The Holdup’s first EP was released in spring of 2007 and sold 1000 instant copies. Shortly after their EP’s success they were picked up and sponsored by Local Clothing Company Left Coast Boardwear and signed a record deal with the Independent label Dub Rock Records. Dub Rock Records quickly got to action and booked the band with national touring bands such as: The Dirty Heads, Rebelution, The B-Side Players, The B Foundation, Collie Buddz, and more.
With such songs as “Wildchild”, “Chronic Song” and the ever growing popular hit “Stay Gold”, the Holdup’s music is destined to be heard over airwaves and venues across the golden state. Combine surf rock melodies with ear catching lyrics and you get The Holdup, an energetic hardworking quintet that defines a unique style of California based dub rock music.
Acting Up
The Holdup Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can spare some karma
I know I've been on one
Acting up again
Drinking on a Tuesday
Fuck whatever you say
Ain't nothing to do so
Go and tell your friends
I got everything I need and I'm still mad
I've been talking hella shit, I don't feel bad
I ain't trying to sit and talk to no one
Tell me I'm a Grinch, I'm a cold one
I say that it takes one to know one
Play me a song and make it a slow one
This ain't no lemonade
I got no smile to show you
And if I don't get paid
Make sure that I don't know you, baby
I don't feel much lately
I'm so tired of waiting
Shut up and get naked
Looking for some drama
I can spare some karma
I know I've been on one
Acting up again
Drinking on a Tuesday
Fuck whatever you say
Ain't nothing to do so
Go and tell your friends
I'm acting up again, again, again
Acting up again, again, again
Acting up again
Everything you're doing, man, I hate it
Only get excited if I'm faded
Everybody's telling me I'm jaded
'Cause I'm so unimpressed with anything I created
No more fucking interviews unless they're gonna pay me
'Cause I can't tell the truth or everyone I love will hate me
Sex is like the only thing that I find entertaining
Ain't nobody ready for the shit I wanna say this now
I get compliments
But I don't really feel those
I just dress like this so
They think I'm a hero
Higher than those cities
They're just ones and zero's
Give me mask and arrow
Looking for some drama
I can spare some karma
I know I've been on one
Acting up again
Drinking on a Tuesday
Fuck whatever you say
Ain't nothing to do so
Go and tell your friends
I'm acting up again, again, again
Acting up again, again, again
Acting up again, again, again
Acting up again, again, again
Acting up again
The lyrics to The Holdup's song Acting Up express a sense of restlessness and dissatisfaction with life, as the singer seeks out drama and karma in order to feel something. The line "I got everything I need and I'm still mad" speaks to a deeper sense of unhappiness that cannot be filled by material possessions or success. The act of "drinking on a Tuesday" suggests a desire to escape from reality and the mundane, while "fuck whatever you say" implies a rebellion against societal expectations and norms.
The chorus repeats the idea of "acting up again," suggesting that this sense of restlessness is not new to the singer. The lines "no more fucking interviews unless they're gonna pay me" and "sex is like the only thing that I find entertaining" could be interpreted as a commentary on the emptiness of fame and success, as well as the search for pleasure as a means of escape. The final lines of the song, "give me mask and arrow," suggest a desire to hide or escape from reality.
Line by Line Meaning
Looking for some drama
I'm bored and want some excitement in my life.
I can spare some karma
I've done some bad things before and can handle the consequences.
I know I've been on one
I'm aware that I've been acting out of line lately.
Acting up again
I'm behaving recklessly once more.
Drinking on a Tuesday
I'm not following typical social norms and am drinking on a weekday.
Fuck whatever you say
I don't care about your opinions or criticism.
Ain't nothing to do so
I'm bored and have nothing better to do.
Go and tell your friends
Spread the word about my reckless behavior.
I got everything I need and I'm still mad
Despite having everything I could want, I'm still unhappy and angry.
I've been talking hella shit, I don't feel bad
I've been saying mean and hurtful things about others, but don't regret it.
I ain't trying to sit and talk to no one
I don't want to have a deep conversation with anyone right now.
Tell me I'm a Grinch, I'm a cold one
I already know that I come off as unfriendly and cold to others.
This ain't no lemonade
This situation isn't pleasant or enjoyable.
I got no smile to show you
I'm not in the mood to fake a smile or pretend to be happy.
And if I don't get paid
If I don't receive money for my work, I won't acknowledge you.
Make sure that I don't know you, baby
If you don't give me money, I don't want to know you.
I don't feel much lately
I'm experiencing emotional numbness and don't feel much of anything.
I'm so tired of waiting
I'm impatient and don't want to wait for things to happen.
Shut up and get naked
Stop talking and let's have sex instead.
Everything you're doing, man, I hate it
I dislike everything you're doing or saying right now.
Only get excited if I'm faded
I only feel excited or happy when I've been drinking or doing drugs.
Everybody's telling me I'm jaded
Others think I'm cynical and apathetic towards life.
'Cause I'm so unimpressed with anything I created
I don't find anything I make or do to be impressive or satisfying.
No more fucking interviews unless they're gonna pay me
I won't give any more interviews unless I'm being paid for my time or work.
'Cause I can't tell the truth or everyone I love will hate me
I'm afraid of telling the truth because it might hurt the people close to me.
Sex is like the only thing that I find entertaining
The only thing that brings me pleasure or excitement is sex.
Ain't nobody ready for the shit I wanna say this now
Others aren't prepared to hear my blunt and harsh opinions right now.
I get compliments
People give me praise or compliments.
But I don't really feel those
I don't fully believe or internalize the compliments I receive.
I just dress like this so
I only dress a certain way to give off a certain image or attitude.
They think I'm a hero
Others perceive me as a cool or admirable person.
Higher than those cities
I'm feeling high or intoxicated.
They're just ones and zero's
Everything and everyone I see feels superficial and meaningless.
Give me mask and arrow
Give me something to hide behind or protect myself with.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Mike Garmany, Grant Averill, Justin Kastner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
DJ
on Smell These Roses
Smell These Roses
The Holdup
Started every single sentence with remember when.
Never gonna get those frowns.
Used to wanna pray that it would never end.
But now I’d rather close my eyes.
When my friends hit me like one drink, anything,
Miss them too, but I’m busy so I say that I’m cool.
But I know they won’t stop till I say yes.
Shit, I don’t want to say yes tonight.
Trynna save some bread and move out,
Get a new couch, and a blender for the kitchen.
Looks like I’m going out now,
Heading downtown, and instead I’ll be wishing.
Everything could feel this good like, what about one more good night?
What about something better, when this all gets old?
So go…
Smell these roses one more time.
We ain’t gonna be here for that long.
Gotta move on at some point, even though it’s everything I know.
Oh, everything I know.
Oh.
Thank you mama for letting me stay home for a decade or two.
All that good karma, well, I promise that it’s gonna come back to you.
And my big head and my big brain ninny.
I got a lot of knowledge but my confidence is thinning.
I guess doing what you want is more like making a decision.
Maybe I’m just scared to make it and that’s why I’m always tripping.
I just wish that we could laugh inside, shit, every night.
But we got to go to class and work, guess that’s what’s right.
So I put my boots on and I slick back my hair.
Some coffee and I’m no longer tripping.
I try to ignore that life isn’t fair,
But, sometimes you still catch me wishing.
Everything could feel this good like, what about one more good night?
What about something better, when this all gets old?
So go…
Smell these roses one more time.
We ain’t gonna be here for that long.
Gotta move on at some point, even though it’s everything I know.
Oh, everything I know.
Oh.
Everything could feel this good like, what about one more good night?
What about something better, when this all gets old?
So go…
Smell these roses one more time.
We ain’t gonna be here for that long.
Gotta move on at some point, even though it’s everything I know.
Oh, everything I know.
Oh.