This song is a riff on the Violent Femme's "Blister in the Sun" riff.
Part of my midlife experience has been indulging in selective nostalgia so I'm trying to work that out in this song.
Hangin out with my friends
Listening to Violent Femmes
Renting indie videos
Hitting local punk rock shows
That’s all I see from my broken time machine
That’s all I see from my broken time machine
Unable to be alone
Never wanting to be home
Feeling bad about myself
Wishin’ I was someone else
That’s what I’d see if I fixed my time machine
That’s what I’d see if I fixed my time machine
BRIDGE
Because it wasn’t so great to be a teenager
Even though I had the greatest friends
My home life sucked and I was scared of love
And if I ever got the chance I wouldn't do it all again
“Nineteen Ninety Eight”
I’d rather stay at home and blaze
Than travel to my glory days
I won’t find what I was looking for
Because my friends don’t live there anymore
@caitlin Feb 2022
Ohhh the nostalgia!! I love everything about this. It put me in a time machine to 1998 for sure, from the riff to the references and the whole vibe and sentiment as well. Glad to be able to look back with gratitude that we never have to go back to the teenage years!
@readwrite Feb 2022
You had me in my own time machine, pogoing shyly to the Ramones in the front row with about 30 other people in the audience. 1979, must have been. And going to hear all the other local bands -- you've got it down, lyrics and music and vocal style! Yeah, I wouldn't do it again, but I'm glad I did it once and I'm glad people can bring it back to me.
Like the time one of my little white canvas sneakers did a lot more time in the mosh pit for Black Flag than I did -- I lasted about 30 seconds with all the footballers that showed up, but my sneaker kept on all evening, flying up in the air every so so often.
@daveescoffery Feb 2022
This is great. I love the combo of the Ramones-y vibe (punk by way of 50s) and the real, thoughtful lyrics. This has all come together so well!