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.
Still believe
Ten Foot Pole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like you're trapped and flailing blindly in a garbage bag
You're sinking in a tar pit like a saber tooth
You struggle but the blackness sticks to you
Like a disease that you can't wash off
So you go into the kitchen for a carving knife
But you've tried to cut it out before
It only left you hurting more
I still believe in you
I hope that you'll pull through
Don't let this moment last
Let's put it in the past
If you believe in me
Sit down and try to breathe
Let this dark moment go
Turn back to the you I know
You're convinced your friends are hatching plots against you
And your family conspires to watch your misery
Everyone keeps saying it's just chemical
Can't they see that chemicals are killing you?
Just as surely as heart failure
Why not another failure now you're on a roll
Odd that the thought of dying makes you cry
When all you dream about is suicide
The lyrics to Ten Foot Pole's song "Still Believe" portray an emotional plea to a person who is struggling deeply with mental illness. The first verse sets the scene of feeling suffocated, trapped, and sinking deeper into despair, with the second verse describing a growing paranoia that everyone around them is out to get them. The chorus serves as a hopeful reminder that the singer still believes in the person they are addressing, and urges them to let go of the dark moment and turn back to the version of themselves that the singer knows and cares about.
The lyrics address a complex issue with sensitivity and compassion. They highlight the internal turmoil of someone who is struggling with mental illness, while also acknowledging the impact that this struggle can have on their relationships with others. It's clear that the singer cares deeply about the person they are addressing and wants to offer support, while also acknowledging that recovery is ultimately up to the person themselves.
Overall, "Still Believe" is a powerful and poignant representation of the struggles of mental illness, and encourages empathy and understanding for those going through it.
Line by Line Meaning
So the walls are closing in to suffocate you
You feel trapped and suffocated, as if there is no escape from your situation.
Like you're trapped and flailing blindly in a garbage bag
Your efforts to escape or find a way out feel futile, as if you are flailing blindly in the dark.
You're sinking in a tar pit like a saber tooth
You feel like you are being dragged down by your problems and struggles, like a saber tooth stuck in a tar pit.
You struggle but the blackness sticks to you
You try to fight against the darkness and negativity, but it seems to cling to you regardless.
Like a disease that you can't wash off
The negativity and pain that you are experiencing feel like a disease that you cannot cure or get rid of.
So you go into the kitchen for a carving knife
You feel like you need to take drastic measures to escape your situation or relieve your pain, such as getting a weapon to harm yourself.
But you've tried to cut it out before
You have attempted to cope with your problems or pain in the past, but it did not provide a lasting relief.
It only left you hurting more
Rather than addressing your pain, your previous attempts to cope or escape only added to your pain and suffering.
I still believe in you
Someone cares for you and believes in your ability to overcome your challenges and pain.
I hope that you'll pull through
They want you to be able to overcome your struggles and pain, and are hopeful that you will.
Don't let this moment last
You are capable of getting past this difficult moment and should not let it define you or your life.
Let's put it in the past
Together, you and the person supporting you can work to move past this difficult moment and focus on the future.
If you believe in me
The person supporting you has faith in their ability to help you and wants you to trust them.
Sit down and try to breathe
It is important to take a moment to catch your breath and calm down amidst the chaos and pain you are feeling.
Let this dark moment go
It is possible to put the darkness and negativity behind you and move forward into better times.
Turn back to the you I know
The person supporting you wants you to remember the strong, capable person they know you can be and strive towards that version of yourself.
You're convinced your friends are hatching plots against you
You feel isolated and paranoid, as if your friends are working against you rather than supporting you.
And your family conspires to watch your misery
You feel as though even your own family is not supportive or caring, and might even be enjoying your pain and struggles.
Everyone keeps saying it's just chemical
People may be trying to explain away your pain and struggles as being caused by a chemical imbalance or some other external factor.
Can't they see that chemicals are killing you?
Rather than being a simple chemical imbalance, the pain and negativity you are feeling may be exacerbating a serious mental health issue and making things worse.
Just as surely as heart failure
Mental health issues and struggles can be just as deadly and serious as physical health concerns like heart failure.
Why not another failure now you're on a roll
It can be easy to spiral into more negative thinking and experiences when things seem to be consistently going wrong or getting worse.
Odd that the thought of dying makes you cry
You may be struggling with thoughts of suicide or self-harm, but deep down you know it would be a painful and difficult experience to endure.
When all you dream about is suicide
Despite the difficulties, you may still be struggling with a persistent and overwhelming urge to end your own life.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind