An award-winning, California-grown, surf culture band that's established it… Read Full Bio ↴An award-winning, California-grown, surf culture band that's established itself as a vital part of the Santa Cruz, CA music scene.

Expendables' distinctive live performances and unique brand of music. Described as an electric mix of genre-bending rock, reggae and surf. It has begun to charm audiences far and wide. Rapidly approaching status as a full-time touring act, the band is a rising star on the West Coast. To date, The Expendables have performed with in-demand musical acts such as Slightly Stoopid and reggae legend Eek-A-Mouse; they have appeared live on the Vans’ Warped Tour; and hosted their own radio show on The Santa Cruz X 103.9 FM. The Expendables landed number one in the Metro Santa Cruz Top 10 list of favorite bands in local music. In addition, Lion Entertainment and Your Music Magazine awarded the group first place in their Battle of the Bands contest in 2002.

The Expendables have five original full-length albums to their credit:
"No Time to Worry" (2001); "Open Container" (2002); "Gettin' Filthy,” (2006) the polished result of a two-month recording stint at Herbie Herbert’s Sy Klopps Studios in San Francisco; "The Expendables" (2007); and their most recent, "Prove It" (2010).

http://www.myspace.com/theexpendables
http://www.theexpendables.net/

Set Me Off
The Expendables Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Set me off on the first melody
Give me that breath which I can breathe
If there is nothing left in this life to satisfy
Give me all that I need
If only I could find
A symbol or a sign
To let me know everything's ok
I guess I finally found

A piece of solid ground
So let me know before you put me down
The life load the work load
what do you have to show
for this life for this life
what gets you going what
keeps your blood flowing
all I need is one song
to keep me moving on
Keep me moving on
Keep me moving on

What do we have, what do we have What do we have
I said we got each other

Overall Meaning

The song "Set Me Off" by The Expendables describes the search for something meaningful in life. The singer longs for a purpose, a sign that everything will be okay. The first melody is what sets the singer off and makes them feel alive, giving them the breath they need to continue. There is a desire to find something satisfying and fulfilling, to have all that they need. The need for a symbol or sign to signal that everything is all right highlights the singer's uncertainty and fear of not having a clear direction or purpose in life.

As the song progresses, the singer finds a piece of solid ground that they can stand on. There is a sense of hope and relief in this discovery, but still a need for reassurance before being put down. The lyrics reference the struggles of life, including the demanding work load and the search for meaning in it all. The singer questions what people have to show for their life and what gets them going. However, the song ultimately highlights the importance of having each other and supporting one another towards our goals and in our struggles.

Overall, "Set Me Off" is a relatable search for purpose and meaning in life, and the importance of supportive relationships in the pursuit of those things.

Line by Line Meaning

Set me off on the first melody
Start me off on a good note, with a strong and catchy tune to get me excited for what's to come.

Give me that breath which I can breathe
Provide me with a sense of relief and freedom, like I'm finally able to take a deep breath of fresh air.

If there is nothing left in this life to satisfy
If I've exhausted all my options and nothing seems fulfilling anymore.

Give me all that I need
Provide me with everything I require to be content and happy in life.

If only I could find a symbol or a sign
If I could just come across some sort of indicator or clue that everything's going to be okay.

To let me know everything's ok
To let me know that my worries and concerns are unfounded, and that things will work out in the end.

I guess I finally found a piece of solid ground
I think I've finally stumbled upon a stable and secure foundation for my life and my identity.

So let me know before you put me down
Give me a heads up before you criticize or judge me, so I can prepare myself and respond accordingly.

The life load the work load what do you have to show
All the responsibilities and obligations we have in life - what tangible things have you accomplished or achieved?

for this life for this life what gets you going what keeps your blood flowing
In this existence, what motivates and drives you, what keeps you passionate and alive?

all I need is one song to keep me moving on
Sometimes all it takes is one uplifting or inspiring song to give me the push I need to keep going and stay positive.

Keep me moving on
Motivate and inspire me to keep pushing forward and persevering.

What do we have, what do we have What do we have
What do we possess and what is important to us in life?

I said we got each other
At the end of the day, the most important thing we have is each other - our loved ones and support system who help us get through the tough times.

Contributed by Jack F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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