Current members
Matt Brasch – guitar, backing vocals
Dan "Soupy" Campbell – lead vocals, acoustic guitar
Casey Cavaliere – guitar, backing vocals
Mike Kennedy – drums, percussion
Josh Martin – bass guitar, backing vocals
Nick Steinborn – guitars, keyboards, piano, backing vocals
Studio albums
2007: Get Stoked on It!
2010: The Upsides
2011: Suburbia I've Given You All and Now I'm Nothing
2013: The Greatest Generation
2015: No Closer to Heaven
2018: Sister Cities
2022: The Hum Goes On Forever
Compilations
2013: Sleeping on Trash: A Collection of Songs Recorded 2005-2010
Keystone State Dude-Core
The Wonder Years Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The Wonder Years's song Keystone State Dude-Core encapsulates the feeling of being a broke and struggling touring band. The opening lines of the verse speak to the financial struggles of being on the road, with empty bank accounts and high gas prices. The band is so broke that they haven't showered in at least four days, and they're pushing their van up snowy inclines. The second half of the verse takes a more lighthearted tone, with the band joking about their run-ins with the law ("dancing with cops on the Virginia road side") and their reputation for causing trouble ("we're banned for life from Ft. Eustis"). Despite all of these obstacles, the band is undeterred - they're here to play music and that's what they're going to do, no matter what.
The chorus of the song serves as something of a mantra for the band: "We're six dudes from the Keystone State / We're broke as fuck, but we can't complain / This shit's a bust but we'll get stoked on it." The band's sense of camaraderie and determination is palpable - they may be struggling, but they're making the most of it and having a good time regardless. The verse ends with a series of anecdotes about the band's adventures overseas, including crashing their van four times in England, making fun of kids with "stupid accents," and partying on the streets of London.
Line by Line Meaning
We know the way that shit gets sometimes with bank accounts empty and gas prices too high.
We understand the difficulties of financial struggles and high gas prices.
We're pushing the van up snowy inclines and dancing with cops on the Virginia road side.
We've experienced challenging driving conditions, and even had friendly interactions with law enforcement officers.
We're banned for life from Ft. Eustis. It doesn't make a difference.
We're not allowed at a certain military base, but it doesn't affect us much.
The sound guy here's got shit against us. We came here to do this.
The sound technician doesn't seem to like us, but we're here to perform nonetheless.
We're six dudes from the keystone state. We're broke as fuck, but we can't complain.
We're a group of six from Pennsylvania, struggling financially, but we don't want to whine about it.
We haven't showered in at least four days. This shit's a bust but we'll get stoked on it.
We haven't been able to shower for four days and the situation is disappointing, but we'll try to make the best of it.
In Small-Town PA, we're busting meth labs and drive-by assaulting people in Spanish. ¿Donde esta la cave?
In a small town in Pennsylvania, we're jokingly engaging in illegal activities and asking for the location of a bar.
We're passing out on the couch in Long Island. Through shitty flights and homeless nights we stay tight, cause we're just…
We're exhausted and sleeping on a couch in Long Island. Despite challenges such as bad flights and lack of housing, we stick together as a group.
Crashed the van four times in England, made fun of kids with stupid accents, partied on the streets of London.
We had some mishaps while driving in England, joked about accents, and had fun partying in London.
Contributed by Taylor Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Nic Evely
Lyrics:
[Verse 1]
We know the way that shit gets sometimes
With bank accounts empty and gas prices too high
We're pushing the van up snowy inclines
And dancing with cops on the Virginia road side
We're banned for life from Ft. Eustis
It doesn't make a difference
The sound guy here's got shit against us
We came here to do this
[Hook]
We're six dudes from the keystone state
We're broke as fuck, but we can't complain
We haven't showered in at least four days
This shit's a bust but we'll get stoked on it
[Verse 2]
In Small-Town PA, we're busting meth labs
And drive-by assaulting people in Spanish
¿Donde esta la cave?
We're passing out on the couch in Long Island
(Crashed the van four times in England, made fun of kids with stupid accents)
Through shitty flights and homeless nights
(Partied on the streets of London.)
We stay tight, cause we're just (we're just)
We're just (we're just)
[Hook]
Six dudes from the keystone state
We're broke as fuck, but we can't complain
We haven't showered in at least four days
This shit's a bust but we'll get stoked on it
We'll get stoked on it
Bailey Elmore
Flash forward and the year is 2018, the wonder years play this song on Jan. 31st in front of an actual crowd. The world burns.
Hz
damn i remember looking up concerts in 2013 and being sad seeing someone say they didnt play any songs from this album anymore. so I never went.
Will M
@michael williams Doesnt he think that the only "relevant" stuff they wrote was from the Upsides Onwards?
michael williams
You've no idea how happy I am soupy is acknowledging the #ez days again
superior
this entire album sounds like me logging onto club penguin in the 5th grade without telling my parents, because I know they’d be bitches about me using the family computer before 9:00 am.
Breezy Burton
Wish this album was on Spotify
Laura O'Brien
They've changed so much.... I think I like their new stuff better tbh, but I'll always miss this era
Chobes 182
They played this song last night in 2019 and it was amazing
D Nelson
Chobes 182 no way
DoktorL0ve
after hearing this album for the first time, looked up online what other people thought about it. consensus is that it's a crap album and their new stuff is better. just wanted to say... all those people are idiots. this album is a masterpiece. honestly, one of the best albums i've ever heard in any genre. every song is memorable, well written, well structured, so many awesome riffs. so many people hating on this album and... nah, y'all are just wrong. total masterpiece. amazing.