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
Nice Things
The Menzingers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
At the gate there is an automatic teller machine
Sir, empty your pockets please before you file through
The king and queen foreclosed on their crowns
While the joker laughed and made his rounds
He was drunk, carrying on self satisfied
The western walls are closing in
Dreaming their dreams?
Singing songs of another time?
Is your gold so strangely acquired?
Has your name become known and desired?
Have you degenerated?
Are you running out of time?
Do you want nice things?
Sure you do.
Do you call nice things your own?
Do you want them?
Do you want to feel safe?
Climb the wall, before the fall
(No one is waiting for, nobody's waiting)
(No one is waiting for you)
The Menzingers's song Nice Things is a poignant commentary on the futility of materialism and the emptiness that comes with it. The first verse describes how the Western Wall, a sacred religious site, has been reduced to a jumbo screen while an ATM machine has been installed at the gate, highlighting the way in which consumerism has invaded even the holiest of spaces. The following lines refer to the downfall of the king and queen, while the joker, a symbol of recklessness and irresponsibility, carries on regardless, emphasizing the contrast between those who are privileged and those who suffer. The chorus questions the choices one makes in life, asking if they are truly happy, sane, rich, and thin, or whether they are simply chasing an ideal that is unattainable. The rapid-fire lines of the final verse encourage the listener to climb the wall before the fall, suggesting that the only way to escape the cycle of materialism is to break free from it altogether.
The lyrics of Nice Things may be interpreted in various ways, but the song's themes can be boiled down to a few core ideas. The song critiques the emptiness of consumerism and the way in which it has infiltrated every aspect of modern life, including religion, politics, and personal relationships. The song also emphasizes the need to live life on one's own terms, rather than striving for some unattainable ideal. Finally, the song encourages its listeners to take action, to climb the wall before the fall and break free from the cycle of materialism in order to find true happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
The western wall is a jumbo screen
The walls of modern society are suffocating us and only serve as a platform for superficial displays of wealth and status.
At the gate there is an automatic teller machine
Society is built around monetary gain, where even the entrance at the gateway of public places has turned into an ATM machine.
Sir, empty your pockets please before you file through
The world wants to strip us off our individuality before we enter the public sphere, reducing us to our economic value through body pat-downs, searches, and requests to check pockets and bags.
The king and queen foreclosed on their crowns
Those who think they rule the world, become powerless when they become ineffective, leading to their downfall and ruin.
While the joker laughed and made his rounds
People who fail to take their lives seriously, can walk free in a world that is stricken with chaos, making a joke out of everyone else's misery.
He was drunk, carrying on self satisfied
The people who find joy in their own self-importance and selfishness, end up being intoxicated by their own virtues while leading an ego-driven life.
The western walls are closing in
The walls of the society are collapsing, and everything that we desire may cease to exist shortly.
Are you happy, sane, are you rich are you thin?
Society places too much value on money, beauty, and fame, leaving us undervalued unless we meet those high demands.
Dreaming their dreams?
Those who live in a constant tunnel vision, end up living a life that is not truly their own, but rather, a byproduct of what the world wants them to have.
Singing songs of another time?
We live in a world where the ideals of the past are still idolized, singing the same songs over and over again, ignoring the changes that should be made for our own betterment.
Is your gold so strangely acquired?
The people who have gained wealth through unjust means, or by exploiting others, end up being the ones who are ultimately judged by society.
Has your name become known and desired?
In a world where name and fame are highly valued, we often crave people's acceptance, which can lead us to do things that are not true to our character.
Have you degenerated?
When we succumb to the societal pressure of conforming to what is accepted as the norm, we lose our personal identity, leading to a degeneration of the self.
Are you running out of time?
The world moves fast, and sometimes, we feel like we're running out of time, resulting in regrets of the things that we didn't complete, making us feel like we've failed as individuals.
Do you want nice things? Sure you do.
Everyone desires to have luxury things, but we must not forget the true pleasures in life that do not come with a price tag.
Do you call nice things your own?
The things that we acquire through money, without a meaningful personal connection, may never truly become 'ours,' making our attachment shallow and superfluous.
Do you want them? Do you want to feel safe?
We desire things that make us feel secure in a world of uncertainty, but we must be aware of the tradeoffs we make between our security and our personal identity.
Climb the wall, before the fall
We must break the wall of a society built on the ego and the material, before it makes us fall into a life we don't want to lead.
(No one is waiting for, nobody's waiting)
No one will hold our hand on this journey, and it's up to us to make the most of our lives.
(No one is waiting for you)
Society doesn't wait for anyone, and it's up to us to take action on our lives before it becomes too late.
Contributed by Gianna S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Daxen Coil
The western wall is a jumbo screen
At the gate there is an automatic teller machine
Sir, empty your pockets please before you file through
The king and queen foreclosed on their crowns
While the joker laughed and made his rounds
He was drunk, carrying on self satisfied
The western walls are closing in
Are you happy, sane, are you rich are you thin?
Dreaming their dreams?
Singing songs of another time?
Is your gold so strangely acquired?
Has your name become known and desired?
Have you degenerated?
Are you running out of time?
Do you want nice things?
Sure you do.
Do you call nice things your own?
[2x]
Do you want them?
Do you want to feel safe?
[5x]
Climb the wall, before the fall [6x]
(No one is waiting for, nobody's waiting)
(No one is waiting for you)
Drew McGill
Love the opening riff of this song. Shit gets me going! Also, still the best album thus far this year!
Kyle
My favorite song I have heard in 37 years! 👏
AmeliaBuns
Found this song, all while wanting to cheer up by buying nice things.... I think maybe I shouldn't
The ending after the high is so good. God I love this band
ALIFEASTHEWETFALCON
Just saw these guys with Bouncing Souls the other night. They were really, really solid live. Dig the voice.
Daxen Coil
The western wall is a jumbo screen
At the gate there is an automatic teller machine
Sir, empty your pockets please before you file through
The king and queen foreclosed on their crowns
While the joker laughed and made his rounds
He was drunk, carrying on self satisfied
The western walls are closing in
Are you happy, sane, are you rich are you thin?
Dreaming their dreams?
Singing songs of another time?
Is your gold so strangely acquired?
Has your name become known and desired?
Have you degenerated?
Are you running out of time?
Do you want nice things?
Sure you do.
Do you call nice things your own?
[2x]
Do you want them?
Do you want to feel safe?
[5x]
Climb the wall, before the fall [6x]
(No one is waiting for, nobody's waiting)
(No one is waiting for you)
jimmyredpant
Dudes got such a good voice
Mike Santana
De esas bandas que ahora que tenemos 30 años y crecimos en los 90's con el punk
Iggy Pips
my "after teeth brush" song on a day when I slept too long....never gets old :-)
Nick Whitbread
I love The Menzingers more than moist things.
Aldo Herrera
great song