With a shit-hot pop punk and hard rock hybrid driven by the sleazy stylings… Read Full Bio ↴With a shit-hot pop punk and hard rock hybrid driven by the sleazy stylings of the whiskey throated Wendy Case, The Paybacks emerged in 1999 as an almost supergroup of the underground Detroit garage rock community. Members previously played with acts such as The Hentchmen, Rocket 455 and The Muggs. Danny Mehtric lays down the law of riffage, with William Hafer and Dave Malosh providing a thunderous rythym section for Case's Lemmyesque vocals. They have released three albums "Knock Loud", the aptly named "Harder and Harder" and 2006's third album "Love, Not Reason". With a relentless tour schedule, The Paybacks have developed into one of the hardest working acts of today's garage scene.

Hollywood
The Paybacks Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Somebody told me Hollywood was slowly burning
So i went with my own eyes to see
And i landed in places where the make-up on your faces telling stories in color tv
but it's hard to believe you can find what you're looking for... anymore

Somebody told me not to spend it all on Sundays
So I went with my own eyes to see
that the doors'll stay open for praying and hopin'

come and get your share
if you have a care oh noo
But it's hard to believe that you can find what you're looking for ohh anymore

Any way that I make is my own
But I know what i'm in for
And It's hard to know how to get home
but I know what i'm in for

(solo)

I heard a lot of talk about a revolution
So i went with my own eyes to see
that i'm confused by the colors of such expensive clothes pays for so many problems i see
but it's hard to believe that you can find
what you're looking for ohh nooo

Any way that I make is my own
But I know what i'm in for

And It's hard to know how to get home
but I know what i'm in for

Overall Meaning

The Paybacks' song "Hollywood" reflects the disillusionment of being in the city of dreams, where everything is shiny and new but nothing is real. The first stanza is about how somebody told the singer that Hollywood was slowly burning, which refers to the idea that the glamour of Hollywood is slowly fading away. The singer then goes to see it with their own eyes and lands in places where make-up on faces tells stories in color TV. This could be interpreted as the artificial nature of Hollywood where everything is a facade, and what is shown is not real. However, the singer finds it hard to believe that you can find what you're looking for anymore, which could refer to the dream of becoming a star and making it big in Hollywood.

The second stanza talks about how someone told the singer not to spend it all on Sundays, which refers to the idea of not wasting one's time and opportunity in Hollywood. The singer goes to see it with their own eyes and finds that there is still hope in the city of dreams, where the doors stay open for praying and hoping. But again, the singer finds it hard to believe that you can find what you're looking for anymore, which shows the pessimism that comes with being in the city for too long.

The final stanza talks about how the singer heard a lot of talk about a revolution in Hollywood, referring to the idea that things might change for the better. But when the singer goes to see it with their own eyes, they find that the expensive clothes and the colors confuse them, and they see so many problems. Again, the singer finds it hard to believe that you can find what you're looking for anymore. The song is about the loss of the dream of making it big in Hollywood and the disillusionment that comes with living in the city for too long.

Line by Line Meaning

Somebody told me Hollywood was slowly burning
I heard a rumor that the glitz and glamour of Hollywood is slowly fading away

So i went with my own eyes to see
I decided to go there and see for myself

And i landed in places where the make-up on your faces telling stories in color tv
I found myself in places where people's makeup tells the stories of their lives on colorful TV screens

But it's hard to believe you can find what you're looking for... anymore
It's becoming difficult to find what you are looking for in Hollywood these days

Somebody told me not to spend it all on Sundays
I heard someone cautioning against spending too much money on Sundays

So I went with my own eyes to see
I decided to go out and experience it myself

That the doors'll stay open for praying and hopin'
I found that there are still places open for people to come and pray and hope

come and get your share
You are welcome to come and take what is rightfully yours

if you have a care oh noo
Only if you care enough to seek it out

But it's hard to believe that you can find what you're looking for ohh anymore
It's becoming harder to find what you are looking for these days

Any way that I make is my own
I am free to make my own way in life

But I know what i'm in for
But I am aware of the risks and consequences of my choices

And It's hard to know how to get home
It's difficult to find my way back home

but I know what i'm in for
But I am prepared for the challenges that lie ahead

I heard a lot of talk about a revolution
I've been hearing a lot about a potential revolution

So i went with my own eyes to see
So I decided to go out and observe it for myself

that i'm confused by the colors of such expensive clothes pays for so many problems i see
I am struck by how expensive clothing can exacerbate so many issues

but it's hard to believe that you can find what you're looking for ohh nooo
But it's becoming increasingly difficult to find satisfaction in life

Contributed by Sebastian G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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