As well as being classed as a "punk revival" band (reminiscent of UK 1970s bands such as Stiff Little Fingers, The Damned, Sham 69 and Eddie & the Hot Rods), Swingin' Utters have increasingly shown themselves to be influenced by Irish folk, particularly The Pogues. The Utters paid homage to their influences with a stellar cover of Cocksparrer's I Got Your Number on the Blackout compilation Punk Rock Jukebox.
Members of the Swingin' Utters have been involved in many musical side-projects, most notably Johnny Bonnel and Darius Koski's Filthy Thieving Bastards and Druglords of the Avenue (formed in Oakland, California in 2004), and Spike Slawson's Me First and the Gimme Gimmes (in which he is the singer). Drummer Greg McIntee's side project Viva Hate was founded with Tiger Army bassist Geoff Kresge and singer Matt Wedgley of The Force. Guitarist Jack Dalrymple formed and fronted the Fat Wreck band Dead to Me after One Man Army disbanded. Dalrymple, Slawson and Koski also play together in the Re-Volts.
Swingin' Utters tracks have been used in the soundtracks of computer games including "Five Lessons Learned", which appeared on the soundtrack to the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 and "Stupid Lullabies" which was used as the title track to Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX.
Fifteenth and T
Swingin' Utters Lyrics
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now I never want to walk alone and I never want to see the sun come up and its all because of you I never want to feel the pain I never gonna feel the same again and its all for the memory of you Black suit yeah the music is life wait before you burn out the rest of the night max revenge was the name we laughed at in the school yard blood shot eyes yeah my moms always cryin' she says "your friend is dyin" what about the plans we made for the next day! I know you may be right I know its not my life I know it was the right thing to do I don't take the call I went and let my best friend fall and I hope it was the right thing to do. (Huber)
The song "Fifteenth and T" by Swingin' Utters captures the emotions of growing up and losing someone close. The song starts by describing a summer day in Dupont circle where the singer, who is only 13, is drinking beers in the rain and joyriding. The lyrics are reflective, and it is clear that the singer has learned a lot since those carefree days. The chorus communicates that he never wants to walk alone or feel the pain and that this is all because of the person he lost. The second verse then delves deeper into this loss, describing the funeral and the anguish that comes with grief. The singer grapples with the decision he made when he let his best friend fall and is left grappling with whether this was the right thing to do.
This song is an insight into the fragility of life and how the decision to let someone fall can haunt a person for a long time. The lyrics also express the power of friendship and how losing someone can leave a permanent scar on one's heart. The song is about the pain that comes with the loss of a loved one, but it also offers a glimmer of hope that one can find comfort in the memories that they hold.
Line by Line Meaning
Drinkin beers in the pouring rain
I was drinking beer outside in the rain.
Dupont circle summer again
It was another summer in Dupont Circle.
jackin' wheels just for fun
We were stealing cars for fun.
I was only 13
I was young and naive.
watch your step but it's always the same
I was warned, but I still ended up in trouble.
your always down and he's always goin' away
I was always sad, and he was always leaving.
learned a lot about the things you love to this day
I learned a lot about what I love, and it still sticks with me.
now I never want to walk alone
I don't want to be alone anymore.
and I never want to see the sun come up
I don't want to deal with the day after nightfall.
and its all because of you
It's all due to your influence.
I never want to feel the pain
I don't want to deal with emotional pain.
I never gonna feel the same again
Things won't be the same anymore.
and its all for the memory of you
It's all in memory of you, who had such an impact on my life.
Black suit yeah the music is life
The music is everything, just like wearing black clothes.
wait before you burn out the rest of the night
Hold on before you party too hard.
max revenge was the name we laughed at in the school yard
We made fun of Max Revenge in school.
blood shot eyes yeah my moms always cryin'
I always had red eyes and my mom was always worried.
she says "your friend is dyin"
My mom told me my friend was dying.
what about the plans we made for the next day!
What happened to the plans we had for tomorrow?
I know you may be right
You might be correct.
I know it's not my life
This isn't my decision to make.
I know it was the right thing to do
I know it was the right decision.
I don't take the call
I didn't answer the phone.
I went and let my best friend fall
I let my best friend down.
and I hope it was the right thing to do.
I hope I made the right decision in letting my friend go.
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