squirrel Bait Lyrics
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Take an opportunity and miss another
Mumbling when I, when I can take
Said so in the hundreds of ways
Yeah, what's the use if you don't want it?
Said, what's the use if you won't take it?
Sixteen years of a sixteen-year life
How many times do you have to be told?
How many secrets can you still pretend to hold?
I've seen you cringe and I saw you cry
Hammering hard and you wonder why
Yeah, what's the use if you don't want it?
Said, what's the use if you won't take it?
Sixteen years of a sixteen-year life
Dragged across a rusty loud knife
Yеah, what's the use if you don't want it?
Said, what's the usе if you won't take it?
Sixteen years of a sixteen-year life
Dragged across a rusty loud knife
The lyrics to Squirrel Bait's song "Hammering So Hard" describe someone who is struggling to understand and cope with the pressures and expectations of others in their life. The opening lines suggest that they are a young person, possibly sixteen years old, and that they feel like they are constantly being pushed to meet certain standards. However, despite all of this pressure, they seem to be confused about what they really want for themselves. The repeated lines "what's the use if you don't want it?" and "what's the use if you won't take it?" suggest a sense of resignation and defeat on the part of both the singer and the person they are addressing.
As the song progresses, the singer becomes increasingly frustrated with the person they are talking to. They ask how many times they have to be told and how many secrets they can still pretend to hold. These lines suggest that the person is not being honest with themselves or with others about their thoughts and feelings. The final lines of the song describe the person's life as being "dragged across a rusty loud knife," indicating that they feel like they are being cut and wounded by the pressures they are facing.
Overall, "Hammering So Hard" is a powerful and poignant song about the difficulties of growing up and finding one's place in the world. It speaks to the universal struggle of trying to reconcile our own desires and needs with the expectations of others, and the feelings of confusion and frustration that can result from that struggle.
Line by Line Meaning
Said you wrapped up sixteen-year-old hands
You claimed to have trained inexperienced hands.
Take an opportunity and miss another
You keep passing up chances and letting them go to waste.
Mumbling when I, when I can take
You mutter to yourself instead of seizing opportunities.
Said so in the hundreds of ways
You've communicated this repeatedly in countless ways.
Yeah, what's the use if you don't want it?
What good is something if you have no desire for it?
Said, what's the use if you won't take it?
You acknowledge that there is no value in something if you refuse to accept it.
Sixteen years of a sixteen-year life
You've spent your entire life in this pattern for sixteen years.
Dragged across a rusty loud knife
Your experience has been difficult and painful.
How many times do you have to be told?
You've been instructed numerous times already.
How many secrets can you still pretend to hold?
You can't keep hiding or suppressing information forever.
I've seen you cringe and I saw you cry
I've observed your reactions when confronted with difficult situations.
Hammering hard and you wonder why
You work hard yet question why it doesn't result in success.
Contributed by Julian N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.