The Replacements were notorious for heavy drinking and drugging. Their habits were so egregious that even grizzled recording executives didn't like dealing with the band. Fans romanticized the partying as they are wont to do, but this excess was more human than it was heroic. The band drank to quell their performance anxiety. The group started very young (at only 12-years-old in the case of bassist Tommy Stinson) and kept a busy schedule for over a decade, but going on stage was still frightening for them. That fear is manifest in the lyrics:
“If being afraid is a crime
We hang side by side
At the swingin' party down the line”
Lorde covered the song in 2013, including it on the US iTunes Store edition of The Love Club EP and on the B-side to the "Tennis Court" single. On June 17, 2013, the song climbed to #10 on the New Zealand Singles Chart. She then included it on the extended version of her debut studio album, Pure Heroine.
Other covers include:
Popland on their 2000 tribute album, Left of the Dial: A Pop Tribute to The Replacements.
Annie Hayden covered the song in 2005 on The Enemy of Love.
Also in 2005, The Weakerthans performed the song at the Winnipeg Folk Festival.
Kindness did a house-music interpretation in 2009 and released it as their first single. Their version was used in the 2015 film Paper Towns.
Paul Westerberg got the kernel for the song while listening to a bootleg version of "Flying On The Ground Is Wrong" by Buffalo Springfield.
Tommy Erdelyi, better known as Tommy Ramone of the punk-pioneering Ramones, produced this song and the rest of the Tim album.
Swingin Party
The Replacements Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hear it's never endin', can't remember when it started
Pass around the lampshade, there'll be plenty enough room in jail
If being wrong's a crime, I'm serving forever
Being strong and kind, I need help here with this feather
If being afraid is a crime, we hang side by side
Pound the prairie pavement, losin' proposition
Quittin' school and goin' to work and never goin' fishin'
Water all around, never learning how to swim now
If being wrong's a crime, I'm serving forever
If being strong and kind, then I need help here with this feather
If being afraid is a crime, we hang side by side
At the swingin' party down the line, li-li-line
At the swingin' party down the line
Bring your own lampshade, somewhere there's a party
Hear it's never endin', can't remember when it started
Pass around the lampshade, there'll be plenty enough room in jail
If being wrong's a crime, I'm serving forever
Being strong is what you want, then I need help here with this feather
If being afraid is a crime, we hang side by side
At the swingin' party down the line
Every valentine at the swingin' party down the line
Catch you down at the swingin' party down the line
The Replacements' song "Swingin Party" can be interpreted in multiple ways, but one common interpretation is that the lyrics represent the struggle of being an outsider in society. The line "bring your own lampshade" implies that you need to bring your own source of illumination to participate in the party, symbolizing how outsiders have to bring their own light and energy to situations since they don't fit into societal norms. The lyrics "If being wrong's a crime, I'm serving forever" and "If being afraid is a crime, we hang side by side" suggest that those who are different are often labeled as "wrong" or "afraid," and as a result, are marginalized and punished. The singer ultimately finds solace in the "swingin' party down the line," where others who are similarly marginalized gather to find kinship and release.
The second verse continues the theme of societal alienation but also introduces the idea of a "losing proposition." The lyrics "Quittin' school and goin' to work and never goin' fishin' / Water all around, never learning how to swim now" suggest the singer's decision to conform to societal norms by dropping out of school and working instead of following their interests. However, this conformity causes them to miss out on experiences and skills important to life, like swimming. Instead, they're stuck on a "losing proposition." The chorus remains the same, with the singer again expressing a desire for help and a place to belong.
Overall, the song is a commentary on the alienation individuals can feel in society, the pressures to conform to societal norms, and the hope for community and acceptance among those who feel like outsiders.
Line by Line Meaning
Bring your own lampshade, somewhere there's a party
Bring your creativity and unique personality to the celebration of life, wherever that may be
Hear it's never endin', can't remember when it started
The joys of life never cease and are timeless, beyond our recollection
Pass around the lampshade, there'll be plenty enough room in jail
Indulge in the temporary pleasures of life, even if it's against the rules and leads to confinement
If being wrong's a crime, I'm serving forever
I'm willing to suffer the consequences of making mistakes if it means living life on my own terms
Being strong and kind, I need help here with this feather
In order to be both resilient and compassionate, I require assistance from others who can offer support and guidance
If being afraid is a crime, we hang side by side
If experiencing fear is deemed unacceptable, we will stand united in solidarity with one another
At the swingin' party down the line
At the never-ending celebration of life in the future
Pound the prairie pavement, losin' proposition
Working tirelessly towards an unrewarding goal is a futile endeavor
Quittin' school and goin' to work and never goin' fishin'
Succumbing to societal pressure to prioritize work over pleasure, never taking the time to relax and enjoy life
Water all around, never learning how to swim now
Being surrounded by opportunities, yet failing to take advantage of them due to lack of preparation or confidence
Every valentine at the swingin' party down the line
Each special moment spent with loved ones at the never-ending celebration of life is cherished and remembered
Catch you down at the swingin' party down the line
Looking forward to reuniting with friends and family at the timeless party of life in the future
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Paul Westerberg
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind