The Living End got their first big break in 1995 when, after sending a t-shirt and a demo tape to Billie Joe Armstrong, they landed a support slot in Green Day's upcoming Australian tour. After the tour, the group went into the studio to record their debut EP Hellbound which received moderate support from community radio stations.
In November 1995, the band went back into the studio to record their second EP (It's for Your Own Good which they released several months later. This recording yielded their first major radio airplay with the song From Here On In, which was placed on high rotation on the youth radio network Triple J. Shortly after the release of the second EP, drummer Joe Piripitzi left the band and was replaced with Travis Dempsey who was soon playing with the band at major festivals such as Pushover and the Falls Festival. After a year touring Australia, The Living End again headed into the studio to record something new to sell at their now very popular shows. The result was the Second Solution / Prisoner of Society double single.
Prisoner of Society quickly became a national hit and the band signed on to Modular Recordings for the release of their debut self titled album, The Living End. The album was an instant hit with Australian audiences and resulted in six Australian singles (counting the "Second Solution" release as two because both songs received major airplay). The Living End became the second-highest-selling debut rock album in Australian music history, now five times platinum.
The Roll On album in 2000 was a more creative work, but did not manage to achieve the status of their earlier album. Cheney later stated that he was trying to prove to critics that The Living End were not a band simply defined by their hit Prisoner of Society, and the album showed this by displaying other influences, as well as their traditional fast-paced rockabilly music. The album even garnered comparison, by a few critics, to seminal punk band The Clash's creative breakthrough, London Calling.
The band hit a quiet period after that during which Chris Cheney had a tragic car accident on the Great Ocean Road, rendering him unable to play for a significant period of time. He had been on the road to the house of a member of fellow Australian band Bodyjar.
In 2003, after Chris's recovery and with new drummer Andy Strachan, the band made a comeback, releasing One Said to the Other, Who's Gonna Save Us? and getting air play once again. This was followed by heavy touring (including Big Day Out) and a release of Modern ARTillery.
In late 2004, the band has released a singles collection From Here on In: The Singles 1997-2004 as well as a DVD, which included all video clips and a "supergig", collections of the band's most famous songs performed in Australia, Japan and the USA. The DVD also features the band's history- documented in interviews and home footage.
Recently, Chris performed at the 2004 ARIA awards as part of the supergroup The Wrights, featuring members of many other Australian rock bands.
Chris Cheney and Scott Owen have won the Best Guitarist and Best Bassist awards for 2004 and 2005, in the Jack Awards.
The band performs regularly in Melbourne, one performance recently was for the Channel V Music Bus at Federation Square Melbourne, Australia (15th of December 2005) which saw a capacity crowd of between 4,500 and 5,000 people attend. The event saw many under 18's get the chance to see their idols for free, and for a lucky few, the chance to sing with Chris Cheney, unplanned of course.
The Living End's fourth album, titled State of Emergency, was released on February 4 2006 and was recorded in Byron Bay after they played in the Splendour in the Grass festival. They had finished the recording and the artwork for State of Emergency in mid December 2005. The single "What's on Your Radio was released on November 20, 2005, and debuted at #9 on the ARIA singles chart. The second single, "Wake Up" was released on February 19 and debuted at #5 on the ARIA singles chart. The group is currently signed to Adeline Records, owned and run by Billie Joe and Adrianne Armstrong.
In 2008 The Living End released their fifth studio album titled as White Noise, showing more hard rock influenced sound of The Living End. First single from the album was a double A-side single White Noise/How Do We Know which was released physically and digitally 5 July 2008. The second single Moment in the Sun was released 25 October 2008. The third single, Raise the Alarm, was released 22 December 2008. In 2009 The Living End started the Raise the Alarm Tour.
Long Live the Weekend
The Living End Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Spendin' all your dough yeah you know as soon as you get it
Wastin' your time on an assembly line you want out of it
Pickin' up your pay at the end of the day and get out of it
And get away
'Cause you're wonderin' if it's gonna change
'Cause the weekdays are the same as always never changing
Make a break, another escape
I gotta get out, I gotta get out
Make a break, another escape
I gotta get out, I gotta get out
Long live the weekend
Monday - don't want to get out of bed
Tuesday - I'm walking with the dead
Wednesday - never felt so wrong
Thursday - takes twice as long
But Friday, I know where I'm gonna be
Faraway from the same old everyday ordinary
Make a break, another escape
I gotta get out, I gotta get out
Make a break, another escape
I gotta get out, I gotta get out
Long live the weekend
Long live the weekend
Week in, week out
Week in, week out
Week in, week out
Week in, week out
Week in, week out
Week in, week out
Well I don't care if I don't get paid
I can't sit here for one more day....
Wasting away
Well now you're wonderin' if it's gonna change
'Cause the weekdays are the same as always never changing
Make a break, another escape
I gotta get out, I gotta get out
Make a break, another escape
I gotta get out, I gotta get out
Long live the weekend
Long live the weekend
Long live the weekend
Long live the weekend
Long live the weekend
The Living End's "Long Live the Weekend" is an energetic and anthemic ode to the working-class drudgery and the need to escape from it. The song speaks to those who work hard all week and just want to cut loose and release themselves from the monotonous routine. The lyrics express the frustration of working for someone who may not value, appreciate or understand the effort you put in. It's a song that encourages listeners to celebrate their freedom and make the most of their weekends. The chorus "Long live the weekend" is a call to arms and a reminder to enjoy life while you can.
The first verse discusses the tedium of a job on an assembly line, spending hard-earned money as soon as you receive it, and the joy of leaving work on a Friday. The verses that follow dive into the difficulties and eventual excitement that come with getting through each day of the workweek, until the release of Friday night finally arrives. The song's track moves at a breathless pace, complementing the urgency of the lyrics, which come with a vibrant punk-inspired energy. The bridge of the song is a cry of desperation and release when the singer declares, "I can't sit here for one more day... Wasting away."
Line by Line Meaning
Workin' for a man that you don't understand so forget it
You are struggling to work under someone whose motives and expectations you can't comprehend, so ignore it and carry on.
Spendin' all your dough yeah you know as soon as you get it
You spend all your salary as soon as you receive it, without any restraint or hope for savings.
Wastin' your time on an assembly line you want out of it
You are frustrated with your current job on the assembly line and wish you could leave it behind.
Pickin' up your pay at the end of the day and get out of it
You eagerly await the end of the day in order to collect your pay and leave your work behind.
And get away
You believe that escaping from work is essential to a happy life, and you aim to do just that.
'Cause you're wonderin' if it's gonna change
You're unsure if your work situation will ever get any better, and this uncertainty troubles you.
'Cause the weekdays are the same as always never changing
Your weekdays are monotonous and unchanging, and this depresses you.
Make a break, another escape
Take the opportunity to leave that which you've grown weary of behind, and move on to something different.
I gotta get out, I gotta get out
Your desire to break out of your current job situation has grown urgent, and you must leave as soon as possible.
Long live the weekend
You celebrate the weekend, as it provides a brief reprieve from the unpleasantness of your weekdays.
Monday - don't want to get out of bed
You struggle to get out of bed and start your week on Mondays because of how hopeless and exhausting your job feels.
Tuesday - I'm walking with the dead
Your job leaves you feeling lifeless and drained, as if you're barely alive and barely moving.
Wednesday - never felt so wrong
On Wednesdays, you are at your lowest point, feeling uncertain and lost in your miserable job.
Thursday - takes twice as long
Despite your best efforts, Thursdays are long and exhausting, leaving you feeling more drained than usual.
But Friday, I know where I'm gonna be
On Fridays, you are excited and relieved because you know that you'll finally be able to leave work and enjoy the weekend.
Faraway from the same old everyday ordinary
Your weekends are a break from the monotony of your daily routine, and you cherish the freedom and excitement they provide.
Well I don't care if I don't get paid
You would rather not get paid than spend any more time at your miserable job.
I can't sit here for one more day....
Your job is unbearable, and you cannot tolerate the thought of remaining there for any longer.
Wasting away
Your current job is causing you to waste your time and your life, and you must find a way out soon.
Long live the weekend
You reiterate your love and appreciation for the weekend, as it provides a much-needed break from the drudgery of your weekday routine.
Long live the weekend
You celebrate the arrival of the weekend once again, continuing to adore the escape it provides.
Long live the weekend
You repeat your joyous exclamation of 'Long live the weekend,' treasuring every moment of the break it provides you from the dispiriting, monotonous turmoil of your weekday job.
Long live the weekend
You finish with a final joyful exaltation of the weekend, celebrating its role in your life and in your continuing effort to escape your current job situation.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRISTOPHER JOHN CHENEY, SCOTT BRADLEY OWEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind