The Germs disbanded following Crash's suicide on December 7, 1980. Their music was influential to many later punk rock acts. Pat Smear went on to greater fame performing with Nirvana and the Foo Fighters.
In 2005, actor Shane West was cast to play Crash in the Germs biographical film What We Do Is Secret (named after a song by the Germs). He performed with Smear, Doom, and Bolles at a production party for the film, after which the Germs reformed with West as singer. The new lineup of the band has performed a number of tours in the United States, including performances on the 2006 and 2008 Warped Tours.
On January 16, 2019, bassist Lorna Doom (born as Teresa Ryan) passed away.
My Tunnel
The Germs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When everything is dim
where does one go
I crawl in to my tunnel
It's kinda shaky may even crumble
I'm talking to a lame man
When you're maimed
where does one go
I'm walking into the jungle
When everything is right
where does one go
I walk into the jungle
Sometimes I run-sometimes I stumble
I'm talking to a saved man
When you are sane
where does one go
Back into the jungle
Out, out, out of the tunnel
Back, Back, to the jungle
Out, out, out of the tunnel
Take me back to my jungle
The lyrics to The Germs's song "My Tunnel" may seem cryptic and open to interpretation, but a closer look reveals some themes of escape and mental instability. The opening line, "I'm crawling through my tunnel when everything is dim," suggests a sense of retreat into a personal space or state of mind. The phrase "where does one go" is repeated twice, emphasizing a feeling of being lost or disconnected from reality.
The next lines introduce a "lame man" and a "saved man," perhaps representing different facets of the singer's own psyche. The chorus repeats the sense of escape or retreat, with the singer falling or walking into a tunnel or jungle. The repetition of the phrase "out, out, out of the tunnel" suggests a desire to leave behind a negative state of mind or situation.
Overall, the lyrics of "My Tunnel" may reflect the struggles of lead singer Darby Crash, who suffered from mental illness and drug addiction. The song could be read as a journey through his own psyche, with the tunnel representing a dark mental state, and the jungle symbolizing a place of freedom and release.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm crawling through my tunnel
I'm going through a tough time in my life
When everything is dim
When everything seems bleak and hopeless
where does one go
Where can someone turn to for comfort and solace?
I crawl into my tunnel
I retreat to a dark place to hide from the world
It's kinda shaky may even crumble
My hiding place is unstable and may collapse at any moment
I'm talking to a lame man
I'm seeking advice from someone who is hurt and struggling like me
When you're maimed
When you're wounded and broken inside
I fall into my tunnel
I succumb to my despair
I'm walking into the jungle
I'm embarking on a journey to find myself
When everything is right
When life seems to be going well
Sometimes I run-sometimes I stumble
I have good days and bad days
I'm talking to a saved man
I seek guidance from someone who has found a way to heal and overcome their own struggles
When you are sane
When you have a clear mind and are at peace
Back into the jungle
Back into the unknown and unpredictable journey of life
Out, out, out of the tunnel
I need to break free from my despair and face the world again
Back, Back, to the jungle
I need to keep moving forward, even if it means encountering new challenges
Take me back to my jungle
I want to rediscover my strength and resilience in the face of adversity
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DARBY CRASH, PAT SMEAR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TrashDick
I'm crawling through my tunnel
When everything is dim
where does one go
I crawl in to my tunnel
It's kinda shaky may even crumble
I'm talking to a lame man
When you're maimed
where does one go
I fall into my tunnel...
I'm walking into the jungle
When everything is right
where does one go
I walk into the jungle
Sometimes I run-sometimes I stumble
I'm talking to a saved man
When you are sane
where does one go
Back into the jungle
Out, out, out of the tunnel
Back, Back, to the jungle
Out, out, out of the tunnel
Take me back to my jungle
@imnowhacko
I went to a Germs show once, they were headlining, Suburban Lawns and X opened. I wanna tell you, that was wild man.
@salty_berserker_channel
Holy shit, historic. Suburban Lawns, also a rare breed
@murful9160
What venue?
@imnowhacko
@@murful9160 Some place I had never been to before, or ever went back to. It was called the Hope Street Hall in downtown LA.
@xSodom1
you lucky fucker, i envy you! that’s a great lineup
@Lengsel7
There's just something about The Germs that is so far above most other punk bands. This is somehow actually Art.
@t.c.bramblett617
Different and unique. Darby's voice has very few peers, and their collective music is such a unique blend of things that still exist but have never been put together in that form.
@salty_berserker_channel
They were a rare breed back then and spawned all kinds of great craziness
@kevincarlson4562
That's why I was so into them as a kid-still am.The mystique part was just in retrospect.They had this unique aura,and for such a shambolic mess they worked beautifully.Of course those lyrics had a lot to do with it.Highbrow types compared them to Emily Dickinson,oddly enough.
@scottvaladez5045
You said it. Someone needs to.