They officially broke up in 2003. Shortly after that, Doug and Dave formed Motel Blonde. Doug currently performs with Doug McKean and the Stuntmen and occasionally Boys From The County Hell. Dave plays drums with Roger Hoover & The Whiskeyhounds, renamed The Magpies.
In January 2008 they played a one-time reunion show at the White Water Tavern in Little Rock, Arkansas and they need to play in their home town of cleveland, ohio.
Borrowed Time
The GC5 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I've got no true discretion I can speak of
You can make your own distinctions but it's all the fucking same
It's servitude for someone else's sake
And I dream I'm gonna give'em the old heave ho!
And my every thought turns to overthrow (Let's go!)
And I strive to bite the hand that's feeding me at last
And carry on the banner of the working class
I'm always looking back over my shoulder
They make me paranoid and relegate me to defeat
A fate that fits me like an oak box
The long hard days of dead monotony
The foreman looking down, so paternal
I'll curse the fucking hours cause I know they're not for me
But for now I'll carry on on borrowed time
The GC5's song Borrowed Time is a powerful expression of frustration and resistance against the dehumanizing effects of labor exploitation. The opening lines of the song, "I'm not theirs in product or in name/But I've got no true discretion I can speak of," communicate a deep sense of alienation and lack of agency felt by the working class. The singer is aware that they are trapped in a system that takes advantage of their labor but offers them no real freedom or autonomy. They are not working for themselves but for the profit of someone else.
The lyrics continue to convey a strong desire for rebellion and liberation. The phrase "And I dream I'm gonna give'em the old heave ho!" captures the desire to resist and overthrow the systems of oppression that keep the singer and others like them trapped in a cycle of exploitation. The lines "And carry on the banner of the working class" reflect a sense of solidarity and mutual support among those who are subjected to similar conditions of exploitation.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of tension between the desire for resistance and the recognition of the harsh reality of the situation. The lines "When I'm dead on my feet or shackled to the beat/I'm always looking back over my shoulder/They make me paranoid and relegate me to defeat" convey a sense of weariness and the fear of being caught and punished for standing up against the system. In the end, despite the frustrations and difficulties, the singer declares that they will "carry on on borrowed time," a reminder of the temporary nature of the status quo and the potential for change.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm not theirs in product or in name
I do not belong to them in any way, not even in name.
But I've got no true discretion I can speak of
I have no real choice or freedom to make my own decisions.
You can make your own distinctions but it's all the fucking same
You can try to differentiate yourself, but it all ends up being the same thing.
It's servitude for someone else's sake
I am enslaved for the benefit of others.
And I dream I'm gonna give'em the old heave ho!
I dream of rebelling and ousting them from their positions.
And my every thought turns to overthrow (Let's go!)
My every thought revolves around overthrowing them and taking charge.
And I strive to bite the hand that's feeding me at last
I am determined to oppose and defy the ones who wronged me and used me.
And carry on the banner of the working class
I aim to represent and fight for the rights of the working class.
When I'm dead on my feet or shackled to the beat
Whether I'm exhausted or forced to submit to their demands, I keep going.
I'm always looking back over my shoulder
I always sense danger and threat around me.
They make me paranoid and relegate me to defeat
They make me feel paranoid and hopeless, causing me to give up and lose.
A fate that fits me like an oak box
A destiny that is truly meant for me and cannot be avoided, just like death.
The long hard days of dead monotony
The days that drag on with no end and no excitement or variation.
The foreman looking down, so paternal
The boss looks down on us with a patronizing attitude, as if we are his children.
I'll curse the fucking hours cause I know they're not for me
I curse the hours I spend working because I know they don't benefit me.
But for now I'll carry on on borrowed time
But for now, I will keep going even though my time is limited and not my own.
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