The Stockyard Stoics were a punk rock band based out of Brooklyn with curre… Read Full Bio ↴The Stockyard Stoics were a punk rock band based out of Brooklyn with current members all hailing from Eugene, Oregon. Their songs focus on political and social issues, in particular anarchism. The band was heavily influenced by such early British punk bands such as The Clash and Stiff Little Fingers, Jamaican Ska and reggae, pre-honky tonk Country, and Rockabilly.

Their last full length album, Catastrophe was released on Brooklyn, NY's BANKSHOT! Records

http://myspace.com/stockyardstoics
http://myspace.com/bankshotrecords

Status Quo
Stockyard Stoics Lyrics

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Another transient counter-cultural phase
Identity expires in ninety days
My face don't change with the clothes I choose to wear
And the world don't change when I say I care
Hoodies, hawkes, or dreads to their ass
Or a tender passion for the working class
All of them claiming most devout
And all of them locking others out

You say that you are finally free
Outside of society
Is that what's really going on?
It doesn't look that way to me
You're still out for number one
And you're still looking down on me

Status quo
Exclusion inclusion confusion alienation
Exclusion inclusion confusion status quo

Oh yeah this group dynamic's fucking hell
I don't even get along with myself
I'm not so good with people that's for sure
And they're not so good with me either
Talking shit and dropping names
Inside outside social games
Like drowning rats from a sinking ship
We make me fucking sick

You say that you are finally free
Outside of society
Is that what's really going on?
It doesn't look that way to me
You're still out for number one
And you're still looking down on me

Status quo
Exclusion inclusion confusion alienation
Exclusion inclusion confusion status quo

Status quo
We've got a long way to go

Overall Meaning

In "Status Quo," Stockyard Stoics presents a cynical view of counter-culture and group dynamics. The first verse provides a commentary on the transient nature of counter-culture, where people adopt a certain identity or look for a short time before moving on to the next trend. The singer, however, is not interested in changing their appearance to fit in with any particular group because they recognize that it doesn't actually make a difference in the world. The final line of the verse serves as a commentary on how these different counter-culture groups can be just as exclusionary as society itself.

The second verse shifts focus to the group dynamic among the counter-culture, which the singer finds toxic. They describe a feeling of alienation from both themselves and others, as well as a general distaste for the inane social games people play within these groups. Finally, the refrain repeats the idea that despite their claims of being outside of society and free from its constraints, these counter-culture groups are still motivated by selfishness and still participate in the same dynamics that they claim to be rejecting.

This song is ultimately an indictment of the hollowness of counter-culture and the illusions of freedom it promotes. It also serves as a critique of the toxicity of group dynamics, regardless of what kind of group it is. While there is a sense of frustration and disillusionment in the song, it ends on a note of hope with the acknowledgment that change is still possible.

Line by Line Meaning

Another transient counter-cultural phase
People keep pretending to be counter-cultural without actually doing anything that will change the status quo

Identity expires in ninety days
People's identity is just a temporary phase of their life that they change every few months

My face don't change with the clothes I choose to wear
Wearing different clothes doesn't change who I am as a person

And the world don't change when I say I care
People saying that they care about something doesn't actually create any real change in the world

Hoodies, hawkes, or dreads to their ass
People try to be counter-cultural by wearing different clothes or hairstyles, but it doesn't actually change anything

Or a tender passion for the working class
People may claim to have a strong passion for the working class, but they don't actually do anything to help working-class people

All of them claiming most devout
People who claim to be counter-cultural are often the most vocal about their beliefs, but they don't actually do anything to create change

And all of them locking others out
People who claim to be counter-cultural often judge and exclude others who aren't part of their group

You say that you are finally free
People claim to be free from society's constraints, but they are actually still limited by their own self-interest

Outside of society
People claim to have broken free from society's norms and expectations

Is that what's really going on?
The singer doubts the validity of the claim that people have broken free from society's constraints

It doesn't look that way to me
The artist believes that people are still constrained by their own self-interest and social games

You're still out for number one
People are still focused on their own self-interest, even if they claim to be counter-cultural

And you're still looking down on me
People who claim to be counter-cultural often judge and exclude others who aren't part of their group

Status quo
The same patterns of behavior and power structures continue, despite claims of being counter-cultural

Exclusion inclusion confusion alienation
The artist identifies the negative consequences of group dynamics and identity politics, which can lead to exclusion and alienation

Oh yeah this group dynamic's fucking hell
The artist dislikes the way that group dynamics often create conflict and exclusion

I don't even get along with myself
The singer struggles with their own identity and self-acceptance

I'm not so good with people that's for sure
The singer acknowledges their own social shortcomings

And they're not so good with me either
The artist feels judged and excluded by others

Talking shit and dropping names
People often engage in gossip and petty politics within groups

Inside outside social games
People often engage in power dynamics and social games within groups to establish status and influence

Like drowning rats from a sinking ship
People often behave in desperate or destructive ways within groups when they feel threatened

We make me fucking sick
The artist dislikes the negative aspects of group dynamics and identity politics

We've got a long way to go
The singer believes that true change will require more than just superficial counter-cultural posturing

Contributed by Madison D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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