Several of Streetlight's members were already well known among the New Jersey ska community for their roles in past ska bands from that area, most notably Catch 22's Tomas Kalnoky, James Egan, Mike Soprano, and Josh Ansley, as well as One Cool Guy's Stuart Karmatz, Pete Sibilia, Dan Ross, and Chris Paszik.
The band's first album, Everything Goes Numb, was released on August 26, 2003, and was distributed by Victory Records. They headlined their first ever show at Rutgers University on December 9, 2003 in front of a sold out audience.
The line-up has gone through several changes since the band's conception and currently consists of Matt Stewart on trumpet, Mike Brown on alto and baritone saxophone, Jim Conti on alto and tenor saxophone, Tomas Kalnoky on guitar and lead vocals, Pete McCullaugh on bass guitar, Karl Lyden on trombone, and Chris Thatcher on drums.
Though the band has enjoyed little mainstream commercial success, they have received acclaim in alternative music circles, and their debut album is currently in Interpunk.com's top 100 items, over 2 years after its release. In addition, they regularly sell out their live shows, and their first few shows at Rutgers and The Stone Pony not only sold out, but had people coming from as far as Minnesota and Canada. Their second album, a reworking of Catch 22's Keasbey Nights was released on March 7, 2006.
Streetlight Manifesto's third album, entitled Somewhere in the Between came out on November 13, 2007. Rumors also have it that the band is currently working on a series of 8 albums entitled "The 99 Songs of Revolution" in co-operation with Bandits of the Acoustic Revolution, a side-project of singer Tomas Kalnoky slated for release in early 2009.
On November 17, 2009, the band's website announced that "99 Songs of Revolution: Volume One" has been ready for release for quite some time but "some record labels are just plain horrendous." They are also in the process of arranging a tour for 2010 but will spend some time in the studio until they have "a few records to release."
The first album of 99 Songs of Revolution was released on March 16, 2010. On this CD, the band covered songs by artists such as The Postal Service, Radiohead, and NOFX.
Band Members:
Mike Brown - Baritone Sax
Karl Lyden - Trombone
Jim Conti - Tenor Sax
Matt Stewart - Trumpet
Chris Thatcher - Drums
Tomas Kalnoky - Guitar, Vocals
Pete McCullaugh - Bass
www.streetlightmanifesto.com
Point / Counterpoint
Streetlight Manifesto Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My finger's on the trigger but that trigger seems locked
And I can't stop staring at the tick tock clock
And even if I could I would never give up.
With a vest on my chest, a bullet in my lung
I can't believe I'm dying with my song unsung.
If and when I die won't you bury me alone?
'Cause I'll never get to heaven if I'm singing this song.
If there was something wrong would you be oh so strong?
Would you do what it takes to move this hollow life along?
I'd like to think I would, you know I'd like to think I would
But I guarantee that what you see is not reality
And every time I make a point, she makes a counterpoint
She said it's easy but in the end you'll have no choice
And you know that's only just the way it goes
You said it right man, That is just the way it goes
And the days, and the days they seem like forever
And the days, and the days they seem like forever
But forever isn't ever enough!!
I'd like to sing a song
Please swear you won't be long!
I'll try not to be long but I don't want to get this story wrong
There was a kid who never cared about the little things
Don't even bother because I'm tired and I'm sick of it
And every time she makes a point I'll make a counterpoint!
She said It's easy but in the end you'll have no choice
And you know that's only just the way it goes
You said it right man, that is just the way it goes
I've got a gun in my hand but that gun won't cock
My finger's on the trigger but that trigger seems locked
And I can't stop staring at the tick tock clock
And even if I could I would never give up.
With a vest on my chest, a bullet in my lung
I can't believe I'm dying with my song unsung.
If and when I die won't you bury me alone?
'Cause I'll never get to heaven if I'm singing this song.
Oh, You don't know where I've been!
Oh, You don't know what I've seen!
If I did something right
Would you give up this fight?
Would you say you were wrong and maybe someone else was kind of right
I'd like to think you would
You know I'd like to think you would
But I can't guarantee that what you get is an apology
Jump back to the day we met
I never thought that it would end this way
If ever I let you down I want to ask of you
To take it down a notch and we can talk it on through
And the days, and the days they seem like forever
And the days, and the days they seem like forever
But forever isn't ever enough!!
I'd like to sing a song
Please swear you won't be long!
I'll try not to be long but I don't want to get this story wrong
There was a kid who never cared about the little things
Don't even bother because I still don't give a shit
And every time she makes a point I'll make a counterpoint!
She said it's easy but in the end you'll have no choice
And you know that's only just the way it goes
You said it right man, that is just the way it goes
I've got a gun in my hand but that gun won't cock
My finger's on the trigger but that trigger seems locked
And I can't stop staring at the tick tock clock
And even if I could I would never give up.
With a vest on my chest, a bullet in my lung
I can't believe I'm dying with my song unsung.
If and when I die won't you bury me alone?
'Cause I'll never get to heaven if I'm singing this song.
Oh, You don't know where I've been!
Oh, You don't know what I've seen!
So tell me friend, How's it going to end?
When the shit goes down and there's no one left Around to get your back
You'll crack
You'll smile and agree with everything they say
They'll try to tell you that it's all okay
But it's not and you're shot and you're bleeding pretty bad
And You can't stop thinking about the things you never had
Like a wife and a kid and the things you never did
You're running around
You're living a life that's empty in the end, my friend
No, You'll take back all you've said
Oh, When the regrets fill your head
Trust me I've been there before
I would not wish it upon my greatest enemy
What Irony!
Once friends, but I find
You'll have to learn this lesson on your own
So I waited by the phone but that phone never rang
And I sang so loud so I wouldn't hear the bang
When the bang never came and I never got the call
Fuck You! Thank You! I Love You All!
Some are going to say that we're doomed to repeat
All our past mistakes
Great!
But that's not me
And even if it was I would always disagree
Because in the end I always get the better of me
I've got a gun in my hand but that gun won't cock
My finger's on the trigger but that trigger seems locked
And I can't stop staring at the tick tock clock
And even if I could I would never give up.
With a vest on my chest, a bullet in my lung
I can't believe I'm dying with my song unsung.
If and when I die won't you bury me alone?
'Cause I'll never get to heaven if I'm singing this song.
Oh, I'll take you where I've been!
Oh, I'll show you what I've seen!
The lyrics to Streetlight Manifesto's song Point Counterpoint speak to themes of desperation and the struggle for control in life. The opening lines describe a character with a gun in their hand, but unable to use it due to a malfunction with the weapon. This is a metaphor for feeling trapped and powerless, despite having a tool that could potentially give them agency. The ticking clock amplifies the sense of impending doom and the urgency to take action, but the character ultimately feels unable to make a move.
The next verse talks about the desire for strength and resilience in the face of adversity, but also acknowledging the difficulty of achieving that kind of fortitude. The line "And every time I make a point, she makes a counterpoint" speaks to interpersonal conflict and the challenge of communicating effectively with others. The repeated line "And the days, and the days they seem like forever" highlights the feeling of being stuck, with time dragging on endlessly without progress or relief.
The final verses touch on regret and the pain of missed opportunities. The line "Like a wife and a kid and the things you never did" speaks to the fear of not living a fulfilling life and the sadness that comes with looking back on what could have been. The repetition of the chorus lines underscores the cyclical nature of life and the inescapable fate of death, while also expressing a desire to share one's experiences with others.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got a gun in my hand but that gun won't cock
I feel powerless and unable to take action
My finger's on the trigger but that trigger seems locked
I have the desire to act but feel stuck and unable to move forward
And I can't stop staring at the tick tock clock
I'm consumed by the passing of time and feeling a sense of urgency
And even if I could I would never give up.
Despite feeling powerless, I still have the determination to keep going and keep fighting
With a vest on my chest, a bullet in my lung
I'm facing danger and potential death, with a sense of helplessness
I can't believe I'm dying with my song unsung.
I fear dying before I can fully express myself and my ideas
If and when I die won't you bury me alone?
I feel isolated and misunderstood, and would rather be left alone even in death
'Cause I'll never get to heaven if I'm singing this song.
I feel like my beliefs and opinions may prevent me from reaching a higher power or ideal
If there was something wrong would you be oh so strong?
If things start to go wrong, will you be strong enough to handle it?
Would you do what it takes to move this hollow life along?
Are you willing to take action and move forward even in the face of adversity?
I'd like to think I would, you know I'd like to think I would
I hope that I'm strong enough to handle anything that comes my way
But I guarantee that what you see is not reality
I acknowledge that my perception may not align with the truth
And every time I make a point, she makes a counterpoint
I'm engaged in a cycle of argument and counter-argument
She said it's easy but in the end you'll have no choice
My opponent thinks that their point of view is the only logical one
And you know that's only just the way it goes
I accept that disagreements and arguments are a natural part of life
You said it right man, That is just the way it goes
I agree with my opponent's statement that arguments are inevitable
And the days, and the days they seem like forever
I feel like time is passing slowly and the current situation feels never-ending
But forever isn't ever enough!!
I feel like I need more time to accomplish everything I want in life
I'd like to sing a song
I want to express myself and my emotions
Please swear you won't be long!
I hope that others will listen to me and take the time to understand my perspective
I'll try not to be long but I don't want to get this story wrong
I'm conscious of not wanting to misrepresent myself or my thoughts
There was a kid who never cared about the little things
I'm telling a story about a person who had a different perspective on life than me
Don't even bother because I'm tired and I'm sick of it
I'm starting to feel fatigued and frustrated with the current conversation
And every time she makes a point I'll make a counterpoint!
I feel the need to argue and express my own point of view
She said It's easy but in the end you'll have no choice
My opponent thinks that their point of view is the only logical one
Oh, You don't know where I've been!
You don't understand the path I've taken to reach this point
Oh, You don't know what I've seen!
You haven't experienced the things that I have, and may not fully understand my perspective
If I did something right
If I succeed in something
Would you give up this fight?
Will my opponent stop arguing with me if I'm proven right?
Would you say you were wrong and maybe someone else was kind of right
Will my opponent be willing to admit if they're wrong and recognize someone else's viewpoint?
I'd like to think you would
I hope that my opponent is willing to learn and grow from this conversation
You know I'd like to think you would
I believe my opponent has the capacity to understand different perspectives
But I can't guarantee that what you get is an apology
I can't guarantee that my opponent will apologize or change their mind
Jump back to the day we met
I'm remembering a past experience with this person
I never thought that it would end this way
I'm reminiscing on how our relationship has changed over time
If ever I let you down I want to ask of you
If I've disappointed my opponent, I want to have a conversation with them about it
To take it down a notch and we can talk it on through
I hope that we can have a calm and productive conversation
Don't even bother because I still don't give a shit
I'm feeling apathetic and disengaged from the conversation
So tell me friend, How's it going to end?
I'm wondering how this conversation or argument will ultimately play out
When the shit goes down and there's no one left Around to get your back
In difficult situations, you may not be able to rely on others for help
You'll crack
Facing difficulty and pressure can cause a person to break down emotionally
You'll smile and agree with everything they say
To avoid conflict or criticism, someone may pretend to agree with the other person
They'll try to tell you that it's all okay
Others may try to convince you that everything will be fine, even if it's not true
But it's not and you're shot and you're bleeding pretty bad
The situation is getting worse and the person is getting hurt
And You can't stop thinking about the things you never had
The person regrets never experiencing certain things in life
Like a wife and a kid and the things you never did
The person feels like they've missed out on important life experiences
You're running around
The person feels like they're always busy and rushing through life
You're living a life that's empty in the end, my friend
The person feels like their life is meaningless or unfulfilled
No, You'll take back all you've said
The person regrets their actions or words
Oh, When the regrets fill your head
The person feels weighed down by their regrets or past mistakes
Trust me I've been there before
I can relate to this feeling or experience
I would not wish it upon my greatest enemy
The person feels like this experience is too difficult for anyone to go through
What Irony!
This situation is surprisingly ironic
Once friends, but I find
We used to be friends, but something has changed between us
You'll have to learn this lesson on your own
I can't force my opponent to understand or see things my way
So I waited by the phone but that phone never rang
I was waiting for my opponent to contact me, but they never did
And I sang so loud so I wouldn't hear the bang
I'm trying to drown out my negative feelings or fears
When the bang never came and I never got the call
My fears or worries turned out to be unfounded and my opponent never reached out
Fuck You! Thank You! I Love You All!
I have complex and mixed emotions about the situation and the people involved
Some are going to say that we're doomed to repeat
Some people believe that we will continue to make the same mistakes over and over again
All our past mistakes
All of the mistakes we've made before
Great!
Sarcastically, I find this an unhelpful and negative attitude to have
But that's not me
I believe that I can learn from my mistakes and grow as a person
And even if it was I would always disagree
Even if I were a person who repeated past mistakes, I would still believe that I can change and grow
Because in the end I always get the better of me
I know that I am my own biggest obstacle, but I believe that I can overcome this
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind