The first band members were skinheads (although not white power skinheads). After a few years and lineup changes, the band and their style changed slightly. By 1996, Al Barr was the only remaining original member of The Bruisers. One notable release by the band was a 7" split with Barr's future band Dropkick Murphys in 1997. After 10 years, the band broke up in 1998. The Bruisers had a reunion concert on September 14, 2005 at The Roxy in Boston. The bill included local acts The Ducky Boys and Tommy & The Terrors, as well as The Casualties from New York City.[1] The Bruisers played a second reunion show on August 31, 2012 headlining the first night of the 2000 Tons of TNT Fest at the Webster Theater in Hartford, CT.
All Messed Up
The Bruisers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stood up shot down and it's all happening again
Guess I gotta learn everything the hard way
I'll get right back up and do it all over again
All messed up no place to go
The only way I've ever known
All messed up no place to go
You don't know what you want
Come on and show me something
I haven't seen before
You're talking like you got it together
But it's nothing I haven't seen a thousand time before
All messed up no place to go
The only way I've ever known
All messed up no place to go
I'm sick I'm tired and so dead up
Where's the newest scene and what's the latest sound
Can't you see it's all been done before
And you can't see it cause you just weren't around
All messed up no place to go
The only way I've ever known
All messed up no place to go
The Bruisers's song All Messed Up is a powerful anthem that speaks to the struggles of life and the path to self-discovery. The first verse highlights the raw emotions of the singer who is experiencing failure after failure. Despite the disappointments, the singer showcases determination and resilience, vowing to get back up and try again. The chorus, "All messed up, no place to go, the only way I've ever known" reveals that despite the singer's efforts, they are still stuck in a cycle of uncertainty, unable to find a clear path forward.
The second verse shifts the focus to the singer's frustration with the world around them. They are tired of hearing the same old things from people who claim to have their life together. The singer challenges them to show them something new and different. The bridge "I'm sick, I'm tired, and so dead up" highlights the singer's exhaustion with the monotony of life.
The song ends with the realization that despite the search for novelty, everything has already been done before. The singer laments that those who haven't been around to witness history cannot see that there is nothing new to discover. All Messed Up is a relatable track that speaks to the universal experience of failure, the search for something new, and the ongoing struggle to find one's place in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't get what I want
Expressing frustration and disappointment in not achieving desired goals or outcomes.
Stood up shot down and it's all happening again
Feeling let down and rejected, the same painful events are repeating.
Guess I gotta learn everything the hard way
Acknowledging that it seems to take going through difficult experiences to gain understanding and growth.
I'll get right back up and do it all over again
Determined to keep trying and persevering despite setbacks and challenges.
All messed up no place to go
Feeling lost and uncertain about direction and purpose in life.
The only way I've ever known
Having only experienced confusion and chaos as a way of life.
You don't know what you want
Noticing indecisiveness and lack of clarity in someone else's actions or words.
Come on and show me something I haven't seen before
Asking for originality and uniqueness in someone's behavior or ideas.
You're talking like you got it together
Perceiving someone as presenting themselves with confidence and stability.
But it's nothing I haven't seen a thousand time before
Feeling like someone's behavior or words are unoriginal and lacking in substance.
I'm sick I'm tired and so dead up
Feeling exhausted and drained, physically and emotionally.
Where's the newest scene and what's the latest sound
Seeking something fresh and exciting to stimulate interest and inspiration.
Can't you see it's all been done before
Recognizing that there are no truly new ideas or experiences left, everything is a repetition or variation of the past.
And you can't see it cause you just weren't around
Noticing that someone was not present or involved in previous events or experiences that have shaped the current situation.
Contributed by Joshua H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.