The idea behind the Wipers started off as only a recording project. The plan was to record 15 LPs in 10 years without touring or promotion of any type. Sage's thoughts were that the mystique built from the lack of playing the traditional rock & roll promotion game would make people listen to their recordings much deeper with only their imagination to go by. He thought it would be easy to avoid press, shows, pictures, interviews. He looked at music as art rather than entertainment; with that concept in mind he thought music was personal to the listener rather than a commodity.
"I think I got that concept early on as a kid. I was very lucky to have my own professional record cutting lathe when I was in 7th grade due to my father being involved in the broadcast industry. I would cut records for friends at school of songs off the radio and learned the art of record making long before learning to play music. I would spend countless hours studying the grooves I would cut under the microscope that was attached to the lathe and loved the way music looked, moved and modulated within the thin walls. I might have spent too much time studying music through a microscope because it gave me a completely different outlook on what music is and a totally opposite understanding of it as well. There was something very magical and private when I zoomed into the magnified and secret world of sound in motion. I got to the point that I needed to create and paint my own sounds and colors into the walls of these grooves."
Greg Sage's first choice of instrument was bass guitar, because of the low tones that made larger grooves in the vinyl records due to slower modulations. Unfortunately, basses were harder to find and much more expensive when Sage was in grade school, so he had to go with guitar instead. After several years of playing and recording guitar he felt he wanted to do something different in music, and being labeled as a band seemed to be the first tradition and standard he should try to avoid. He wanted to make his own recordings, manufacture and run his own label himself without anyone else's financing in order to keep the music as pure and unfiltered as possible. In fact, in 1979, Sage approached several young Portland punk bands and asked them to record singles for his new [lable]Trap label. Some of those early bands were Stiphnoyds, Neo Boys and Sado-Nation. Sage later re-released some of that material on a compilation record entitled History Of Portland Punk.
Sage has done some studio production for other bands, most notably Napalm Beach. Sage helped Napalm Beach record their first studio tracks, including a debut EP (never released), and some tracks for Sage's 1981 Trap Sampler compilation album. Sage also recorded some of Napalm Beach's live performances and released them on cassette. After the Wipers original drummer, Sam Henry joined Napalm Beach (1981), Sage engineered and produced the band's first full studio album, Rock & Roll Hell.
Sage realized that his initial ideas of conduct would be near impossible for him, due to the fact that to most record labels it was first and foremost business to them. Being such an independent artist was an oddity. Sage says he learned that it is almost impossible to be a true artist in the sense he started off with, and that survival was to learn to compromise. These realizations influenced Sage wanting The Circle album to be the last Wipers album.
In spite of Sage's original intentions, Wipers also played live shows and even released a live album, called Wipers Live.
Wipers' first single, Better Off Dead was released in 1978 on Sage's own Trap Records. Their first album, Is This Real?, came out the following year on Park Avenue Records, a larger label which the band hoped would offer them wider distribution. Originally recorded on a 4-track in the band's rehearsal studio, the label insisted the band use a professional studio. Once released, the LP quietly gained a cult following, although the band was best known for their live shows around the Portland area.
In 1980, through Park Avenue Wipers released the Alien Boy EP, consisting of the title track and three demo outtakes. Released without the band's permission, the EP was the first of many unauthorized and bootleg Wipers records. In fact, Wipers never received royalties from these early releases until Sage's Zeno Records reissued them as a triple-CD in 2001. Sage has said regarding Is This Real?: "Hell, that record was in print for over twenty years and we never received a cent for it."
Though Is This Real? defied categorization upon its release, its catchy, driving punk anthems are now regarded as post-punk classics. Uninterested in more of the same, Sage tweaked and evolved the band's sound with each subsequent release. Sage became known for not only his do-it-yourself ethic and guitar solos, but also for his domineering approach to the band’s creative process. With the new rhythm section of bassist Brad Davidson and drummer Brad Naish (ex-Styphnoids), Wipers' recorded a second LP for Park Avenue.
With its epic title track and generally longer song lengths, 1981's Youth of America stands in sharp contrast to the short/fast punk approach of the time. Following a dispute over the cover art for their Youth of America Wipers parted ways with Park Avenue for good.
