The original lineup consisted of vocalist Jason Cruz, guitarists Jake Kiley and Rob Ramos, bassist Jim Cherry and drummer Adam Austin. After releasing a self-titled 7" record, they became one of the first bands to be signed to Fat Wreck Chords, the record label owned and operated by Fat Mike of the band NOFX. Austin left the band in 1992 and was replaced by Brad Morrison who also left the band and was replaced on drums by Jordan Burns, formerly of fellow Simi Valley natives Ten Foot Pole. Their first album, Another Day in Paradise, was released in May of 1994. Suburban Teenage Wasteland Blues followed in 1996. In 1998 they released The Skinny Years...Before We Got Fat, a compilation album of their pre-Fat Wreck Chords material.
The band showed notable musical growth on their 1998 album Twisted by Design, which was both speedy and technical but also punk-based and with darker overtones. The album established a mixture of the fast, poppy sound the band had established with Suburban Teenage Wasteland Blues but mixed it with more atonality and more abstract song structures. Bassist Jim Cherry left the band in 1999 and went on to play in Pulley and Zero Down, but died of heart failure in 2002. He was replaced by Chris Aiken, whose musical background had a strong impact on the 2000 album The Element of Sonic Defiance, which continued in the fast, melodic punk tradition of the band while introducing more hard rock and metal elements.
In 2002 the band released their fourth full-length album An American Paradox, their first release to appear in the Billboard Top 200. The initial production run contained a bonus song entitled "Don't Look Back". A video was filmed for the song "Cemetery" and was included on several punk rock video compilations. In 2003 they recorded and released a live album as part of the Fat Wreck Chords Live in a Dive series. Exile in Oblivion, was released in 2004, with a video filmed for the song "Analog." Strung Out released their sixth full-length album, Blackhawks Over Los Angeles on June 12, 2007.
In March 2009, Strung Out released a compilation of B-sides, demos, and covers called "Prototypes and Painkillers" with material from all eras of the band's history. Many of these tracks have been on various punk compilations and/or were included in their "Live in a Dive" recording.
On September 29, 2009, Strung Out Released a their 7th studio album titled Agents of the Underground.
Lubricating The Revolution
Strung Out Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And neither does the face
Of a man who doesn't know where his place is
This man and his shadow
Know exactly where they're going
Straight to hell in all it's glory
With the rest of it all
So that I can set myself apart
And find another way
On this planet I call my home
I'll be an island
I'll rent a revolution
And sell my soul to the cause
As a million footsteps march in my parade
And I'll buy the moon, a bomb
And aim it straight at number one
Cause nobody really wants a revolution to come
I set myself up
So that I can see what's going on
And never be like you
If you have any questions
Feel free to make up your mind
On this planet here right now
There's a place for everyone to just be
On this planet here right now
There's no place I'd rather be
I set myself up
So that I can see what's going on
And never be like you
If you have any questions
Feel free to make up your mind
On this planet I call my home
I'll be an island
The lyrics of the song "Lubricating The Revolution" by Strung Out are deep and thought-provoking. The first few lines suggest that the truth can be found by looking into a mirror or into the face of someone who is lost, unsure of where they belong. The following lines describe a man who knows where he is going - straight to hell - and his shadow is with him all the way. It is unclear why he is going to hell, but the words "with the rest of it all" suggest that he is not alone in his journey.
The next verse speaks of setting oneself apart from others in order to find a new path. The idea of being an island implies that the singer wants to be self-sufficient and independent, free from the constraints of society. The lines "I'll rent a revolution / And sell my soul to the cause" suggest that he is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve his goals, even if it means sacrificing his own well-being. The final lines of the chorus suggest that the singer is willing to go to extreme lengths to cause change, even if it means buying a bomb and aiming it at his enemies.
The final verse is similar to the first, in that the singer sets himself apart from others in order to see clearly. He again emphasizes the importance of being on this planet, indicating that he wants to be present in the moment and make the most of his time. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the singer's dedication to his cause and his willingness to do whatever it takes to achieve his goals.
Overall, "Lubricating The Revolution" is a powerful and thought-provoking song that encourages listeners to think about their place in the world and the things they are willing to do to make a difference.
Line by Line Meaning
The mirror never lies
One can always trust their reflection in the mirror to be truthful
And neither does the face
Just like the mirror, the face is also honest and tells the truth
Of a man who doesn't know where his place is
The man is lost and has yet to find his purpose or where he fits in
This man and his shadow
The man and his shadow are inseparable companions as they walk through life together
Know exactly where they're going
Although the man may be unsure of his place, he and his shadow are confident in the direction they are headed
Straight to hell in all it's glory
They may be heading towards a destructive end, but they are doing it boldly and unapologetically
With the rest of it all
The man is not alone in his fate as he will be joined by others who are also headed towards destruction
I set myself up
I prepare myself and create my own situation
So that I can set myself apart
I do this to distinguish myself from others
And find another way
To discover an uncharted path towards my goals
On this planet I call my home
Referring to the Earth and acknowledging ownership of it
I'll be an island
I'll be a separate entity, isolated from others
I'll rent a revolution
I'll lead a movement for change and progress but will do so in exchange for personal gain
And sell my soul to the cause
Sacrificing integrity and principles for the sake of progress
As a million footsteps march in my parade
As many people support my cause and follow in my footsteps
And I'll buy the moon, a bomb
I'll use any means necessary to achieve my goals, even if it means acquiring weapons of mass destruction
And aim it straight at number one
I'll direct my weapon towards the most powerful and dominant force
Cause nobody really wants a revolution to come
Despite the need for change, people ultimately fear and resist revolution due to the potential chaos it brings
So that I can see what's going on
I set myself up to have a clear understanding of the situation at hand
And never be like you
A vow to never follow the same path as others
If you have any questions
If there are any doubts or uncertainties
Feel free to make up your mind
You are free to come to your own conclusions and make your own decisions
On this planet here right now
Referring once again to the Earth and the present moment in time
There's a place for everyone to just be
There is a place in society for everyone to belong regardless of their differences
There's no place I'd rather be
Satisfaction and contentment in the current state of things
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: CHRISTOPHER TRAVIS JR AIKEN, JACOB IRA KILEY, JASON ALEXANDER CRUZ, JORDAN LIEBERMAN, ROBERT J RAMOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind