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
Mexican Guitars
The Menzingers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The kind I could confide in
And drink with on random neighbors' porch steps
Our glossy eyes painted portraits of the streets
You were an old friend
That covered up your innocence
With five tattoos of all the bands you loved in high school
The ones you said that I had to listen to all the time
I did what I did to get away from this
Cause everything that's happened has left me a total wreck
And everything that I do now is meaningless
So I'm off to wander around the world for a little bit
Without one hundred channels with nothing on the TV
And the great pessimistic unknown
So does anyone know the best way to go?
Which road that I could take to get to Mexico?
Cause I'm so sick of living in this ditch
With only the memory in the back of my head
I'm on cruise control and the radio was on
Yeah, they were playing that song
That we both learned on our Mexican guitars
I'm on cruise control and the radio was on
They were playing that song
That we both learned on our Mexican guitars
You were my old friend
The Menzingers's song Mexican Guitars is a nostalgic anthem that speaks to the desire to escape and start anew. The lyrics are filled with imagery of old friends and random porch steps, revealing a longing for simpler times. The singer is plagued by the heaviness of their past, feeling like everything they have done thus far is meaningless. The desire to escape is palpable as they ask for advice on the best way to get to Mexico. The chorus is the heartbeat of the song, as it recalls a happier time, when the singer and their old friend played a song on their Mexican guitars. The song speaks to the universal desire to break free from the mundanity of life and search for meaning and adventure.
Mexican Guitars was influenced by the band's own personal experiences. Co-vocalist and guitarist Tom May has said that the song was inspired by the time he spent traveling in Mexico, where he used a guitar that he had picked up along the way to write songs. In addition, the guitar riff that runs throughout the song was actually based on a riff that the other co-vocalist and guitarist, Greg Barnett, had been playing around with for a while.
Line by Line Meaning
You were an old friend
You were someone I knew for a long time and could open up to
The kind I could confide in
Someone I trusted and could share my secrets with
And drink with on random neighbors' porch steps
We were comfortable hanging out together in casual settings
Our glossy eyes painted portraits of the streets
We were young and carefree, seeing the world in a positive light
That covered up your innocence
You tried to hide your vulnerable side with visible symbols of your interests
With five tattoos of all the bands you loved in high school
You liked certain bands so much, they became a part of your identity
The ones you said that I had to listen to all the time
You shared your love of those bands with me and wanted me to appreciate them too
I did what I did to get away from this
I made certain choices to escape my current situation
Cause everything that's happened has left me a total wreck
I've gone through a lot of difficult experiences, which have taken a toll on me
And everything that I do now is meaningless
I'm feeling lost and unsure about my purpose in life
So I'm off to wander around the world for a little bit
I'm taking a break from my routine and trying to find myself through travel
Without one hundred channels with nothing on the TV
I don't need constant entertainment to distract me from my thoughts
And the great pessimistic unknown
The future is uncertain and I'm trying to come to terms with that
So does anyone know the best way to go?
I'm seeking advice from others on how to find direction in my life
Which road that I could take to get to Mexico?
I'm literally asking about a specific route to a destination, but it also represents my desire for a clear path forward
Cause I'm so sick of living in this ditch
I'm tired of feeling stuck and unfulfilled
With only the memory in the back of my head
I'm clinging to past experiences as a source of comfort
I'm on cruise control and the radio was on
I'm driving on autopilot, letting my thoughts wander while listening to music
Yeah, they were playing that song
The song playing on the radio has a special meaning to me
That we both learned on our Mexican guitars
We shared a love of music and bonded over learning to play a specific song
You were my old friend
Despite growing apart, you still hold a special place in my heart as a former confidant and companion
Contributed by Camden P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Stick Slayers Inc
Verse 1]
You were an old friend, the kind I could confide in
And drink with on random neighbors' porch steps
Our glossy eyes painted portraits of the streets
[Verse 2]
You were an old friend that covered up your innocence
With bad tattoos of all the bands you loved in high school
The ones you said that I had to listen to all the time
[Bridge]
I did what I did to get away from this
'Cause everything that's happened has left me a total wreck
And everything that I do now is meaningless
So I'm off to wander around the world for a little bit
Without one hundred channels with nothing on the TV
And the great pessimistic unknown
[Chorus]
So does anyone know the best way to go?
Which road that I could take to get to Mexico?
'Cause I'm so sick of living in this ditch
With only the memory in the back of my head
I'm on cruise control and the radio was on
Yeah, they were playing that song
That we both learned on our Mexican guitars
I'm on cruise control and the radio was on
They were playing that song
That we both learned on our Mexican guitars
On our Mexican guitars
On our Mexican guitars
On our Mexican guitars
On our Mexican guitars
Stick Slayers Inc
Verse 1]
You were an old friend, the kind I could confide in
And drink with on random neighbors' porch steps
Our glossy eyes painted portraits of the streets
[Verse 2]
You were an old friend that covered up your innocence
With bad tattoos of all the bands you loved in high school
The ones you said that I had to listen to all the time
[Bridge]
I did what I did to get away from this
'Cause everything that's happened has left me a total wreck
And everything that I do now is meaningless
So I'm off to wander around the world for a little bit
Without one hundred channels with nothing on the TV
And the great pessimistic unknown
[Chorus]
So does anyone know the best way to go?
Which road that I could take to get to Mexico?
'Cause I'm so sick of living in this ditch
With only the memory in the back of my head
I'm on cruise control and the radio was on
Yeah, they were playing that song
That we both learned on our Mexican guitars
I'm on cruise control and the radio was on
They were playing that song
That we both learned on our Mexican guitars
On our Mexican guitars
On our Mexican guitars
On our Mexican guitars
On our Mexican guitars
Cy Nothing
Best pop-punk album ever.
Mooseontheloose
Quality tune
Hunter Chandler
Greatest album I've heard in a while. Lady has man hands though. I can't tell if it's her hand or not.
Kyana Quintero
She's fucking beautiful
She has earned those stripes from the life she has lived
Battle scars that tell stories
Maybe even Beautiful stories ?
Eliseo Calvo
+Kyana Quintero couldn't describe it better!
Gringo Green
Pretty sure these are about Fender Mexican guitars. If they didn't record with them they sure did tour with them.😎👍✨
Oh yeah...my Tele in my pick has a MIM Fender neck on it.
newthrash1221
We need this.
slang terms
terrible booze, awesome song.
Rocky Barrs
That did not sound like mexican guitars.....