The next LP, the militant, distortion-drenched Over the Edge, was the first Wipers record to meet with immediate acceptance. The single Romeo, which had already been released earlier on 7" by Trap, actually got some radio airplay.
The band then embarked on their first extensive tour, documented on the excellent 1984 Live LP. The band members purposely relied on word-of-mouth advertising for their albums, often rejecting interviews, and played far fewer live shows than many of their punk contemporaries.
Many of the recording techniques and musical equipment were designed by Sage and the band.
In the mid-80's, Wipers made the jump to Enigma Records subsidiary Restless Records, one of the biggest independent labels of the time signing punk-related bands. First to be released was Sage's solo album Straight Ahead.
Over the next few years they released three more LPs on Restless, the first being 1986's Land Of The Lost which featured the song Let Me Know used in the Keanu Reeves film River's Edge. Copies of this album are highly sought after collectibles. They then released Follow Blind in 1987 and The Circle intended to be the band's last album. 18-year-old drummer Travis McNabb joined the band for the tour for the The Circle (later joining Better Than Ezra).
Wipers broke up around 1989.
Meanwhile, several alternative rockers became vocal about their admiration for Sage, such as the Melvins, mudhoney and Dinosaur Jr. The most notable was Kurt Cobain, whose band Nirvana covered Wipers songs and asked Sage to open for them on tours. Never wanting to be opportunistic and never wanting to draw attention to himself, Sage politely turned down the offers.
In the early nineties, Sage relocated to Arizona and, in 1995, at the revived Wipers with the release of Silver Sail, followed by the Herd in 1996 and Power in One.
All Wipers activity ceased in 2001.
Sage later remarked on their initial reception: "We weren’t even really a punk band. See, we were even farther out in left field than the punk movement because we didn’t even wish to be classified, and that was kind of a new territory. [...] When we put out Is This Real? […] it definitely did not fit in; none of our records did. Then nine, ten years later people are saying: 'Yeah, it’s the punk classic of the ’80s.'"
Youth of America
Wipers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is living in the jungle
Fighting for survival with the wrong place to go
Youth of America
There's pressure all around
The walls are coming down the walls are crumbling down on you
It is time we rectify this now
We've got to feel it now
Whoa!
They attack you from the right side
Down the left side
Down the middle 'til you don't know who you are
Stick around because it don't really matter
They'll try to put you 6 feet under the ground
It is time we rectify this now
We've got to heal it now
Got to heal it now, now, now...
Whoa!
It is time we rectify this now
We've got to save it now
Got to save it now, now, now...
Whoa!
(Whisper)
The rich get richer and the poorer get poorer get poorer...
Now there's no place left to go...
Got to get off this rot...
You don't want to be born here again?
I don't want to be born here again...
Man, this just ain't no existence...
Beware of those guys in disguise...
We're living in the jungle, fighting for survival
Can't wait much longer, hurry...
Ahhhhhhhhhhh.....
Take the risk...
Let it expand your imagination...
Take it...
We have no place left...
No place left
No place left
No place left to go
Ahhhhhhhhhhh...
They attack you from the right side
Down the left side
Down the middle 'til you don't know who you are
Stick around because it don't really matter
They'll try to put you 6 feet under the ground...
It is time we rectify this now
We've got to feel it now
Got to feel it now, now, now
Whoa!
Youth of America
Youth, youth, youth, youth, youth, youth, youth, youth
Youth of America
Youth, youth, youth, youth, youth, you, you, you...
The song "Youth of America" by Wipers is a commentary on the struggles faced by the younger generation living in America. The opening line "Youth of America is living in the jungle, fighting for survival with the wrong place to go..." immediately sets the tone for the rest of the song. The lyrics are a reflection of the pressures that surround young people, the feeling of being under attack from all sides, and the fear of not knowing who they are in the midst of this chaos. Despite the struggles, the singer emphasizes that it is time to rectify this situation, to heal, and to save the youth of America.
Throughout the song, there is sense of urgency and desperation. The repeated refrain of "Got to feel it now, now, now" underscores the need for action. The lyrics also provide warnings about the dangers that exist, "Beware of those guys in disguise," as well as expressing a sense of hopelessness with lines such as "Now there's no place left to go."
Overall, "Youth of America" is a powerful song that speaks to the challenges faced by young people in America. It is a call to action, emphasizing the need to address these issues and to make things right for future generations.
Line by Line Meaning
Youth of America
The young generation of America.
Is living in the jungle
Is living in a chaotic and disorderly society.
Fighting for survival with the wrong place to go
Trying to survive in a society that doesn't provide support and guidance to the young generation.
There's pressure all around
There are difficult situations and choices that the youth have to face.
The walls are coming down the walls are crumbling down on you
The society and its institutions that are supposed to provide support for the youth are crumbling apart, putting their survival under threat.
It is time we rectify this now
It is time to take action and fix the situation before it's too late.
We've got to feel it now
We need to empathize with the youth and feel their pain and struggles.
Got to feel it now, now, now...
It's important to act immediately and not delay any longer.
They attack you from the right side
The youth are facing attacks and pressure from every corner of society.
Down the left side
Even those who are supposed to support them, like the government and institutions, are not doing enough.
Down the middle 'til you don't know who you are
The pressure is so intense that sometimes the youth don't even know who they are anymore.
Stick around because it don't really matter
Despite the pressure and difficulties, the youth should persevere and keep fighting.
They'll try to put you 6 feet under the ground
If the youth don't stand up for themselves and fight, they'll face a bleak future with no hope.
We've got to heal it now
We need to take care of the youth and help them recover from the difficulties they are facing.
Got to heal it now, now, now...
We need to act quickly and put all our efforts into helping the youth.
(Whisper) The rich get richer and the poorer get poorer get poorer...
The current system benefits the rich and leaves the poor struggling, perpetuating the problem for the youth.
Now there's no place left to go...
The situation has become so dire that the youth have nowhere to turn to for support.
Got to get off this rot...
We need to get out of the current system and find a new way to support and care for the youth.
You don't want to be born here again?
The society the youth are currently living in is so difficult that one would not want to be born there again.
I don't want to be born here again...
The youth themselves do not want to live in the society they are growing up in.
Man, this just ain't no existence...
Living in the current society is not living, but merely existing through a tough and unforgiving environment.
Beware of those guys in disguise...
Watch out for those who pretend to be on your side but are actually against you.
Can't wait much longer, hurry...
We need to act quickly to prevent any more damage to the youth and their future.
Take the risk...
Taking risks is necessary to make a change and improve the situation for the youth.
Let it expand your imagination...
Embrace the risks and challenges to expand your mind and come up with new solutions.
We have no place left...
The society and its institutions have failed the youth, leaving them with nowhere to turn to.
No place left
There's nowhere else to go.
No place left
There's no support or help available.
No place left
The situation is hopeless and dire.
Youth, youth, youth, youth, youth, youth, youth, youth...
The focus and attention should be on the youth and improving their situation.
Youth of America
The song is about the youth of America and the challenges they face living in today's society.
Youth, youth, youth, youth, youth, you, you, you...
The youth need our help and support, and we must act to give them a better future.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GREG SAGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
hairpinturns
one of the best songs of that era, totally underappreciated band
Rob Gal
Here because they made the Pitchfork top 200 of the 80s
Well deserved
John Smith
Damn, Youth of America is such a cool, interesting album. The Wipers went WAAAY beyond the boundaries of punk with Youth of America, especially when you consider hardcore punk of the early 80s. Youth of America was definitely ahead of its time, in some ways; darn shame that the Wipers are such an obscure band.
Strawberry Cough Drops
John Smith maybe it was behind its time. it was supposed to have happened years before
Rob M
i mean what is time anyway?
Tarantula precog
Everyone shutup , Sage is talking
Keefmaster
Time is an illusion
CarMaraden
♡
fac_73
That moment at 3:47 when it only begins to go down the rabbit hole that is this song will always give me goosebumps.
Graveyard Sale
The whole album, but especially this song is life changing.