1. The Beltones were a… Read Full Bio ↴More than one band has the name the Beltones:
1. The Beltones were a seminal roots reggae, ska group signed to the legendary Trojan Imprint.
2. The Beltones were a southern punk band formed in 1994 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. They released two full lengths on TKO Records ("On Deaf Ears" & "Cheap Trinkets") and four 7"s as well as numerous compilation contributions. They toured all over America, as well as playing several European dates supporting Oxymoron.
The band is known for short and to the point songs, featuring gruff vocals, and fast tempos. Lyrics often deal with drinking and relationships with the opposite sex.
My Old Man
The Beltones Lyrics
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Another hazy morn is another day older
Now the weekend's gone, and so are you
And all the bottles collecting up on the shelf
Are there to ease the pain but it just don't help
Cuz now you hate yourself, and you hate me too
Well looking at you puts a lump in my throat
And there's a reason that it's giving me the fear
Cuz you're shaking like a leaf
And I've seen that shake before, my friend
I ain't giving you no shit, just understand
You're looking like my old man
Well some little girl went out and broke your heart
Ripped out your mind and tore your world apart
And it ain't the first time you've been done this way
There's an angry little man inside of you
He comes out to play when you get stewed
And you're gonna have to starve him out some day
The Beltones' song, My Old Man, is a deeply reflective piece that deals with themes of alcoholism, self-loathing, and regret. The opening lines poetically emphasize an act of thrown out empty bottles speak of a character that is perpetually numbing their pain with alcohol. The lines "Another hazy morn is another day older," highlights the cyclical nature of their life, where they are stuck in a pattern of drinking and being hungover. The song paints a grim picture of a life wasted and ruined by alcoholism.
The singer's relationship is also affected, with lines such as "And all the bottles collecting up on the shelf, Are there to ease the pain, but it just don't help, Cuz now you hate yourself, and you hate me too." illustrating the damaging effect of alcoholism on personal relationships. Furthermore, it seems as if the singer's struggles are rooted in their past, where they must have come from an environment of substance abuse. The singer recognizes this, saying "You're looking like my old man," signifying that they may have inherited their demons from their father. The song concludes with the singer recognizing their weaknesses and, even though the journey to sobriety may be difficult, they must continue to push through it to extinguish their personal demons eventually.
Line by Line Meaning
Another empty bottle thrown over your shoulder
You're constantly drinking and tossing the bottles aside carelessly
Another hazy morn is another day older
Every morning seems blurry and hazy, and time is moving too fast
Now the weekend's gone, and so are you
You disappear every weekend, leaving me alone in despair
And all the bottles collecting up on the shelf
Your drinking problem is evident by the growing number of bottles piling up on the shelf
Are there to ease the pain but it just don't help
You rely on drinking to numb the pain, but it doesn't seem to work
Cuz now you hate yourself, and you hate me too
Your self-hatred is growing and it's causing you to lash out at me
Well looking at you puts a lump in my throat
Seeing you in this state makes me feel emotional and choked up
That makes it hard to swallow my beer
Even drinking beer is difficult because of the emotions I feel while looking at you
And there's a reason that it's giving me the fear
I'm scared of what's happening to you and where this could lead
Cuz you're shaking like a leaf
You're physically trembling, likely due to your excessive drinking
And I've seen that shake before, my friend
I've witnessed this tremble previously in someone close to me who suffered from alcoholism
I ain't giving you no shit, just understand
I'm not judging or criticizing you, I just want you to realize the gravity of the situation
You're looking like my old man
Your appearance and behavior are resembling that of my father who battled addiction
Well some little girl went out and broke your heart
A woman has hurt you and caused you immense emotional pain
Ripped out your mind and tore your world apart
This heartbreak has caused you to lose control and become self-destructive
And it ain't the first time you've been done this way
You're no stranger to heartbreak and have been hurt like this before
There's an angry little man inside of you
There's a part of you that's consumed by anger and resentment
He comes out to play when you get stewed
Your anger and aggression comes to the surface when you're drunk
And you're gonna have to starve him out some day
You'll need to confront and overcome this anger in order to recover from your struggles with addiction
Contributed by Hunter Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.