Swingin' Utters is an American punk rock band that formed in the late 1980s… Read Full Bio ↴Swingin' Utters is an American punk rock band that formed in the late 1980s. Having begun in Santa Cruz, California, the band moved to San Francisco where they are now based. They have been signed to Fat Wreck Chords since 1996.

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.

Tied Down Spit On
Swingin' Utters Lyrics

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You better go, or you'll be stepped on with your sharpened bayonette boots you'll be long gone you gotta go, you gotta get on with all the glory of good riches you've been brainwashed (Chorus) and as far as for all the days and what you'll do with them, just spend some quiet time you need some rest to mend, you're getting slow, you're getting old now, you gotta run, just like you used to, you're tied down, boy, you've been tied down and spit on. (Koski)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Swingin' Utters's song Tied Down Spit On seem to talk about a person who is being forced to leave or escape due to some kind of dangerous situation. The reference to "sharpened bayonet boots" suggests a military or wartime setting. The person seems to be in a state of unrest, possibly due to being brainwashed or manipulated. The chorus talks about the need for rest and reflection, and how the person's freedom and youth are being restricted. The line "you're tied down, boy, you've been tied down and spit on" seems to metaphorically describe how the person is being held back and treated unfairly.

The song could be interpreted as a critique of war, the military-industrial complex, or authoritarian regimes that use brainwashing and fear to control people. The lyrics convey a sense of urgency and desperation, with the person feeling trapped and persecuted. The chorus suggests that people need time to recuperate and process traumatic events, rather than being forced to constantly move and fight. Overall, the song seems to be a call for people to resist oppression and fight for their freedom.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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