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
Rodent
The Menzingers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the walls held captive, lives a mouse
I don't have the guts to kick him out
In the bars where I live, lives someone
who I woulda hated when I was young
When I swore life had a purpose
When I was sure the whole things worth it
Never again will I let anyone close to me
Me and the rodent in the wall have more in common after all
So burn the fucker down, I don't care anymore
I'll let it all go
Cause if this is what you want, I understand
Good luck with the guilt left on your hands
I've tried running, I've tried hiding
I've tried everything but dying
Damn the days we took for granted
Never again will I let anyone close to me
Yeah me and the rodent in the wall have more in common after all
I am only bad news
I am only bad news, news for you
In The Menzingers's song Rodent, the singer expresses a desire for privacy and isolation from the world around him. He imagines himself as a mouse trapped in the walls, unable to escape the constant attention of others. Despite his wish for solitude, he acknowledges the presence of another "mouse" in his life - someone who he once despised but now realizes he shares a lot in common with. The singer reflects on the passing of time and the fleeting nature of life, lamenting the moments he took for granted and vowing to never let anyone close to him again.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of resignation and defeat. The singer's frustration with the world around him culminates in the closing lines, where he declares himself to be "only bad news." This suggests that he may feel responsible for the problems in his life, or that he simply sees himself as a source of negativity. Overall, the lyrics of Rodent speak to the universal human experiences of loneliness, regret, and disillusionment.
Line by Line Meaning
I wanna be more discreet, I want em all to quit following me
I desire privacy and freedom from being followed
In the walls held captive, lives a mouse
There is a mouse confined within the walls
I don't have the guts to kick him out
I lack the courage to remove the mouse from the walls
In the bars where I live, lives someone who I woulda hated when I was young
Someone who I would have despised in my youth now resides in the establishments I frequent
When I swore life had a purpose
There was a time when I believed that life had a meaning
When I was sure the whole things worth it
I was once convinced that everything was worthwhile
Damn the days we took for granted
We lament the days that we didn't appreciate enough
Never again will I let anyone close to me
I will not allow anyone to become emotionally close to me again
Me and the rodent in the wall have more in common after all
There are similarities between myself and the mouse in the walls
So burn the fucker down, I don't care anymore
I am so frustrated that I don't care if everything is destroyed
I'll let it all go
I am prepared to relinquish everything
Cause if this is what you want, I understand
I comprehend if this is your desire
Good luck with the guilt left on your hands
You will have to confront the guilt you bear
I've tried running, I've tried hiding
I have attempted to escape and conceal myself
I've tried everything but dying
I haven't tried dying as a solution
Yeah me and the rodent in the wall have more in common after all
There are similarities between myself and the mouse in the walls
I am only bad news
I bring only negative consequences
I am only bad news, news for you
I am only bad news for you
Lyrics © MOTHERSHIP MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: ERIC KEEN, GREG BARNETT, JOE GODINO, TOM MAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
oryan katzav
[Verse 1]
I wanna be more discreet, I want 'em all to quit following me
In the walls held captive, lives a mouse
I don't have the guts to kick him out
In the bars where I live, lives someone
Who I would've hated when I was young
When I swore life had a purpose
When I was sure the whole things worth it
Damn the days we took for granted
Never again will I let anyone close to me
[Hook]
Me and the rodent in the wall have more in common after all
[Verse 2]
So burn the fucker down, I don't care anymore
I'll let it all go
Cause if this is what you want, I understand
Good luck with the guilt left on your hands
I've tried running, I've tried hiding
I've tried everything but dying
Damn the days we took for granted
Never again will I let anyone close to me
[Hook]
Yeah, me and the rodent in the wall have more in common after all
Me and the rodent in the wall, we have more in common after all
[Outro]
I am only bad news
I am only bad news, news for you
Genave Salas
"I wanna be more discreet, I want em all to quit following me
In the walls held captive, lives a mouse
I don't have the guts to kick him out
In the bars where I live, lives someone
who I woulda hated when I was young
When I swore life had a purpose
When I was sure the whole things worth it
Damn the days we took for granted
Never again will I let anyone close to me
Me and the rodent in the wall have more in common after all
So burn the fucker down, I don't care anymore
I'll let it all go
Cause if this is what you want, I understand
Good luck with the guilt left on your hands
I've tried running, I've tried hiding
I've tried everything but dying
Damn the days we took for granted
Never again will I let anyone close to me
Yeah me and the rodent in the wall have more in common after all
I am only bad news
I am only bad news, news for you"
Pedro Soucasaux
I wanna be more discreet, I want em all to quit following me
In the walls held captive, lives a mouse
I don't have the guts to kick him out
In the bars where I live, lives someone
who I woulda hated when I was young
When I swore life had a purpose
When I was sure the whole things worth it
Damn the days we took for granted
Never again will I let anyone close to me
Me and the rodent in the wall have more in common after all
So burn the fucker down, I don't care anymore
I'll let it all go
Cause if this is what you want, I understand
Good luck with the guilt left on your hands
I've tried running, I've tried hiding
I've tried everything but dying
Damn the days we took for granted
Never again will I let anyone close to me
Yeah me and the rodent in the wall have more in common after all
I am only bad news
I am only bad news, news for you
oryan katzav
[Verse 1]
I wanna be more discreet, I want 'em all to quit following me
In the walls held captive, lives a mouse
I don't have the guts to kick him out
In the bars where I live, lives someone
Who I would've hated when I was young
When I swore life had a purpose
When I was sure the whole things worth it
Damn the days we took for granted
Never again will I let anyone close to me
[Hook]
Me and the rodent in the wall have more in common after all
[Verse 2]
So burn the fucker down, I don't care anymore
I'll let it all go
Cause if this is what you want, I understand
Good luck with the guilt left on your hands
I've tried running, I've tried hiding
I've tried everything but dying
Damn the days we took for granted
Never again will I let anyone close to me
[Hook]
Yeah, me and the rodent in the wall have more in common after all
Me and the rodent in the wall, we have more in common after all
[Outro]
I am only bad news
I am only bad news, news for you
Eric Foster
I love this song soooo so so much. “Me and the rodent in the wall have more in common after all”.
This is top tier menzingers.
AmeliaBuns
I don't know if they really meant what I think they did with this line but
"I've tried running, I've tried hiding
I've tried everything but dying" is such a mood.
J Wyshoesi
I love this song .... gets me right in "exactly this " Feelings on this one!
Cause if this is what you want, I understand
Good luck with the guilt left on your hands
Chris Girouard
me and the rodent in the wall
Emily Alina
This is the best song ever. I've listened every day since the release. I love the new albums but this is gold. I need another tour. Im a jersey girl I love my menzingers!
Joao Menezes
sabe que a musica e boa quando ate seu irmao chei de frescura gosta! sucesso rapaziada do the menzingers
christina vandiver
One of my favorite songs!
Pw10576
Going to pick up this album tomorrow. Nothing but good vibes from beginning to end.
Kill7Me2Plenty3
best song on the album easily