The band takes its name from the New Order song "Love Vigilantes," although their sound tends more to folk, Americana, and country rock than New Wave. Their 2001 album Summershine also showed some movement toward Brit-pop and R.E.M.-style college rock, which would be more fully explored in Mallonee's solo career.
Sick Of It All
Vigilantes of Love Lyrics
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Autumn is upon us summer breathing her last
Prices going higher and the factories are shutting down
My kids are getting hungry and friends are leaving town
Yes I'm a regular at a tavern in my neighborhood
Lately going down there more than I should
Dan rather used to tell me what was meant by it all
Now I just nurse a buzz and I stare at the wall
But you know how it is when you get so
Sick of it all
Insurance ran out and we're not covered
My savings and loan she just went under
Lord I know i'm a sinner and I know I'm a fool
But how could an honest man pay up on these dues
gonna make for us a little place in the sun
Now I'm making little ones out of the big ones
History teacher told me once what I should hope in
Now it's this lock stock and barrel and the promises broken
I guess I should get up and go get the mail
Long since overdue bills creditors screaming for theirs
Sure takes a toll on a love carved in stone
I'm wondering how she'd do living alone
The lyrics of "Sick of It All" by Vigilantes of Love describe the struggles and challenges faced by an average, blue-collar worker in contemporary America. The first verse talks about the hardships of the changing seasons as autumn approaches and the loss of jobs as factories shut down. The singer's financial struggles are highlighted as well with concerns for his family's well-being and a growing sense of hopelessness. The next verse delves into the singer's personal struggles as he turns to substance abuse (nursing a buzz) to cope with his stress, and his disillusionment with politics is reflected when he talks about how he used to gain wisdom from Dan Rather's newscasts, but now he feels lost. The chorus line "Sick of it all" is repeated throughout the song, signifying the singer's growing apathy and frustration with the chaos and turmoil around him. The end of the song reflects on relationships and how the financial stresses of life can take a toll on even the strongest bond.
Overall, the song lyrically captures the struggles and frustrations of the working-class and how, at times, life can feel insurmountable.
Line by Line Meaning
Guess I should get up and cut the grass
I am feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about how to handle everything that's happening around me, so maybe I'll just focus on something small like cutting the grass.
Autumn is upon us summer breathing her last
The seasons are changing and time is moving on, whether we're ready for it or not.
Prices going higher and the factories are shutting down
The economy is struggling and people are losing their jobs, making it harder to make ends meet.
My kids are getting hungry and friends are leaving town
My family is struggling and the community around us is falling apart.
Yes I'm a regular at a tavern in my neighborhood
I'm turning to alcohol as a way to cope with my problems.
Lately going down there more than I should
I'm starting to rely too heavily on drinking instead of confronting my issues head-on.
Dan rather used to tell me what was meant by it all
I used to trust in the media to make sense of the world for me, but now I feel lost.
Now I just nurse a buzz and I stare at the wall
I'm feeling hopeless and defeated, and I'm trying to numb the pain instead of dealing with it.
And I know I've cleaned my guns a lot this fall
I'm feeling on edge and paranoid, and I'm taking extreme measures to protect myself.
But you know how it is when you get so Sick of it all
It's easy to get overwhelmed and feel like there's no way out when life keeps throwing you curveballs.
Insurance ran out and we're not covered
We're vulnerable and exposed, and there's nothing we can do about it.
My savings and loan she just went under
I thought I was doing everything right, but circumstances outside of my control have left me financially devastated.
Lord I know i'm a sinner and I know I'm a fool
I'm blaming myself for my problems, even though they're not entirely my fault.
But how could an honest man pay up on these dues
I'm feeling trapped and hopeless, like there's no way out of this mess.
Gonna make for us a little place in the sun
I'm holding out hope that things will get better and that there's a brighter future waiting for us.
Now I'm making little ones out of the big ones
I'm trying to find joy in the small things in life, even when the big things are falling apart.
History teacher told me once what I should hope in
I used to believe that there was hope for the future and that things would get better if we just kept fighting for what's right.
Now it's this lock stock and barrel and the promises broken
Now it seems like everything we've fought for has been taken away from us, and there's nothing left to hold onto.
I guess I should get up and go get the mail
I know I can't keep running from my problems, and I need to start facing them head-on.
Long since overdue bills creditors screaming for theirs
I can't avoid my financial problems forever, and they're only getting worse.
Sure takes a toll on a love carved in stone
All of this stress and uncertainty is putting a strain on my relationships, and I'm worried about how it will all turn out.
I'm wondering how she'd do living alone
I'm worried about my loved ones and how they'll get by if things continue to get worse.
Contributed by Carson S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Mark Lee Wilkins
'I know I've cleaned my guns a lot this fall but you know how it is...'
Shabidoo1
Dan Rather used to tell me what was meant by it all. Now I just nurse a buzz and stare at the wall.