Members of the Lawrence Arms have also played in The Broadways, Slapstick, Tricky Dick and Baxter.
The three musicians came together to form the Lawrence Arms in 1999. Although punk rock bands in their infancy generally start out by releasing EPs and 7" vinyl singles, the band members used their existing relationship with Asian Man Records to immediately begin recording a full-length album, a guided tour of chicago, which was released later that year. A second album, ghost stories, followed in 2000. Both albums focused heavily on the members' own stories of growing up and living in Chicago.
The band's next two releases were split EPs with other bands. The first, a split with Shady View Terrace, was released in 2000 and was their first release to be recorded by Matt Allison, who would continue to record and produce all of their subsequent releases. A second EP, Present Day Memories, was released in 2001 and was a split with The Chinkees.
The band's records and touring schedule had brought them to the attention of Fat Mike of NOFX, who signed them to his label Fat Wreck Chords in late 2001. Their first release on the label was a 7" vinyl single, part of the label's "Fat Club" series of 7" records. This was followed by the full-length album apathy and exhaustion, released in 2002. The album spawned the band's first music video, for the song porno and snuff films and they toured extensively with NOFX and other bands from the label.
Their next album was 2003's the greatest story ever told. Arguably their most ambitious album to date, it demonstrated the band members' continued growth as musicians and songwriters and included extensive footnotes to the lyrics detailing their many references to history, literature and pop culture. It also showed an evolution in the band's vocal style. Kelly had sung most of the vocals on their first album, while on subsequent releases he and McCaughan had split vocal duties almost equally from one song to the next, with Kelly's voice tending to sound more harsh and urgent while McCaughan's sounds more relaxed and melodic. With this release, however, the two began to move towards more of a duet style of singing which would feature prominently on their next album. Extensive touring following the album's release saw the band on the road for much of 2003 and 2004. They also contributed a song to the Fat Wreck Chords Rock Against Bush, Volume 2 compilation, leading up to the 2004 presidential election and became involved with the Punk Voter campaign.
In December of 2004 Kelly and Hennessy joined with fellow Chicago natives Dan Andriano of Alkaline Trio (who had played with Kelly in Slapstick) and Todd Mohney, formerly of Rise Against, to form The Falcon, and released an EP on Red Scare. Meanwhile, with interest in the Lawrence Arms increasing and their EPs out of print, Asian Man Records planned a CD release of the band's EP tracks. The resulting compilation album, Cocktails & Dreams, was released on Asian Man in June of 2005 and included their songs from both EPs along with nearly all of their compilation tracks, rare songs and b-sides.
The Lawrence Arms re-entered the studio in October and November of 2005 and recorded the album oh! calcutta!, which was released on Fat Wreck Chords in March of 2006. It had an overall faster and more urgent feel to it than their previous album, and demonstrated another step in the development of their singing as Kelly and McCaughan shared vocals in a duet style on nearly every song. They filmed a music video for the song the devil's takin' names.
The Lawrence Arms spent most of 2006 touring extensively alongside bands such as NOFX, Alkaline Trio, The Draft, Lagwagon, and A Wilhelm Scream. The full-length debut by the Falcon was released that fall on Red Scare. In December, the Lawrence Arms embarked on their first headlining tour of Australia, also playing supporting shows with Frenzal Rhomb.
In March of 2007, guitarist Chris McCaughan released the debut album from his acoustic side project Sundowner, entitled four one five two.
The band toured again in 2007, with their side projects The Falcon and Sundowner as openers along with the recently reunited American Steel.
The 2010s saw minimal studio activity by the band, but for one album. 2014's Metropole was received well, and marked the band's first full-length in eight years. The band took another extended break in between albums again, taking six years before releasing their seventh album Skeleton Coast in 2020.
Hesitation Station
The Lawrence Arms Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now it's asshole. Can you picture that?
"Fuck Yous" and "Thems" have fucked up.
An idiot who can't keep his mouth shut.
Oh shit! Oh fuck! it's dicks to suck.
Well, bend me down, I'll pucker up.
Take two of these too and you'll find that I know...
That what you learned on your trip to the zoo is
That animals do what animals do.
What A great way to die, what A sad way to cry.
You'll tell me "I Love You" And I'll know it's A lie.
What A great way to die, what A sad way to cry.
You'll tell me you love me...
And I'll know it's A lie.
The Lawrence Arms's song Hesitation Station describes the feelings of the singer towards someone who has transformed into a toxic and unpleasant person. The song begins with the singer reminiscing about how they used to take the Hesitation Station, but now they view it as an "asshole" likely indicating that they have changed as a person due to being exposed to negative influences. The singer then goes on to criticize the behavior of a "Fuck You" and "Them" mentality, which seems to have corrupted someone they know. The singer describes this person as an idiot for not keeping their mouth shut, which could refer to their tendency to speak without thinking, behave rudely or disrespectfully towards others.
The chorus offers some advice which the singer thinks could help calm or quell the other person's destructive behavior - Take a chill pill lover or you're gonna explode. The singer further advises the person to take two tablets of the pills for a more satisfactory result. The verse that follows is sarcastic and bitter, indicating the singer's bleak outlook on the situation. The line "what a great way to die, what a sad way to cry" could imply that the singer feels trapped or in a helpless situation because of the negativity around them. The final line of the song "you'll tell me you love me...and I'll know it's a lie" could refer to the relationship between the singer and the toxic person. It could suggest that the other person makes empty promises, probably assuring the singer of their commitment but ultimately failing to live up to the claims.
Line by Line Meaning
Hesitation was the station I used to get on at.
I used to be indecisive and hesitant, but now I am an asshole.
Now it's asshole. Can you picture that?
Now I am no longer hesitant, I am rude and selfish.
"Fuck Yous" and "Thems" have fucked up.
The constant use of judgement and hatred towards others has caused damage.
An idiot who can't keep his mouth shut.
Someone who talks without thinking and causes harm.
Oh shit! Oh fuck! it's dicks to suck.
Expressing frustration and feeling helpless in a difficult situation.
Well, bend me down, I'll pucker up.
I am willing to do whatever it takes, even if it means degrading myself.
Take A chill pill lover, or you're gonna explode.
Calm down, or you will become overwhelmed and lash out uncontrollably.
Take two of these too and you'll find that I know...
Take two pills and you will realize that I understand the situation better than you do.
That what you learned on your trip to the zoo is
The lesson you learned from observing animals is that they behave as they naturally are.
That animals do what animals do.
This is just the way things are, and it is useless to try and change them.
What A great way to die, what A sad way to cry.
It is ironic and tragic to die in this manner while feeling such deep sadness.
You'll tell me "I Love You" And I'll know it's A lie.
You will say you love me, but I know deep down that it is not true.
What A great way to die, what A sad way to cry.
It is heartbreaking to pass away in such a manner while feeling such sorrow.
You'll tell me you love me...
You will express love towards me.
And I'll know it's A lie.
But I am aware that it is not true and only said out of obligation.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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