1996-2001: Hollywood Records years
In 1995 the band signed to Hollywood Records, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. 1996 saw the release of their first album, Destruction by Definition. Its blend of punk rock and ska brought the national attention in the midst of the mid-1990s punk rock mainstream revival. The single "No Face" became a minor hit on modern rock radio stations and the album was supported through extensive touring across the United States. They released a follow-up in 1998 entitled Battle Hymns, which continued their ska punk style while incorporating more aggressive elements of hardcore punk, with nearly all of its songs lasting under two minutes in length.
Following the release of Battle Hymns Grant left the band. He went on to play with numerous groups including Thoughts of Ionesco, The Vandals, face to face, and Telegraph before finding a permanent position in the Alkaline Trio. He was replaced by Erin Pitman for some touring before new permanent drummer Ryan Vandeberghe joined. In 2000 this lineup released The Suicide Machines, a more pop rock oriented effort that moved away from the ska influences of their earlier releases. They received some radio and video play for the single "Sometimes I Don't Mind" and performed on the Warped Tour that Summer. In 2001 they released Steal This Record, which continued their exploration of pop punk style while mixing in elements of their earlier ska punk and hardcore albums.
2002-2005: Side One Dummy years
Following touring in support of Steal This Record bassist Nunley left The Suicide Machines to start his own band, Blueprint 76, and was replaced by Rich Tschirhart. The band also ended their contract with Hollywood Records, fulfilling their contractual obligations by releasing the compilation album The Least Worst of the Suicide Machines. They then moved to the independent label Side One Dummy Records. Their next album A Match and Some Gasoline, released in 2003, found the band abandoning the pop experimentations of their previous two albums and returning more to the ska punk and hardcore styles of their earlier years. They also began to explore sociopolitical themes in songs such as "Did You Ever Get a Feeling of Dread?" and "Your Silence," which were critical of President George W. Bush's administration, its response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. They toured internationally in support of the album and again performed on the Warped Tour.
In 2005 the band released the album War Profiteering is Killing Us All, which continued their political themes by openly attacking the Bush White House, the continuation of the Iraq War, and conservative Republicanism. Navarro also launched his own record label, Noise Riot Records, and released On the Eve of Destruction: 1991-1995, a compilation of the band's early EPs, singles, and demos.
2006: Breakup and post-Suicide Machines activity
In 2006, while touring in support of War Profiteering is Killing Us All, the band abruptly broke up. Explanations given by the band members for this included Vandeberghe's desire to take a break from touring, which he did while friend Steve McCrumb filled for a performance at the Troubadour in Los Angeles on May 11. A tour of Mexico had been planned to follow this, and Navarro had suggested that the band perform its final shows that Christmas. However, interpersonal tensions came to a head after the Troubadour show when Lukacinsky refused to finish the tour. Lukacinsky himself further elaborated that the band had been planning to break up for some time.
Following the band's breakup, Navarro and Vandeberghe continued working with Left in Ruin, a band they had started as a Suicide Machines side project and had worked on and off with for almost 6 years. Vandeberghe also joined the new band Hifi Handgrenades. Lukacinsky, meanwhile, started his own band Bayonetting the Wounded. Navarro is currently fronting Hellmouth. Tschirhart is in The A-Gang.
The Real You
The Suicide Machines Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're not the person I once knew,
You're not the you that I'm used to
All this wool is buggin' my eyes and I never realized
Behind that plastic shell, you cannot even tell
I can't come in 'cause you won't let me break through the mask of who you are Listen | Buy
You let down your shield, it's your best defense,
For me to tell you everything that I want to tell to you
But you never knew the real me¡Â
And I'm sure I never knew the real you
I want to see the real you! (Repeat 6x)
Conflicting spheres of interest pose a threat to who we are
And where we want to be, we just can't see
We throw the walls up around ourselves
Our visions are dulled and doubtful
It's our double standards
That'll wrap us up inside ourselves and never let us out¡Â
I want to see the real you! (Repeat 6x)
Motherfucker!
Fucking Bitch!
Hypocrite!
Ahhh!
The Real You!
I want to see the real you! (Repeat 6x)
In The Suicide Machines' song "The Real You," the lyrics speak to the idea of authenticity and self-expression. The song is about the difficulty of truly getting to know someone who has built up walls around themselves in order to project a certain image or hide parts of themselves from the world. The chorus repeats "I want to see the real you" as a plea for the person to let their guard down and show their true self.
The first verse speaks to the frustration of trying to connect with someone who is constantly wearing a "plastic shell" to hide behind. The singer can't break through the mask of who the person is projecting to really get to know them. The second verse acknowledges that the act of opening up and being vulnerable is difficult, but necessary for true connection. The lines "You let down your shield, it's your best defense / It won't devastate you, it's really hard" suggest that the person is protective of themselves for fear of being hurt, but that they are also missing out on real connections because of it.
The song ends with a string of insults, as the singer seemingly grows frustrated with the person's inability to be real with them. However, the repeated refrain of "I want to see the real you" still speaks to a desire for connection and understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
The word “real” is defined as what really lies inside
Real means the true essence of one's being.
You're not the person I once knew,
You have changed from the person I used to know.
You're not the you that I'm used to
You are not the familiar version of yourself that I know.
All this wool is buggin' my eyes and I never realized
I am blinded by the surface level of things and failed to see the true essence.
Behind that plastic shell, you cannot even tell
The outer façade is so strong that it is hard to decipher the true self.
I can't come in 'cause you won't let me break through the mask of who you are
I am unable to connect with the real you because you refuse to reveal your true self to me.
You let down your shield, it's your best defense,
Breaking down your protective wall is the best way to defend yourself.
It won't devastate you, it's really hard…
It is difficult, but breaking down your defenses will not be detrimental to you.
For me to tell you everything that I want to tell to you
There are things I wish to communicate with you fully.
But you never knew the real me…
You never really knew the true essence of me.
And I'm sure I never knew the real you
I am certain that I never fully understood the real you.
I want to see the real you!
I long to witness the true essence of who you are.
Conflicting spheres of interest pose a threat to who we are
Our differing interests can threaten our true selves.
And where we want to be, we just can't see
We cannot get where we want to go without understanding our true selves.
We throw the walls up around ourselves
We put up defenses that hinder our true selves from being seen.
Our visions are dulled and doubtful
Our ability to see the truth is clouded and questioning.
It's our double standards
Our hypocrisy hinders our ability to be honest with ourselves.
That'll wrap us up inside ourselves and never let us out…
If we continue to deceive, we will be trapped in our false selves forever.
Motherfucker!
Expression of anger and discontent towards someone.
Fucking Bitch!
Expression of anger and contempt towards someone.
Hypocrite!
Accusation of someone being hypocritical.
Ahhh!
Expression of frustration and exasperation.
The Real You!
Call for the revelation of someone's true self.
I want to see the real you!
Reiterated desire to witness the true self of someone else.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DANIEL JAY LUKACINSKY, DEREK RICHARD GRANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind