Their last full length album, Catastrophe was released on Brooklyn, NY's BANKSHOT! Records
http://myspace.com/stockyardstoics
http://myspace.com/bankshotrecords
Borrowed Time
Stockyard Stoics Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I threw all of my chances away
To get what I want
To be all that I dream
Chalk one more up for the American scream
[Chorus:]
Less life by the hour
Whose dime? Not ours
On borrowed time!
Time to find out how far we will go
To paint a pretty picture
To star in our own show
To get ahead and wake the dead and pay the fucking rent
The road is paved with glory days and memories of all the life that has
been spent
[Chorus]
On borrowed time
Time's up!
And what's the chance that we'll reap what we have sown?
Harvest youthful idealism from the direction we have grown?
Are you punching the clock or is it punching you?
I don't know how you're holding up, but man, I'm nursing one hell of a bruise
[Chorus]
How will we be?
Will we be free?
Will we still dream of all the endless possibilities?
Will we still laugh?
Will we still cry?
Will we still change our minds?
Will we still wonder why?
Will you remember me?
Will we recall what's going to be?
The lyrics to Stockyard Stoics's song Borrowed Time address themes of disillusionment and existential angst in the face of the American Dream. The opening lines, "I lived fifty-four dollars today / I threw all of my chances away," suggest a sense of financial precarity and despair. The following lines, "To get what I want / To be all that I dream / Chalk one more up for the American scream," allude to the notion that the American Dream is ultimately elusive and unattainable, and may in fact be a form of indoctrination or exploitation.
The chorus, "Less life by the hour / Life on a dime! / Whose dime? Not ours / On borrowed time!" reinforces this notion of living in a society that values productivity over well-being, and suggests that the individual's time and labor is being exploited for the benefit of others. The lyric "To paint a pretty picture / To star in our own show / To get ahead and wake the dead and pay the fucking rent" speaks to the pressures of conforming to societal norms and expectations, while the line "The road is paved with glory days and memories of all the life that has been spent" suggests a sense of nostalgia and regret for time lost pursuing unfulfilling goals.
The final verse, "And what's the chance that we'll reap what we have sown? / Harvest youthful idealism from the direction we have grown?" suggests a sense of futility and questioning of whether or not the individual's actions will truly have any meaningful impact. The chorus repeats, and the closing lines, "Will you remember me? / Will we recall what's going to be?" suggest a desire for connection and significance in the face of an uncertain future.
Line by Line Meaning
I lived fifty-four dollars today
I spent all of the money I had today
I threw all of my chances away
I missed my opportunities
To get what I want
In order to achieve my goals
To be all that I dream
To fulfill my dreams
Chalk one more up for the American scream
Another instance of American consumerism
Less life by the hour
As time passes by, life becomes less fulfilling
Life on a dime!
Life is cheap and limited
Whose dime? Not ours
We are not in control of our own lives
On borrowed time!
Our time is limited and we must make the most of it
Time to find out how far we will go
We must determine how much we are willing to sacrifice to achieve success
To paint a pretty picture
To create an attractive facade
To star in our own show
To be the center of attention
To get ahead and wake the dead and pay the fucking rent
To succeed in life and fulfill our responsibilities
The road is paved with glory days and memories of all the life that has been spent
Life is full of memories and experiences
Time's up!
Our time is running out
And what's the chance that we'll reap what we have sown?
What are the odds that we'll achieve our goals?
Harvest youthful idealism from the direction we have grown?
Can we rediscover our youthful idealism?
Are you punching the clock or is it punching you?
Are you in control of your own life or are you a slave to your job?
I don't know how you're holding up, but man, I'm nursing one hell of a bruise
I don't know how you're coping, but I'm struggling
How will we be?
What will become of us?
Will we be free?
Will we be able to live our lives as we want to?
Will we still dream of all the endless possibilities?
Will we still have hope for the future?
Will we still laugh?
Will we still find joy in life?
Will we still cry?
Will we still experience sadness?
Will we still change our minds?
Will we continue to learn and grow?
Will we still wonder why?
Will we continue to question the meaning of life?
Will you remember me?
Will I be remembered after I'm gone?
Will we recall what's going to be?
Will we remember what the future holds?
Contributed by Elliot L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
KyleAgs
her songs are so amazing - her voice is really unique and her lyrics are beautifully written!
michele jusko
I love a Fine Frenzy have both albums and Alison's voice and lyrics and melodies are simply gorgeous! A huge inspiration to me...
MagicalZayz
Loving that lovely accompaniment, partic. the guitar (or whatever related instrument it is) - and of course Alison's insightful, quaintly poetic lyrics delivered in that sweet voice of hers. ♥
Stark Darkness
This is the first time I heard this song, and I'm in love with it!
ninaloveme
i love this song! The new album is so good!
Sarah Omar
I love listening to her songs, their soo relaxing :P it helps me go to sleep, her voice is so soothing. Love her! X
LondonHarrods
This song is awesome!
Paola Martinez
Omg...i cannot get over this song! It has been in my head all dayyyyyy. =] [=
fairyvivi18
amoo su musica... es super especial... cambia mi vida!!
Hannah Perez
Love this song<3