Uncle Outrage was started in 1999 as a joke/hobby by Nils Rasmussen. He produced 3 albums (a total of 87 songs) over the next 3 years through mp3.com. As the band grew in popularity (even having the 3rd most plays on mp3.com in Canada at one point), Nils decided that he needed help in order to play demands for live performances. He recruited his best friend Matt "H" on guitar (whom he has known since kindergarten), Matt Poles on bass, and Ryan Holmes on synth.
It took about a year for the band to really find their sound as a cohesive group before they finally released Bonecock Vol. 1 in early 2004. Earlier in the year, they had released a limited copy of a self titled CD. After being disappointed with the overall quality of that album, they decided to take matters into their own hands. Bonecock Vol. 1 was produced almost entirely in a studio set up in Nils' basement. The band was far more satisfied with the new sound, and it seemed the public was too. The album was well-received in the Edmonton area, and word of mouth spread their songs throughout the United States and the rest of Canada. This album allowed Nils to work with some of his music idols from bands like The O/gONNAgETgOT, Betty's Trash, Erotic Golf, and Switchee. The group continued to play shows around Western Canada as they began writing their follow-up album Dance Extreme in 2006. Dance Extreme took the band in a slightly new direction with higher standards in recording quality, and had the guys taking their work a little more seriously.
The following year presented many stresses in the personal lives of the band, causing a lull in producing new material as well as live performances. After a long period of consideration, H and Ryan decided that they couldn't continue being a part of UO. Despite this unhappy turn of events, Nils continued to crank out new songs on his own, with the help of Poles for basslines and song structure. For the first time in six years, Nils was working on his own, and unable to perform live once again. After about 2 years of hard work, The Chinchilla Album is born. While still maintaining the tongue in cheek nature that Uncle Outrage started out with, in songs such as "Superbowl" and "A.D.D", the new album also explores new ideas and diverse genres. Songs such as "Kingfish", "Fear Of God", and "Strange Harvest" demonstrate Nils' lyrical prowess. Whereas before, the band was struggling to compromise in order to suit everyone's tastes, the newest offering from Uncle Outrage still has the patented UO sound, but with more eclectic elements.
Short Bus
Uncle Outrage Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I’m not the man you thought you’d caught
I just came here to browse and shop
Not to steal your chips and pop
Now there’s no reason to push and shove me
I didn’t take your stuff
There’s no reason to throw me in a cell
I can’t do anything
I can’t do anything
I’m in a bus, I’m in a really tiny bus
Fuck you. They put me in the short bus
I’m in a bus, I’m in a really tiny bus
Fuck you. They put me n the short bus
And now they’re watching me
And they’re looking at me
And laughing (I can tell)
I don’t know what to do
But at least I know what I can do well
I can’t do anything
I can’t do anything
I’m in a bus, I’m in a really tiny bus
Fuck you. They put me in the short bus
I’m in a bus, I’m in a really tiny bus
Fuck you. They put me on the short bus
Always, everyone acting the same
Today I think I will win this war
Always, everyone acting the same
Today I think I will win this war
All way home
The song "Short Bus" by Uncle Outrage is about the experience of being falsely accused of stealing and ending up in the "short bus" as a result. The lyrics describe the singer being accused of theft despite being innocent and pleading his innocence, but ultimately being thrown in jail anyway. The chorus repeats the line "I'm in a bus, I'm in a really tiny bus / Fuck you. They put me on the short bus" as a way of expressing frustration and anger with the situation.
The song also touches on themes of marginalization and the experience of being ostracized by society. The metaphor of the short bus is used to represent the way in which people who are seen as different or abnormal are often marginalized or excluded from mainstream society. The singer of the song is caught up in this system and is left feeling helpless and alone.
Overall, "Short Bus" is a poignant commentary on the ways in which society can be cruel and unforgiving to those who are perceived as different or abnormal. The song is a powerful reminder of the importance of empathy and understanding towards those who may be struggling with issues that are beyond their control.
Line by Line Meaning
You think I stole that, I did not
I am innocent of the theft accusation being made against me.
I’m not the man you thought you’d caught
I am not the person who you believed was responsible for that theft.
I just came here to browse and shop
I had only come here with an intention to casually shop and not create any issue.
Not to steal your chips and pop
The accusation of stealing chips and pop is baseless and not valid.
Now there’s no reason to push and shove me
There is no justification for the act of pushing and shoving me.
I didn’t take your stuff
I had not taken anything belonging to the accuser.
There’s no reason to throw me in a cell
Putting me in jail would not be justified.
At least I know what I can do well
I am aware of my abilities and my strengths.
I can’t do anything
I am incapable of doing anything about my current situation.
I’m in a bus, I’m in a really tiny bus
I am being transported in a small bus that could be deemed insignificant.
Fuck you. They put me in the short bus
I am frustrated and angry at being placed in this bus.
And now they’re watching me
I am being constantly monitored and kept under surveillance.
And they’re looking at me
The people surrounding me are staring at me.
And laughing (I can tell)
I can sense that they are ridiculing me.
I don’t know what to do
I am unsure of how to handle this situation.
But at least I know what I can do well
Despite the current difficulty, I am still aware of my strong points.
Always, everyone acting the same
In every scenario, people tend to act in similar ways.
Today I think I will win this war
In this particular situation, I believe that I have a chance to be victorious.
All way home
The journey back home is going to be long and tiring.
Contributed by Cole I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Mc Lovin
I've been looking for a good quality version of this song for so long and I couldn't find it anywhere. super happy you uploaded this ;w;
Malk Avian
remember the upload when 2 songs played together, good times
fried crab legs
I CANT DO ANYTHING I CANT DO ANYTHING
DrNilsRasmussen
I waver between I can and I can't
Clc))) Noise
Glitch :) :) :)