Barely Breathing
The Hold Steady Lyrics

You should have seen them just after midnight
The singer describes seeing a group of people who had just been in a street fight, still high on adrenaline and talking about it nonchalantly.

When they were down on their luck
The group of people were not doing well in life and may have turned to violence as a means of coping.

Talking like it wasn't really much of a big thing
The group is seemingly desensitized to violence and do not see it as a serious issue.

To be out on the tiles and barely breathing
They are proud of their experiences, even if it leads them to dangerous situations where they may have almost died.

We were barely breathing
The artist and their friends had also put themselves in dangerous situations, but they do not see it as something to brag about.

Showing up at shows like you care about the scene still.
The singer is criticizing people who attend shows without really caring about the music or the culture.

Where were you when the blood spilled?
The singer questions the loyalty of those who only show up for the fun parts and are nowhere to be found when things get violent.

It got pretty sketchy.
The artist is acknowledging the danger that comes with attending violent shows.

We tried to push forward.
Despite the danger, the artist and their friends continued to attend shows and participate in the scene.

Now we're pointing at the scoreboard.
They are proud of their achievements, having survived the violence and chaos of the scene.

And it feels so amazing.
The sense of accomplishment and belonging that comes with being a part of the scene is rewarding for the singer.

And the crowd's going crazy.
The energy and enthusiasm of the crowd is often what makes participating in the scene so thrilling for the artist.

Summer 88 was all heat and intensity.
The singer is recalling a specific time and place when they were heavily involved in the music scene.

I saw the Youth of Today at the 7th Street Entry.
The Youth of Today is a specific band that the singer saw perform at a nearby venue.

There were skins in the pit.
Skins refers to skinheads, who often attend punk shows and can be involved in violence.

And some of them tried to kill me.
The artist had a violent encounter with some individuals in the crowd.

Same club next summer.
The artist returns to the same venue the following year.

Now they're called Shelter.
The name of the venue has changed, possibly indicating a shift in the music scene.

After the show I spoke with the singer.
The singer had a conversation with a prominent figure in the music scene.

And he tried to hand me a packet about Hare Krishna.
The singer attempted to share religious literature with the artist.

I said you've got to be kidding.
The artist is skeptical about the singer's beliefs.

Who the hell is the blue guy?
The artist is ignorant about the concept of Hare Krishna and the role it plays in the singer's life.

But then he said something special using only his eyes.
Despite the initial dismissal, the singer was moved by something the singer communicated nonverbally.

The kids are all distracted.
The artist is critical of the youth in the music scene, who they believe are too focused on violence and not enough on the music.

No one wins at violent shows.
The singer is advocating for a safer, more peaceful music scene where everyone can enjoy the music without the threat of violence.