Second Hearse Same as the First
The Copyrights Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you never go back, I promise it won? t hurt
Don? t give tomorrow another look
Rip up your license burn your checkbook
Just wish I could let myself off the hook
Then I? d pick up the phone
Pick up the phone, and we? ll be gone
If you don? t know where you? re gonna sleep tonight
But you know, it? s all within your reach
Go outside, lay your heart on the street
If only I could practice what I preach
We used to think, that now we know better
Today we realize that we only know worse
And we? re dreaming, if we? re thinking
It? s gonna get better on its own before the hearse
The Copyrights's song "Second Hearse Same as the First" is a punk rock anthem that encourages listeners to abandon their mundane lives and take control of their own destiny. The lyrics describe a desire to escape the constraints of society, by quitting one's job, destroying one's identification, and leaving everything behind. The chorus encapsulates this feeling with the repeated phrase "Pick up the phone, and we'll be gone." The singer of the song acknowledges that they wish they could "let [themselves] off the hook," suggesting a sense of guilt or feeling trapped. However, they remain determined to leave everything behind.
The second verse of the song is more optimistic and suggests a sense of freedom. The singer encourages the listener to "go outside, lay your heart on the street," implying that they should be vulnerable and open to whatever comes their way. They also acknowledge that they "used to think... now we know better," suggesting that they have tried to find freedom or meaning in their lives before, but with little success. Despite this, they remain undeterred and assert that things won't change unless they take action.
The overall message of the song is one of empowerment, encouraging listeners to take control of their own lives and leave behind the things that make them unhappy. The song suggests that this is not an easy path, but one that is ultimately rewarding.
Line by Line Meaning
Pick up the phone and call in dead to work
Call your boss pretending to be dead, skip work, it won't make a difference
If you never go back, I promise it won?t hurt
Not showing up for work won't have any negative effects on you
Don?t give tomorrow another look
Don't worry about the future and focus on the present
Rip up your license burn your checkbook
Get rid of your identification and money to start anew
Just wish I could let myself off the hook
I want to forgive myself for past mistakes
Then I?d pick up the phone
I would talk to someone who can help me
Pick up the phone, and we?ll be gone
By seeking help, we could leave our current problems behind
Scrape up the stone to know it?ll be alright
Find and hold onto something stable that can help you feel secure
If you don?t know where you?re gonna sleep tonight
If you don't have a place to sleep, find peace in the fact that you have something to hold onto
But you know, it?s all within your reach
You have the power to control your situation
Go outside, lay your heart on the street
Be vulnerable and open about your struggles with others
If only I could practice what I preach
I want to be able to follow my own advice
We used to think, that now we know better
We thought we had it all figured out, but now we see we were wrong
Today we realize that we only know worse
In fact, things are worse than we ever imagined
And we?re dreaming, if we?re thinking
If we think things will get better on their own, we are deluding ourselves
It?s gonna get better on its own before the hearse
Things won't improve without taking action, and if we don't act, we'll end up dead anyway
Contributed by Aaron R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.