The band's lineup fluctuated significantly over their first nine years, though founding members Steven Ronald "Stevo" Jensen, guitarist Jan Nils Ackermann, and first consistent drummer Joe Escalante remained regular fixtures. Of the original members only Escalante has remained through all incarnations of the band. The current lineup of Escalante, Dave Quackenbush, Warren Fitzgerald, and Josh Freese has remained intact since 1990 and is considered by most fans to be far removed from the band's early 1980s incarnation. Since 2002 Escalante has released all of the band's albums through his Kung Fu Records label, with Fitzgerald generally producing.
I am Crushed
The Vandals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, I am crushed. And I am devastated.
And contemplating suicide but I don't have the nerve.
And what's the rush? It all should end real soon.
And so I'll just keep waiting and I'll listen to them say,
"You've got your life in front you," and so I must reply.
"That is just more bad news cuz I'd really rather die."
Than limp around in agony, reliving all the tragedies and face another day.
Oh I am crushed. And I am devastated.
And it's something I can't mend, it ain't going away, soon.
I hurt so much. And I cannot explian it.
It seems like there's a purpose but I still don't understand.
But that's my luck. So I'll just wait in pain.
And though it doesn't help I have to listen to them say,
"keep looking at the bright side," oh that just hurts my eyes.
And if you really care then you would simply let me die.
And leave here with some dignity but it just keeps on making me face another day.
Oh I am crushed. And I am devastated.
And it's something I can't mend and it ain't going away, soon.
Repeat (Chorus)
OH I AM CRUSHED!
The lyrics to The Vandals' "I am Crushed" express a deep sense of despair and hopelessness, as the singer struggles with overwhelming sadness and thoughts of suicide. The repeated refrain of "Oh, I am crushed. And I am devastated" emphasizes the depth of the singer's pain, while the line "contemplating suicide but I don't have the nerve" suggests that the singer is struggling with not only intense emotions, but also a sense of anxiety about taking action. The singer seems resigned to their fate, expressing a sense of fatalism with the lyrics "And what's the rush? It all should end real soon. And so I'll just keep waiting."
The second verse continues this theme of hopelessness, with the line "I hurt so much. And I cannot explain it" emphasizing the singer's inability to fully articulate the depth of their pain. Despite this, the singer seems to have some sense of understanding that their suffering is part of a larger pattern, stating "It seems like there's a purpose but I still don't understand." However, they also express a sense of frustration with this knowledge, responding to someone who tries to comfort them with the words "keep looking at the bright side," by saying "oh that just hurts my eyes."
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, I am crushed. And I am devastated.
I am extremely distressed and unhappy.
And contemplating suicide but I don't have the nerve.
I have considered ending my own life, but I do not possess the courage to execute it.
And what's the rush? It all should end real soon.
There is no need to hurry because everything will come to an end eventually.
And so I'll just keep waiting and I'll listen to them say,
I will continue to endure and hear others tell me to keep going.
"You've got your life in front you," and so I must reply.
People tell me that my life is ahead of me, but my response is negative.
"That is just more bad news cuz I'd really rather die."
I perceive this statement as unfortunate because I would prefer death to enduring any further hardships.
Than limp around in agony, reliving all the tragedies and face another day.
I would rather die than continue to suffer through life's hardships and memories of past tragedies.
I hurt so much. And I cannot explain it.
I am in so much pain, and I cannot put it into words or make it comprehensible for others.
It seems like there's a purpose, but I still don't understand.
There appears to be some significance to my situation, but I am still unable to comprehend it.
But that's my luck. So I'll just wait in pain.
That's the way life is for me, so I have no choice but to suffer through it.
And though it doesn't help, I have to listen to them say,
Even though what others are saying is not aiding me, I am obligated to give them my attention.
"keep looking at the bright side," oh that just hurts my eyes.
When others tell me to be optimistic, it causes me pain and discomfort.
And if you really care, then you would simply let me die.
If you truly care for me, you would allow me to end my own life and give me the gift of dignity.
And leave here with some dignity, but it just keeps making me face another day.
Allowing me to die would bring me some sense of honor or pride, but instead, I am forced to face another day of suffering.
And it's something I can't mend, it ain't going away, soon.
What is troubling me cannot be remedied, and it will not pass anytime soon.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
pixiesinthefog
Oh, I am crushed. And I am devastated.
And contemplating suicide but I don't have the nerve.
And what's the rush? It all should end real soon.
And so I'll just keep waiting and I'll listen to them say,
"You've got your life in front you," and so I must reply.
"That is just more bad news cuz I'd really rather die."
Than limp around in agony, reliving all the tragedies and face another day.
Oh I am crushed. And I am devastated.
And it's something I can't name and it ain't going away soon.
I've learned so much. And I cannot explain it.
It seems like there's a purpose but I still don't understand.
But that's my luck. So I'll just wait in pain.
And though it doesn't help I have to listen to them say,
"keep looking on the bright side," but that just hurts my eyes.
And if you really care then you would simply let me die.
And leave here with some dignity but it just keeps on making me face another day.
John Duncan
I miss back when punk felt like the future rather than the past.
judahverrecke
still the best song/video combination ive ever heard/seen..
video2000ification
Despite its morbid theme, this song feels refreshing
Carl Hatt
Man, this video really hits the depression mark
TheMisanthropeLives
I miss The Vandals.
jonathan nuñez
I love this song and video!
Jesse
Josh freeze is the best drummer on the planet
Todd Packer
He’s playing with the foo fighters now
Quentin Plummer
@Todd Packer RIP Taylor Hawkins. Only someone like Josh Freese could fill in for him.
chikenfrye
I purposely listened to this song after fighting with my family for many months. All of the lyrics compared to what I was feeling.