The Hives are:
"Howlin" Pelle Almqvist (vocals)
Nicholaus "Arson" Almqvist (guitar)
Mikael "Vigilante Carlstroem" Karlsson (guitar)
Johan"The Johan and Only" Gustavsson (bass)
Christian "Chris Dangerous" Grahn (drums)
The band claims that their songs are written by an honorary "sixth Hive", Randy Fitzsimmons. Since Nicholaus Almqvist can be found listed under the pseudonym Randy Fitzsimmons in the archives of STIM (the Swedish equivalent of the Performing Right Society) many believe Fitzsimmons is 'fictional'. (Nicholaus Almqvist vehemently denies this.) The band are also known for their energetic live performances, with Howlin' Pelle running around stage and saying outrageous things, and with everyone strictly dressed in black and white.
The Hives formed in 1993 (originally they wanted to call themselves 'The HIVs', but decided to change it slightly resulting in their current name) and released their debut recording, the EP Oh Lord! When? How? in 1996, followed by 1997's Barely Legal LP, and 1998's a.k.a. I.D.I.O.T. EP on the Swedish skate punk oriented record label Burning Heart Records.
Soon after, they began touring in the US and finally released their 2000 US breakthrough album, Veni Vidi Vicious; the album included the hit singles "Main Offender" and "Hate to Say I Told You So". Their UK breakthrough, Your New Favourite Band, a greatest-hits compilation, was released on the Poptones label in 2001. This was followed by extensive touring, as well as the re-release of previous recordings in the US.
Their next album, entitled Tyrannosaurus Hives and released on July 20 2004, was a slight departure from earlier releases. It has been described as a sound similar to what it might sound like if the band taught robots how to play their music, and then re-learned it from the robots to record, because of its rigid/rapid-fire arrangement, yet the band kept their distinctive blend of garage and punk influences. The album includes the hit singles Walk Idiot Walk, Two-Timing Touch And Broken Bones, and A Little More For Little You.
The Hives' next record, titled The Black and White Album, was released on October 15, 2007 (November 13 in the U.S.). The band said they've recorded 20 to 30 songs (including seven recorded with producer Pharrell Williams) for this album and are currently choosing the best. Other tracks have been produced by Jacknife Lee and Dennis Herring. Sessions were held with Timbaland, with whom the band produced the song Throw It On Me, but took place too late for any of the resultant tracks to make the record. They hope to use these songs as b-sides, although Throw It On Me was released as a single on Timbaland's album Shock Value.
The Go Right Ahead Songfacts reports news detailing Swedish rock group, The Hives’, fifth studio album Lex Hives was announced on March 12, 2012. The record is composed of twelve self-produced tracks, with a deluxe version containing bonus songs produced by Josh Homme.
Square One Here I Come
The Hives Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't have a job cause I ain't got no skills
Ain't got no skills cause I was not trained
I wasn't trained cause I didn't go to school
Didn't go to school cause nobody told me
Nobody told me cause nobody knew shit
Nobody knew shit cause nobody knows nothing
Nobody knows nothing and that's just it, What can you do?
Ref,
You get what's given to you!
[Chorus]
Square one here I come, here I come square one!
Square one here I come, here I come square one!
Don't have a home cause I don't pay no bills
Don't pay no bills cause nobody pays me
Nobody pays me cause I don't go to no work
Don't go to no work and that's just it, What can you do?
Ref,
You get what's given to you!
[Chorus]
I know what you say to me but baby it can wait
I just stop and take a look around and realize it's too late
No job!
No skills!
No money!
No nothing!
No nothing cause I want it for free
I want it for free all that is coming to me
So I look real hard for somebody to blame
Somebody to blame or an easy way out
An easy way out cause it ain't what's fun
The place that starts with a square and ends with a one, What can you do?
You get what's given to you!
[Chorus]
Get down, you feel stupid!
Don't try, you can't do it!
Can't win! Don't you forget it!
You missed out and get what's given to you!
[Chorus]
The Hives's song Square One Here I Come is a commentary on the vicious cycle of poverty and lack of opportunity. The lyrics suggest that the singer is in a difficult situation because of the lack of opportunities that he had in life. He never went to school because nobody told him to do so; he doesn't have any skills because he wasn't trained; he doesn't have a job because he doesn't have any skills, and he doesn't have any money because he doesn't have a job. The chorus emphasizes the idea that one can only get what is given, and when opportunities don't come, one is left starting all over again from square one.
The singer seems to blame the world around him for his lack of opportunities. He doesn't pay bills because nobody pays him, and he doesn't work because nobody hires him. He seems to be waiting for someone to give him a break, to show him the way, but nobody does. The last lines acknowledge that it might be too late to change the situation, and the cycle may be impossible to break.
The song highlights a cultural issue, the idea that the world is unfair, and one has to start from square one many times in life. The lyrics suggest that this is a systemic issue, and one can't expect people to overcome it without help, education, and opportunities.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, Don't have no money cause I don't have a job
I am currently without money because I lack employment
Don't have a job cause I ain't got no skills
My lack of job is due to my lack of necessary skills
Ain't got no skills cause I was not trained
I do not have the required skills because I have not been trained properly
I wasn't trained cause I didn't go to school
I never had the opportunity to acquire the necessary knowledge because I didn't attend school
Didn't go to school cause nobody told me
I had no guidance to go to school, hence I missed going there
Nobody told me cause nobody knew shit
There was no one who was aware enough to guide me towards school education
Nobody knew shit cause nobody knows nothing
As there is no one who knows enough about anything, they couldn't have guided me towards education
Nobody knows nothing and that's just it, What can you do?
This is the reality, so there is no point dwelling over it
Square one here I come, here I come square one!
I am heading towards the start - where I began from
Don't have a home cause I don't pay no bills
Since I don't pay bills, I don't have a home of my own
Don't pay no bills cause nobody pays me
I am unemployed which leads to not being able to pay any bills
Nobody pays me cause I don't go to no work
The reason behind my unpaid dues is my inability to go to work
Don't go to no work and that's just it, What can you do?
I can't do anything since I am not working
I know what you say to me but baby it can wait
I acknowledge the advice you give, but I am not mentally ready to accept it yet
I just stop and take a look around and realize it's too late
I am reflecting upon my life, realizing that certain opportunities have already passed
No job!
I don't currently have a job
No skills!
I am lacking in necessary skills
No money!
I am currently without money
No nothing!
I have nothing at all
No nothing cause I want it for free
I have nothing because I am looking for free things without putting any effort
I want it for free all that is coming to me
My expectations are for everything to come to me for free
So I look real hard for somebody to blame
I tend to shift the responsibility to someone else and blame them for my current state
Somebody to blame or an easy way out
I look for someone to blame else or an easy shortcut to escape the problem
An easy way out cause it ain't what's fun
I prefer taking the easy way out as it isn't difficult or challenging
The place that starts with a square and ends with a one, What can you do?
I am back to square one again, so there is not much that I can do except trying again
Get down, you feel stupid!
You'll feel embarrassed if you try and fail
Don't try, you can't do it!
If you don't try, you'll obviously fail. So it's better not to try at all
Can't win! Don't you forget it!
You are destined to fail
You missed out and get what's given to you!
You are suffering the consequences of your actions
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Randy Fitzsimmons
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind