Band members are as follows:
Vic Ruggiero - Keyboards, Vocals
Jay "Agent Jay" Nugent - Guitar
Dave Hillyard - Saxophone
Glen Pine - Trombone, Vocals
Marcus Geard - Bass
Ara Babajian - Drums
Former members and contributors:
Marq "Q-Maxx 4:20" Lyn - Vocals
TJ Scanlon - Guitar
Luis "Zulu" Zuluaga - Drums
Jeremy "Mush One" Mushlin - Trumpet, Vocals
Allen Teboul - Drums
Dunia Best- Vocals, Flute
Jeff "King Django" Baker - Trombone
Tobias Fields - Congas
Eric "E-ROC" Singer - Alto Saxophone
Victor Rice - Bass
Dave Hahn - lead guitar
Justin Redekop- Trumpet
The next album released was Redlight, on HellCat Records in 1997. This album solidified their sound and further fixed the line-up.
The band released its latest album, entitled Self Medication, in May of 2008.
I'd Rather Die Happy
The Slackers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wrote myself a song
Just things I want to say
About what is wrong
But all of my complaining
Well, it comes to no avail
And things I really need to say
I've yet to learn myself
Ah but, I won't cry, no
And I won't wail, no
I'll tell myself that you never fail
Until it's over
And when it's over, it's over
So, I wrote myself a letter
And I sent it off to you
To make myself feel better -
I tried to tell the truth
I wrote a song for Jesus Christ
And one for Noah's Ark
I sang a song for morning light,
And I still sat in the dark
But, I won't cry, no
And I won't wail, no
I'll tell myself that you never fail
Until it's over
And when it's over, it's over
So I accept I can't do nothing
Do nothing at all
I see myself, a big long road
And I build myself a wall
I dig myself a tunnel
So I could get on under
And join the rest of the human race
Just ask why and wonder
But, I won't cry, no
And I won't wail, no
I'll tell myself that you never fail
Until it's over
And when it's over, it's over
And when it's over, it's over
It's over, it's over
"I'd Rather Die Happy" by The Slackers is a poignant song about the difficult experiences of life and how to cope with them. The opening lines about writing a song express the songwriter's need to express what is troubling them but also implies a sense of helplessness; their complaints come to no avail and the words they really need to say elude them. The second verse sees the songwriter write a letter and a song to improve their emotional wellbeing, specifically mentioning religious themes such as Jesus Christ and Noah's Ark. However, they still feel lost and trapped in the darkness.
The chorus of "But, I won't cry, no / And I won't wail, no / I'll tell myself that you never fail / Until it's over / And when it's over, it's over" is a validation of the human spirit's propensity for resilience. The lyrics suggest that, despite facing adversity and uncertainty, the songwriter remains committed to not letting their emotional pain get the best of them. Instead, they remind themselves that endings are the norm; things must come to an end in order for new beginnings to emerge.
All in all, the song captures the universal struggle of trying to come to terms with life's difficulties. It acknowledges that writing songs or letters to oneself can bring temporary relief, but ultimately, the only way to move forward is to accept life's transience and to keep going. The song's gentle yet reflective melody heightens the poignant nature of the lyrics, creating a beautiful tapestry of emotions that connects with listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
I sat myself down Tuesday
I took a moment to reflect on my thoughts and feelings
Wrote myself a song
Expressing myself through music
Just things I want to say
Voicing my opinions and concerns
About what is wrong
Discussing issues and problems
But all of my complaining
Realizing that my complaints are meaningless
Well, it comes to no avail
My complaints are ineffective
And things I really need to say
Important thoughts and feelings that I haven't yet expressed
I've yet to learn myself
I haven't fully processed my emotions and thoughts
Ah but, I won't cry, no
Despite feeling overwhelmed, I will not give up
And I won't wail, no
I won't let myself succumb to despair and hopelessness
I'll tell myself that you never fail
I will remind myself of my own resilience and strength
Until it's over
I will persevere until the end
And when it's over, it's over
Accepting that life has its ups and downs
So, I wrote myself a letter
Writing out my thoughts and feelings to process them
And I sent it off to you
Sharing my emotions and thoughts with someone else
To make myself feel better -
As a means of self-care and emotional release
I tried to tell the truth
Being honest and open with myself and others
I wrote a song for Jesus Christ
Expressing my faith and spirituality
And one for Noah's Ark
Referencing a biblical story to convey a message
I sang a song for morning light,
Celebrating the beauty of the world
And I still sat in the dark
Struggling with my own darkness and pain
So I accept I can't do nothing
Acknowledging my limitations
Do nothing at all
Recognizing that inaction can be just as harmful as action
I see myself, a big long road
Contemplating my own journey in life
And I build myself a wall
Building barriers to protect myself from harm
I dig myself a tunnel
Finding alternative ways to move forward
So I could get on under
Navigating my way through difficult times
And join the rest of the human race
Connecting with others and finding community
Just ask why and wonder
Continuing to question and search for understanding
And when it's over, it's over
Accepting the impermanence of life and everything in it
It's over, it's over
Letting go of the past and moving forward
Contributed by Caroline T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
dmblystone1441
THE SONG I WANT PLAYED AT MY FUNERAL...AND WHEN ITS OVER, ITS OVER
kecajsiM
these songs by them are somethin' more than songs by them
Inga Binga
Ace. Just ace.
Vn Ikv
And when its over..
its over ..
Texas Sandstorm
+Danilo Rodrigues Haha! Excellent!
stemarotta
who's the one who don't like this video?! people are crazy...
The Afterworld
👍🏻
sigraviovio
Ben voilà!!!!
vonsmink1
No Shit...Time to Drop Tha Hammah
vonsmink1
Im Telling them "ALL" to Beat Feat. Great Song.