Scared Straigh… Read Full Bio ↴Ten Foot Pole was founded in 1983 as Scared Straight.
Scared Straight was a punk band from Simi Valley, California. The band was formed in 1983 by a group of friends and was originally called S.O.F. Original members were Scott Radinsky, Mike Thompson, Gary Gallanes and Dennis Jagard, who started the band to enter a "Battle of the Bands" competition at a local skate rink. After going through several members and name changes, they began playing with some "Nardcore" bands from nearby Oxnard, California, which helped them gain recognition. All of the Scared Straight records were released by Mystic Records.
In the early 1990s they changed their name to Ten Foot Pole. One of the reasons for the name change was to move away from the "straight-edge" reputation that followed the band with a name like Scared Straight. In the beginning, Ten Foot Pole had a reputation of being a more aggressive, hardcore punk band that likes to party and have fun. The band released two albums under their new name with the old lineup: Swill and Rev. After the release of Rev and a split EP with Sweden's Satanic Surfers, Radinsky was forced to leave the band due to his professional baseball commitments and Ten Foot Pole's desire to be a full-time touring band. From then on Dennis Jagard took over lead vocals for the band.
The next albums, Unleashed and Insider, developed a new fan base but lost some old time fans who preferred Scott's voice. This included decision makers at Epitaph Records, and the next album, Bad Mother Trucker, was released on Victory Records, followed by Subliminable Messages on Go-Kart Records. The band toured Europe to promote the album, along with Phinius Gage. Various musicians joined and left along the way as the band toured heavily in the US and Canada. Various members included Glen "Vegas" Murray Eric Cody, Kris Kwiatkowski, John Chapman, Dan Kelly, Chris Dalley, Keith Divel, Chris Del Rio, and Mike Levy who is a teacher in California, along with Kevin Ruggeri, who is an English teacher for Conestoga High School in Berwyn, Pennsylvania. Lead singer Dennis is a sound engineer, who has mixed for artists including Prince, Beck, AFI and Jimmy Eat World.
On 4 April 2009, the band ended a three-year hiatus with a show at the Riorock festival in Belgium, followed by some shows in California in late 2011 and a short tour in Australia in November 2012.
They were also featured 2000 in the Punk Goes Metal compilations performing a cover of "Love Song" by Tesla.
Fade Away
Ten Foot Pole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm different from everyone else
Lies are what you believe in
Promises that you'll never keep
Don't tell me stories of your pastimes glories
They've faded away with the sun
Faded away
I'm flying high above the gray
Can't control what's out of my hands
The river looks so deep and I don't want to swim
In the muddy waters that you offer me
I'm not going to waste no more of the good life
Watching you fade away
Hands on a watch
Turn like the wheels on a train
And the days turn to weeks
The months seem the same
Look at all the bullshit that surrounds me
Plastic people different countries
Speak different words
They're all the same life for them is just a game
I want a way out but I'm stuck here
I need an excuse to be myself again
How long will I have to wait just fading away
Faded away
I'm sitting in the back because it's where I belong
I don't say anything just try to get along
On to the runway to catch another plane
I'm going back home to be myself again
The song "Fade Away" by Ten Foot Pole discusses the challenges of being different and not fitting into the mold that society expects everyone to conform to. The lyrics are about someone who is unique and doesn't want to be treated like a toy. They're tired of people telling them lies and making promises they won't keep. The song is about the struggles of being an individual in a world where everyone is expected to be the same and conform to societal norms.
The verses of the song are filled with a sense of loss and frustration. The singer is tired of hearing stories about other people's past glories and is tired of watching people fade away. The bridge talks about the passage of time and the inevitability of change. Despite this, the chorus is uplifting as the singer takes control of their life and leaves behind the negativity and chaos.
The final verse speaks to the desire to be true to oneself and to find a way out of the mundane and meaningless existence that society imposes on so many people. The singer is sitting in the back, trying to blend in, but they know they don't belong there. They need to go home and be themselves again.
In conclusion, "Fade Away" is a powerful song about the struggle of being different in a world that wants everyone to conform. It's a call to be true to oneself and to reject the meaningless existence that many people are trapped in.
Line by Line Meaning
Keep on playing me I'm not a toy
I'm a person with my own feelings and thoughts, not an object for you to play with.
I'm different from everyone else
I have my own unique qualities and characteristics that set me apart from others.
Lies are what you believe in
You choose to believe in falsehoods instead of facing the truth.
Promises that you'll never keep
You make commitments that you have no intention of fulfilling.
Don't tell me stories of your pastimes glories
I'm not interested in hearing about your past accomplishments or triumphs.
They've faded away with the sun Faded away
Your past achievements are no longer relevant or impressive.
I'm flying high above the gray
I'm rising above the negativity and challenges in my life.
See it on the floor beneath my feet
I can see the hardships and obstacles I've overcome on my journey.
Can't control what's out of my hands
I can't manipulate or change things that are beyond my control.
The river looks so deep and I don't want to swim
I'm hesitant to dive into risky or uncertain situations.
In the muddy waters that you offer me
You're presenting me with undesirable or unethical options.
I'm not going to waste no more of the good life Watching you fade away
I won't continue to sacrifice my happiness or potential for someone who is on a downward spiral.
Hands on a watch Turn like the wheels on a train
Time passes quickly with each tick of the clock and rotation of the Earth.
And the days turn to weeks The months seem the same
The passing of time can blur together, making it feel like nothing significant is changing or improving.
Look at all the bullshit that surrounds me Plastic people different countries Speak different words
I'm surrounded by fake or superficial individuals from various places with diverse cultures and languages.
They're all the same life for them is just a game
Despite their differences, they all view life as a trivial or competitive pursuit.
I want a way out but I'm stuck here
I crave a means of escape from my current situation, but I feel trapped or unable to leave.
I need an excuse to be myself again
I'm searching for a reason or justification to reclaim my true identity or personality.
How long will I have to wait just fading away Faded away
I'm unsure of how much longer I'll have to endure the monotony and disillusionment before I can escape.
I'm sitting in the back because it's where I belong
I feel like an outsider or inferior, which is why I don't assert myself or speak up.
I don't say anything just try to get along
I avoid confrontation or controversy and simply try to appease or please others.
On to the runway to catch another plane
I'm moving on and leaving behind my current situation, both physically and emotionally.
I'm going back home to be myself again
I'm returning to a place where I can be authentic and true to myself.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: SCOTT RADINSKY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind