1. A punk rock trio t… Read Full Bio ↴There are two artists with the name Zero Down:
1. A punk rock trio that existed from 2000-2002. Zero Down disbanded when frontman, bassist, and songwriter Jim Cherry died on July 7, 2002, due to a heart complication. Cherry also played in Pulley and in Strung Out. Their one full-length release, With a Lifetime to Pay, was released on Fat Wreck Chords in 2001. The music was a throwback to mid-90s melodic skate punk.
2. A Seattle-based hard rock band. Their influences include Judas Priest, 70's and 80's Metal, Accept and Thin Lizzy.
Going Nowhere
Zero Down Lyrics
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Where life gets measured monetarily and I'm just another face.
Another man with the simple skills of staying alive and paying the bills
Never amount to anything live and die where I've always been.
This is where I am at the bills still come no matter what.
I'm all grown up but still I'm going nowhere.
Uneducated though I graduated,
Wish I would have been a little more dedicated
But even if I did for just one day, had all the right words that I wanted to say,
It wouldn't make a difference anyway cause no one's listening.
So save your words, just save your words cause I don't care anymore.
My father worked his life away in all those years
He never missed a day
There isn't anybody that could say he didn't keep his bills paid.
All that time he never got to do all the things in life that he wanted to.
He always kept his family fed by the blood and sweat he shed.
And for the sacrifice he's made this is how he gets repaid.
I'm all grown up but still I'm going nowhere.
The lyrics of Zero Down's song "Going Nowhere" speak to the frustration and disillusionment of an individual struggling to find meaning in a society that they perceive as disingenuous and lacking value. The opening lines, "Is this what you offer me, a system of dishonesty / Where life gets measured monetarily and I'm just another face," highlight the artist's sense of disillusionment with the capitalist system that he is forced to live within. The emphasis on the commodification of human life is a stark critique of the modern world, where material wealth is often seen as a marker of success.
The second paragraph speaks to the artist's feelings of inadequacy and frustration with the social structure he was born into. He laments his lack of education and blames himself for not taking school seriously enough, "Uneducated though I graduated / Wish I would have been a little more dedicated / And got something out of school, instead of always playing the fool." He feels as though he will never be able to escape his current situation and that his life is utterly without purpose or meaning. The final line, "I'm all grown up but still, I'm going nowhere," is a refrain that emphasizes the artist's feelings of hopelessness and frustration.
The final verse speaks to the sacrifices that individuals make in order to survive and provide for their families. The artist reflects on his father's life and how he worked tirelessly to provide for his family while missing out on the joys of life. He feels as though his father's sacrifice has been squandered by a society that values material wealth above all else. The song ends with the repeated refrain, "I'm all grown up but still, I'm going nowhere," which serves as a poignant commentary on the struggles and frustrations of modern life.
Line by Line Meaning
Is this what you offer me, a system of dishonesty
Are you offering me a system that is based on lies and deceit?
Where life gets measured monetarily and I'm just another face.
In this system, my worth is only determined by the amount of money I have, and I am insignificant.
Another man with the simple skills of staying alive and paying the bills
I am just like everyone else, struggling to survive and pay my expenses.
Never amount to anything live and die where I've always been.
I feel like I am stuck in this cycle of mediocrity, never able to achieve anything beyond my current circumstances or location.
This is where I am at the bills still come no matter what.
No matter how hard I try, I cannot escape the constant pressure of bills and financial responsibilities.
I'm all grown up but still I'm going nowhere.
Despite being an adult, I feel like my life is stagnant and I have not made any real progress.
Uneducated though I graduated,
Even though I have completed my education, I still feel like I am lacking knowledge or skills.
Wish I would have been a little more dedicated
I regret not being more focused and committed in my pursuits.
And got something out of school, instead of always playing the fool.
I wish I had taken my education more seriously, instead of wasting my time and energy on frivolous pursuits.
But even if I did for just one day, had all the right words that I wanted to say,
Even if I could turn back time and change my past actions, it would not make a significant difference in my current situation.
It wouldn't make a difference anyway cause no one's listening.
Even if I had the perfect words to express my feelings, it would not matter because no one is interested in hearing them.
So save your words, just save your words cause I don't care anymore.
I am tired of empty words and promises, and I no longer care about what anyone has to say.
My father worked his life away in all those years
My father spent his entire life working tirelessly to support our family.
He never missed a day
He was diligent and committed, and never missed a day of work.
There isn't anybody that could say he didn't keep his bills paid.
Despite the many challenges he faced, my father always made sure to pay his bills and take care of his responsibilities.
All that time he never got to do all the things in life that he wanted to.
Unfortunately, my father sacrificed his personal aspirations and desires in order to provide for his family.
He always kept his family fed by the blood and sweat he shed.
My father worked incredibly hard and put in a lot of effort to ensure that his family had enough to eat and were taken care of.
And for the sacrifice he's made this is how he gets repaid.
Despite all the sacrifices my father made for our family, he did not receive the recognition or appreciation he deserved.
I'm all grown up but still I'm going nowhere.
Even though I am now an adult, I feel like I am stuck in the same cycle of struggle and hardship that my father faced.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ESTELLE LEVITT, RUTH SEXTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind