After Nate left the Bosstones to go to Brown University, he started writing songs, which were not like his previous band. In 2001, he got a band together with Bosstones drummer Joe Sirois, short time Weezer bass player Mikey Welsh and another Boston, MA musician Johnny Rioux. They initially joined under the name The Brakes which they had to change because of a New Jersey band called The Break. That's when they took on the moniker The Kickovers.
They releasd their only album, Osaka, on April 23, 2002 on Fenway Recordings. Around the release of the album, Joe Sirois left because of the Bosstones schedule and new drummer Jamie Vavra took his place. They toured in support of their album opening for Local H.
They released a couple 7" vinyl singles through Fenway, Fake in Love and a split with The Damn Personals, whom the band toured with.
The Kickovers played their last show on April 14, 2003 in Cambridge, MA with Nerf Herder. The Kickovers members started working with Mike McColgan on his new band, the Street Dogs. Nate produced their album while Johnny played bass on it and original Kickovers drummer Joe played drums. Nate made a couple posts on the internet about the Kickovers recording a new EP, but that was never released and the band wasn't heard from again.
Regeneration
The Kickovers Lyrics
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Lusting for power
Battle lines drawn
Troops in position
Battalions await
Sowing the seeds of our impending fate
Ashes to ashes,
Bodies to burn
They never learn
[Chorus]
Wake up screaming
Wake up screaming
Wake up screaming
Wake up screaming
A bomb the life from mother and son
God is a bullet,
Heaven a gun
Superior fashioned from nuclear waste
The well has been poisoned
Just have a taste
We had all the peace money could buy
That's over now,
We're all gonna die
[Chorus]
The opening lines of The Kickovers’ “Wake Up” describe a world on the brink of war. The production of “deadly chemical arms” and a lust for power have drawn battle lines and positioned troops, all while battalions await their orders. The singer of the song warns that we are “sowing the seeds of our impending fate” as we march towards conflict. The imagery of “ashes to ashes, bodies to burn” reveals the ultimate cost of war even as those in charge continue to ignore the lessons of the past.
The chorus serves as a wake-up call, urging listeners to “wake up screaming” from the nightmare that all this violence represents. The song suggests that the weapons of war have become so powerful that they threaten not just soldiers but innocent families. “A bomb the life from mother and son,” laments the singer, while later lines portray God as a bullet and heaven as a gun, underscoring the futility of turning to religion or ideology to justify violence. In fact, the true origins of war seem to be not in any ideal or belief system, but in the basest of human instincts: greed and the desire for domination. As the song concludes, it is clear that the precious gift of peace has been squandered and we are all “gonna die” as a result.
Overall, “Wake Up” is a powerful commentary on the toll that violence takes on human lives and the urgent need to find alternatives to war. In today’s increasingly complex and volatile world, these words remain as relevant as ever.
Line by Line Meaning
Production of deadly chemical arms
The creation of weapons designed to cause harm and devastation.
Lusting for power
An intense desire for control and authority.
Battle lines drawn
The lines of conflict have been established, and opposing sides have taken their positions.
Troops in position
Soldiers are in place and ready to engage in combat.
Battalions await
Military groups are standing by for further orders.
Sowing the seeds of our impending fate
Actions are being taken that will lead to our inevitable destruction.
Ashes to ashes,
Refers to the biblical phrase, 'ashes to ashes, dust to dust,' which reminds us of our mortality and the inevitability of death.
Bodies to burn
A reference to the horrors of war, where human beings become nothing more than casualties to be disposed of.
Senseless and endless
The violence and destruction of war is both irrational and never-ending.
They never learn
Humanity seems incapable of experiencing war without repeating the same terrible mistakes.
Wake up screaming
A call to action, urging us to become aware of the horrors of war and to take steps to prevent it.
A bomb the life from mother and son
A reference to the indiscriminate nature of weapons of mass destruction, which can kill innocent civilians.
God is a bullet,
A metaphor that suggests that war has become a religious act, worshipped like a deity.
Heaven a gun
Another metaphor emphasizing the religious-like devotion to weapons and war.
Superior fashioned from nuclear waste
The weapons of war are created using dangerous and toxic materials.
The well has been poisoned
The world has become a toxic and dangerous place, due in part to the actions of humans.
Just have a taste
A reminder that we are all affected by the destruction of our world, no matter how removed we may feel from the violence.
We had all the peace money could buy
A statement on the wealthy and powerful's inability to buy their way out of the consequences of war.
That's over now,
The era of peace has ended, and we are now facing the reality of war and chaos.
We're all gonna die
A final reminder of the staggering and tragic human cost of war.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Walt Disney Music Company, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: SCOTT CLAUSEN, CHRISTOPHER LEE, ADAM SCHWARTZ, JESSICA MAY KAMINSKY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind