Shortly thereafter they were signed by Go-Kart Records and re-recorded the songs from "A Lesson" and re-released their album with the addition of some new tracks.
At the Fest VII in Gainesville, FL they were approached by Brendan Kelly of The Lawrence Arms and subsequently signed to Red Scare Industries.
They released their Red Scare debut EP "Hold On, Dodge" in 2009.
In April 2010, Chamberlain Waits was released, through Red Scare Records. In March and April they also toured in support of Against Me!.
On May 17, 2011 they announced that they had signed to Epitaph Records. Brett Gurewitz, founder of Epitaph Records and guitarist of Bad Religion said this about the signing of the band:
"These guys play the kind of pure punk rock that I grew up with. They are seriously talented songwriters and I'm happy to welcome them to the Epitaph family. I think the band is a great fit here."
They released their third full length album, On The Impossible Past, on February 21, 2012 via Epitaph Records.
The band currently lives in South Philadelphia, PA.
Band Members:
Tom May
Joe Godino
Greg Barnett
Eric Keen
Lilith Avi
The Menzingers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Some call it eden, (We're) sharing roles
You were tempted by the serpent man
While I was busy on a cell phone closing the deal
Call out my name, I've seem to forget it
I lost my name tag, sinner seminar
You were tempted by the serpent man
Call out my name, I'm wasting away
Over a flicker of time
Broke and busted fool, now I know what it feels like
The gods are pickin' steel on the radio
Next to the preachers trying to teach us of the fires below
I'm not going back to extremes
So we'll drag this asphalt river for the body of a story untold
Hey little girl, won't you marry me?
I'm feeling so alone. I know why
Hey little girl, won't you stay away?
I might lose my best friend, I'm losing my best friend,
I lost my best friend to your cause
Now I hear that lonesome song
Now I feel my legs touch the ground
The Menzingers's song Lilith Avi tells the story of two people sharing the roles of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. While one person is busy on a cell phone, the other is tempted by the serpent man. The lyrics ask the other person to call out their name since the singer has forgotten it, having lost their name tag at a "sinner seminar." However, the singer is "wasting away over a flicker of time" and feels like a "broke and busted fool." The gods are picking steel on the radio next to the preachers teaching about the fires below. The singer does not want to go back to extremes and instead wants to "drag this asphalt river for the body of a story untold."
The lyrics then shift to a plea from the singer to a little girl to marry them since they are feeling so alone, but also a warning for the little girl to stay away since they might lose their best friend. The song ends with the singer hearing a lonesome song and feeling their legs touch the ground. The song seems to explore themes of temptation, loss, loneliness, and searching for a connection.
Line by Line Meaning
Won't you meet me in the garden?
Invitation to a rendezvous at the Garden of Eden.
Some call it eden, (We're) sharing roles
Referring to the Garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve shared roles as stewards of the garden.
You were tempted by the serpent man
Reference to the biblical story of Adam and Eve being tempted by the serpent in the Garden of Eden.
While I was busy on a cell phone closing the deal
Irony of being preoccupied with material things while the other person is entangled in temptation.
Call out my name, I've seem to forget it
Expression of confusion and disorientation.
I lost my name tag, sinner seminar
Metaphor for a lost identity as a result of indulging in sinful behavior.
Call out my name, I'm wasting away
Suggesting the emptiness and degradation that come with indulging in vices.
Over a flicker of time
Alluding to the insignificance of fleeting pleasures in the grand scheme of things.
Broke and busted fool, now I know what it feels like
Admission of personal struggles and experiences with poor choices.
The gods are pickin' steel on the radio
Comparison between the gods of rock and roll and religious preachers seeking to influence listeners.
Next to the preachers trying to teach us of the fires below
Contrasting religious warnings about hell with the pleasures of rock and roll music.
I'm not going back to extremes
Desire to avoid the harmful consequences of past mistakes and behaviors.
So we'll drag this asphalt river for the body of a story untold
Metaphor for searching for a deeper, untold truth or meaning behind their experiences.
Hey little girl, won't you marry me?
Expression of loneliness and desire for companionship.
I'm feeling so alone. I know why
Self-awareness of the underlying reasons for feeling lonely.
Hey little girl, won't you stay away?
Awareness of the negative impact that a relationship could have on an existing friendship.
I might lose my best friend, I'm losing my best friend,
Recognition of the potential harm that could come from pursuing a romantic relationship with someone.
I lost my best friend to your cause
Acknowledgment of a lost friendship as a result of becoming involved with someone.
Now I hear that lonesome song
Reference to the melancholy and sometimes painful aspects of love.
Now I feel my legs touch the ground
Recognition of a newfound sense of stability and grounding.
Contributed by Gabriella V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.