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.
Key to the City
The Lawrence Arms Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and I watched all the drones strolling by.
We sat on the street with our beers and our weed
and we blew our smoke up towards the sky.
I said, "It's one hell of an evening"
with a smile and I kicked back my can.
They shooed us away so we walked down aways
Now, I got nothing to wait for
and I got nothing but time.
So I'll swim in these streams
and warm these poor beaten insides.
Gimme the key to the city
These midwest eyes are dead tonight.
This demon smile is aching to explode.
Let's gather our bones, our guts and our hearts
and scream so they'll hear us down in those parks.
Under those trees
where the pigs lurk and crawl
there are bonfires and parties
that are fucking them all.
They give it by the inch
and take it by the mile.
It's one for the beating and
it's two for the trial.
They got nothing to wait for
and we got nothing but time
So I'll swim in these streams
(Drown in these dirty streams)
(Till I die)
Gimme the key to the city
These midwest eyes are dead tonight.
This demon smile is aching to explode.
(Let's burn out here 1000 miles from home)
I ain't here to remember!
I ain't here to breakdown!
Gimme the key to the city
These midwest eyes are dead tonight.
This demon smile is aching to explode.
Let's burn out here 1000 miles from home.
I know what I got and
I love what I know.
Don't wait up!
The Lawrence Arms's song Key to the City is a punk-rock anthem that captures a sense of desperation and rebellion against the mundane routine of everyday life. The song opens with an image of the singer sitting with the drunks and speed freaks, watching the mindless drones stroll by. The singer and his companions smoke weed and drink beers in the streets, rebelling against the status quo. They are not enslaved by time or the expectations of society. They have nothing to wait for and want the key to the city, a symbol of access and rebellion.
The chorus emphasizes their situation: "These midwest eyes are dead tonight. This demon smile is aching to explode." The singer is indifferent to the memories people try to cling on to and is not here to break down. As the song progresses, the lyrics convey the desire for freedom and the rebellion against authority figures such as the police officers ("under those trees where the pigs lurk and crawl"). The singer and his friends have nothing to lose, and they are willing to scream and rebel.
Line by Line Meaning
I sat with the drunks and the speed freaks
I hung out with intoxicated and addicted people.
and I watched all the drones strolling by.
I observed the people walking around like robots without any purpose or individuality.
We sat on the street with our beers and our weed
We enjoyed alcoholic drinks and marijuana on the road.
and we blew our smoke up towards the sky.
We exhaled smoke towards the sky with a sense of freedom.
I said, "It's one hell of an evening"
I exclaimed that it was a remarkable evening.
with a smile and I kicked back my can.
I reclined with a grin while resting my drink container aside.
They shooed us away so we walked down aways
They threatened us to leave, so we moved to some distance.
and we did the same damn thing again.
We repeated the same activity without any variation.
Now, I got nothing to wait for
Currently, I don't have any pending tasks or deadlines.
and I got nothing but time.
I have sufficient free time, and nothing specific to do during that time.
So I'll swim in these streams
Therefore, I will indulge in these activities.
and warm these poor beaten insides.
I will comfort and console my hurting emotions.
Gimme the key to the city
Give me the access and authority to rule and reign over this town.
These midwest eyes are dead tonight.
The people in this area seem lifeless and mundane today.
This demon smile is aching to explode.
I have an evil grin that's dying to burst out.
Let's gather our bones, our guts and our hearts
Let's combine and embrace our physical and emotional strength.
and scream so they'll hear us down in those parks.
Let's raise our voices to such an extent that it echoes even in the parks nearby.
Under those trees
Below the shade of those trees
where the pigs lurk and crawl
Where the police officers hide and search secretly.
there are bonfires and parties
There are lively bonfires and celebrations.
that are fucking them all.
Those activities are corrupting and polluting the authorities.
They give it by the inch
The authorities provide freedom and democracy inch by inch.
and take it by the mile.
They retrieve the rights and power from the citizens later.
It's one for the beating and
The authorities harm and attack the people.
it's two for the trial.
Then they falsely accuse and press charges against them.
They got nothing to wait for
The authorities don't have any pending problems to solve.
and we got nothing but time
We have an abundance of free time.
So I'll swim in these streams
Hence, I will continue with these activities.
(Drown in these dirty streams)
Even if it has some adverse effects.
(Till I die)
Even if it lasts my entire life.
I ain't here to remember!
I'm not interested in cherishing the moments or creating memories.
I ain't here to breakdown!
I'm not here to break down or cry.
I know what I got and
I'm aware of my possessions and abilities.
I love what I know.
I cherish my knowledge and experiences.
Don't wait up!
Don't expect me to return soon.
Lyrics © TUNECORE INC
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