The band formed in 1986 as an underground punk rock act. Their popularity grew during the following decade with the 1992 album It's A Shame About Ray, which was produced, engineered, and mixed by The Robb Brothers (Bruce Robb, Dee, and Joe), followed by a cover of Simon and Garfunkel's "Mrs. Robinson", which eventually became one of the band's most successful singles.
Throughout its various incarnations, recording and touring lineups of the band have included co-founders Ben Deily and Jesse Peretz, John Strohm (Blake Babies), Doug Trachten, Corey Loog Brennan, Byron Hoag, Ben Daughtry, Juliana Hatfield (Blake Babies), Nic Dalton (Godstar, Sneeze, The Plunderers), Dave Ryan, Patrick "Murph" Murphy (Dinosaur Jr), Bill Gibson (Eastern Dark), Mark 'Budola' Newman, Kenny Lyon, Vess Ruhtenberg, Devon Ashley, Karl Alvarez and Bill Stevenson (Descendents), P. David Hazel and various others.
Cited as one of the most important alternative rock groups, The Lemonheads were active until 1997 and went on hiatus, but reformed with a new lineup in 2005 and released The Lemonheads in the following year. The band released its latest album, Varshons, in June 2009.
Waiting Around To Die
The Lemonheads Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sometimes I can't even see the reason why
I guess I keep on gamblin', lots of booze and lots of ramblin'
It's easier than just a-waitin' 'round to die
One-time friends I had a ma, I even had a pa
He beat her with a belt once cause she cried
She told him to take care of me, she headed down to Tennessee
I came of age and found a girl in a Tuscaloosa bar
She cleaned me out and hit it on the sly
I tried to kill the pain, I bought some wine and hopped a train
Seemed easier than just a-waitin' 'round to die
A friend said he knew where some easy money was
We robbed a man and brother did we fly
The posse caught up with me, drug me back to Muskogee
It's two long years, just a-waitin' 'round to die
Now I'm out of prison, I got me a friend at last
He don't steal or cheat or drink or lie
His name's codeine, he's the nicest thing I've seen
Together we're gonna wait around and die
The Lemonheads' song Waiting Around To Die is a solemn reflection on the singer's life experiences that have left him feeling disillusioned and lost. The lyrics depict the singer's feeling of hopelessness as he struggles to find his place in the world. The dirty road symbolizes the uncertainty of life's journey and the singer's inability to predict where it may lead him. The line "Sometimes I can't even see the reason why" suggests that he lacks a sense of purpose and direction.
The singer's coping mechanism, as described in the song, is alcohol and aimless wandering. He chooses to gamble and ramble instead of facing the reality of his situation. The tone of the song's refrain, "It's easier than just a-waitin' 'round to die," emphasizes the hopelessness and despair the singer feels. With each verse, the singer shares his past traumas that have shaped his present behavior. The line "It's two long years, just a-waitin' 'round to die" describes the singer's time spent in prison waiting out his sentence, which is portrayed as an inevitable end.
In the final verse, the singer introduces his new friend, Codeine, as the nicest thing he's seen. The line conveys that the singer's only solace is in drugs. Together they will wait around to die, which is both a morbid and resigned final statement.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes I don't know where this dirty road is taking me
At times, I feel lost and directionless on this long, arduous journey.
Sometimes I can't even see the reason why
Occasionally, I can't comprehend why I'm making the choices I'm making.
I guess I keep on gamblin', lots of booze and lots of ramblin'
Perhaps I keep risking everything while heavily drinking and aimlessly wandering around.
It's easier than just a-waitin' 'round to die
These actions may seem easier than doing nothing and just waiting for death.
One-time friends I had a ma, I even had a pa
Once, I had friends and parents in my life.
He beat her with a belt once cause she cried
My father once struck my mother with a belt for expressing sadness.
She told him to take care of me, she headed down to Tennessee
My mother entrusted my care to my father and left us to pursue a new life in Tennessee.
It's easier than just a-waitin' 'round to die
Leaving was a simpler option than staying and dealing with the pain and misery at home.
I came of age and found a girl in a Tuscaloosa bar
Once I was older, I met a woman at a bar in Tuscaloosa.
She cleaned me out and hit it on the sly
This woman took advantage of me and then left without saying goodbye.
I tried to kill the pain, I bought some wine and hopped a train
To cope with the emotional agony, I turned to alcohol and escaped on a train.
Seemed easier than just a-waitin' 'round to die
Drinking and running away appeared easier than staying and facing the pain.
A friend said he knew where some easy money was
A friend of mine claimed to know of a simple way to make money.
We robbed a man and brother did we fly
Together, we stole from a man and then fled the scene.
The posse caught up with me, drug me back to Muskogee
However, the authorities caught up with me, and I was taken to Muskogee.
It's two long years, just a-waitin' 'round to die
I spent two grueling years in prison, awaiting my inevitable death.
Now I'm out of prison, I got me a friend at last
After serving my time, I've made a new companion.
He don't steal or cheat or drink or lie
Unlike my past acquaintances, this new friend is honest and doesn't engage in vices.
His name's codeine, he's the nicest thing I've seen
This new friend, codeine, provides me comfort and temporarily dulls my pain.
Together we're gonna wait around and die
My plan is to continue living my difficult life with codeine until my inevitable death comes.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Townes Van Zandt
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
มูหัมหมัดฮาริส กาเหย็ม
"Waiting Around To Die"
Sometimes I don't know where this dirty road is takin' me
Sometimes I can't even see the reason why
I guess I keep on gamblin', lots of booze and lots of ramblin'
Well, it's easier than just waitin' 'round to die
One time friends I had a ma, I even had a pa
He beat her with a belt once 'cause she cried
She told him to take care of me and headed down to Tennessee
It's easier than just waitin' 'round to die
I came of age and found a girl in a Tuscaloosa bar
She cleaned me out and hit it on the sly
I tried to kill the pain, I bought some wine and hopped a train
Seemed easier than just a-waitin' 'round to die
A friend said he knew where some easy money was
We robbed a man and brother did we fly
But the posse caught up with me and drug me back to Muskogee
It's two long years of waitin' 'round to die
Now I'm out of prison, I got me a friend at last
He don't drink or steal or cheat or lie
His name is codeine, he's the nicest thing I've seen
Yeah, together we're gonna wait around and die
Yeah, together we're gonna wait around and die
Jon Tourville
The Lemonheads are an underrated band.
Tom Senft
If you name yourself "The Lemonheads," you are likely to be underrated.
L xx
Superb cover, Evan sounds great, he gets it spot on..
Κώστας Μπαλαμώτης
Great cover!!! Bravo
reverse.ferret
I havent listed to the Lemonheads since the 90s, but this is a great cover of a Townes classic.
zora night
one of my favorite songs - i feel my heart. and i know what evan dando is singing about.
Prismo
I love Evan.. i feel he did the great Townes Van Zandt justice
Carmen Medina
The be good tanyas has a great version
Margaret Ross
Fantastic!
brannon McClure
Thank you for all the great life inspiration through your genuine humanity in your songs and evyting.