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.
Tell Me Lies
Swingin' Utters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I just can't figure it out
It's strange to me
That the visions I see
Seduce me but for now
I try to focus
But I can only do a little
At one time
Everyone keeps telling me
Everything's going to be all right
Just sit right down
And we'll tell you lies
I'm at a junction
But I just don't know which path
I'm proud of all the work Iæ?³e done
But it never seems to last
It's not for money it's for love
And it just might break my back
Sometimes it seems as though
Something might go my way
I'll never give it up
Too many things Iæ?³e yet to say
I've done it by myself
And I can do it all again
The lyrics of Swingin' Utters’s song Tell Me Lies speak of a personal struggle with life and its many uncertainties. The singer is in a state of confusion and cannot seem to make sense of things. The visions that he sees are seductive, but he cannot focus on them for long. He is constantly bombarded with messages telling him that everything will be okay, but he knows deep down that these are lies.
The song talks about how the singer is at a crossroads in his life and is unsure which path to take. He is proud of the work that he has done, but it never seems to last. He is not doing it for the money, but for love, and this might just end up breaking him. He knows that he has to keep trying and never give up, despite the many roadblocks that he faces.
Overall, the lyrics speak to the human experience of struggling with uncertainty, self-doubt, and the pressure to keep going no matter what. It emphasizes the importance of perseverance and the need to seek out our own truths, rather than blindly accepting the lies that we are told.
Line by Line Meaning
My life's a mystery
My life is inexplicable and hard to comprehend
I just can't figure it out
I am unable to grasp the true meaning of my life
It's strange to me
It feels unusual and remarkable to me
That the visions I see
The things I imagine and visualize in my mind's eye
Seduce me but for now
Beckon and lure me, but not fully convinced to follow them yet
I try to focus
I attempt to concentrate and pay attention
But I can only do a little
I can only accomplish a small amount at a time
Everyone keeps telling me
People around me persistently say
Everything's going to be all right
Everything will turn out fine in the end
Just sit right down
Just relax and take a seat
And we'll tell you lies
And we will deceive you with false promises
I'm at a junction
I find myself at a crossroads
But I just don't know which path
But I am unsure which direction to take
I'm proud of all the work I've done
I am content and pleased with the effort I have invested
But it never seems to last
But the fruits of my labor never endure for long
It's not for money it's for love
It is not driven by financial gain but rather by passion
And it just might break my back
And it may cause me great physical or emotional strain
Sometimes it seems as though
Occasionally it appears that
Something might go my way
Something might turn out in my favor
I'll never give it up
I will never abandon my aspirations
Too many things I've yet to say
There are too many thoughts and feelings that I still need to express
I've done it by myself
I have managed to achieve my goals on my own
And I can do it all again
And I am capable of doing it all over again
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Christine Mcvie, Eddy Quintela Mendonca
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind