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.
The YMCA Down The Street From The Clinic
The Lawrence Arms Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can smell the rats are dying
As the ship starts to sink
Down beneath, the poor are embraces and tears
Up against the bars, staring down their years
You told me to kiss you because we were at the end
And I said I wouldn't miss you, because baby, I'd be dead
And that's the only way, it seems, that I could get away
I got a bad, sick stink, and I'm bathing in the sink
At the YMCA down the street from the clinic
And there's a sad old man with a sad, saggy ass
Just crying under the electric dryer for your hands
And he's wet, and he's dying and the spiders on his nose
Seem to indicate that he's been keeping warm out in the cold
And he's a lot like me, I guess....but we're somehow not the same
They say you really die the last time anybody says your name
Oh
This sweet and sticky dream was nothing that I needed
Just demons to believe and poisons lined up to feed 'em
And the rings inside this tree are rotten deeper down
Goddamn this fucking town
It's restless and I'm drowning
I got these black rotten teeth
Cracking off in bloody beef
And I haven't seen the dentist in at least six thousand weeks
And I'm high on this TV and these whiskeys and these dreams
That I wouldn't dare to follow because I couldn't dare succeed
So I write down shitty words
So I sit in titty bars
So I text and tweet and look at nudes and beat off in the dark
Back when I was just a boy
These were okay ways to go
But baby, I got old
And somewhere I ditched my soul
Oh
This sweet and sticky dream was nothing that I needed
Just demons to believe and poisons lined up to feed 'em
And the rings inside this tree are rotten deeper down
Goddamn this fucking town
It's restless and I'm drowning
We are the lonely seeds
Adrift on burning seas
Just pour the goddamn round
And let's let these fuckers drown
The Lawrence Arms's song The YMCA Down The Street From The Clinic is a poignant and introspective take on the struggles of addiction, loneliness, and the sense of being trapped in a self-destructive cycle. The opening line "Click on the link for the world's biggest dick" sets the tone for a bleak portrayal of a world that is spiraling out of control, where even the most basic human impulses are reduced to a grotesque and meaningless spectacle. The reference to the rats dying as the ship sinks is a powerful metaphor for the sense of decay and hopelessness that permeates the lyrics.
The chorus "This sweet and sticky dream was nothing that I needed, just demons to believe and poisons lined up to feed 'em" captures the sense of disillusionment and regret that the songwriter feels about their choices in life. The imagery of the "sad old man with a sad, saggy ass just crying under the electric dryer for your hands" is particularly haunting, and serves as a reminder of the fragility of life and how easy it is to slip into despair.
The final lines "We are the lonely seeds adrift on burning seas, just pour the goddamn round and let's let these fuckers drown" offer a sense of defiance and rebellion, a refusal to be defeated by the overwhelming forces of addiction and despair. The song is a powerful reminder of the importance of empathy, compassion, and solidarity in the face of the struggles of addiction.
Line by Line Meaning
Click on the link for the world's biggest dick
There is a hypersexualized culture that glorifies the objectification of women and seeks to dominate others in a quest for power and control.
You can smell the rats are dying
All is not well in this town; something is rotten and corrupt.
As the ship starts to sink
The problems are causing the community to decline.
Down beneath, the poor are embraces and tears
Those who suffer most in this town have no escape from their struggle.
Up against the bars, staring down their years
The people in this town are trapped and held captive.
You told me to kiss you because we were at the end
A relationship in this town is coming to an end.
And I said I wouldn't miss you, because baby, I'd be dead
The relationship was toxic and emotionally draining.
And that's the only way, it seems, that I could get away
The artist had to end the relationship to escape the negativity.
Otherwise, I'm nothing without you, babe
The relationship had been all-consuming for the artist.
I got a bad, sick stink, and I'm bathing in the sink
The artist is struggling with poverty and poor living conditions.
At the YMCA down the street from the clinic
The singer is staying at a cheap, rundown hotel.
And there's a sad old man with a sad, saggy ass
The artist is surrounded by other people who are suffering and struggling.
Just crying under the electric dryer for your hands
Even basic amenities are scarce and poorly maintained.
And he's wet, and he's dying and the spiders on his nose
The other residents of the hotel are just as desperate and destitute as the singer.
Seem to indicate that he's been keeping warm out in the cold
Many of the people in this town have nowhere else to go and no options for survival.
And he's a lot like me, I guess....but we're somehow not the same
The artist recognizes a connection to the other residents but also feels a sense of isolation and despair.
They say you really die the last time anybody says your name
The artist reflects on the impermanence of existence and the fear of being forgotten.
This sweet and sticky dream was nothing that I needed
The singer is disillusioned with the false hope and empty promises of this town.
Just demons to believe and poisons lined up to feed 'em
The town is filled with vices and temptations that only lead to deeper suffering.
And the rings inside this tree are rotten deeper down
The problems of the town run deep and are difficult to root out.
Goddamn this fucking town
The artist is angry and resentful of the circumstances that brought him here.
It's restless and I'm drowning
The town continues to change and erode, and the artist cannot escape it.
We are the lonely seeds
The singer feels isolated and disconnected from the rest of the world.
Adrift on burning seas
The artist is lost and struggling amidst a sea of pain and suffering.
Just pour the goddamn round
The singer expresses a nihilistic desire to give up and succumb to the negative forces around him.
And let's let these fuckers drown
The singer is filled with anger and resentment towards those who have caused his suffering.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
travestestify
This is still one of the most lyrically amazing songs I have personally known.
Big Rudy
One of those rare, beautiful songs that can either be deep and meaningful or complete nonsense at once. Brendan is an underrated talent and wordsmith.
Daniel Alan
I love these guys. I'm really glad they're still around.
Allan Menzies
This song just hits your right in the soul.
David W
What a visceral piece of music. Every line is a tangible sensation, a clear image. It's song writing as it ought to be done
notyoursavior78
This album is fantastic! It just hit the right spot, when I got it.
kyle reinhardt
Falcon Just around the corner!!! Gather up your chaps everyone!
and this song takes me back, when I was picking up my methadone at the clinic down the street from the YMCA in Edmonton, Canada. Very powerful for me. Off that shit 1.5 years now :) and never going back., looking back. But never going back! This song is spooky, and I fucking love it!
yetfilms
@Jodi Farmer yeah, it’s definitely no easy thing, and most of us, myself included, have to make several attempts at it before finding success, so it’s good to hear you’re not beating yourself up over it. I had anxiety issues I had to deal with as well when I was getting clean, and my spiral into addiction was also set off after losing a close loved one, so I understand how tough that gets. It’s good that you’re in counseling. That can make a world of difference. I wish you the very best of luck!
Jodi Farmer
@yetfilms thank you. It didn't go well. I unfortunately relapsed and am back to 75mg per day... But it is what it is. I'm starting my taper again and at least this time I know what to expect and have the tools and support to make it a success.
The issue I had was that I realised I hadn't fully dealt with the grief of losing my daughters dad to suicide on 2018 (he was my partner for 22 years)... Once I got clean, it hit me like a truck. I am now in bereavement counselling and also counselling for my anxiety. I will get there. Its just a slight deviation from the path I had planned... But I'm not going to beat myself up about it. These things are sent to try us and it has made me even more determined.
yetfilms
@Jodi Farmer since this comment is a couple years old, I hope you had success with your detox. It can be a rough transition, but it feels great on the other side.