You're not punk and I'm telling everyone
Save your breath, I never was one
You don't know what I'm all about
Like killing cops and reading Kerouac

My enemies are all too familiar
They're the ones who used to call me friend
I'm coloring outside your guidelines
I was passing out when you were passing our your rules

One, two, three, four
Who's punk? What's the score?

Got a friend, her name is Boxcar
Cigarettes and beer in El Sob
Her hair was blue, now it's green
I like her mind, she hates the scene

My enemies are all too familiar
They're the ones who used to call me friend
I'm coloring outside your guidelines
I was passing out when you were passing our your rules

One, two, three, four
Who's punk? What's the score?

You're on your own
You're all alone



Lyrics submitted by oofus, edited by embassyrow

Track duration: 01:55


Boxcar song meanings
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38 Comments

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  • 0
    My Interpretation:I think this song is a dig at Gilman Street, the Oakland, CA all-ages club where bands like Green Day and Jawbreaker played frequently. Alternately/simultaneously, I think it's also a shot at San Franciso-based fanzine Maximum Rock N Roll, who has been criticized in the past for being judges of who/what is considered punk. I think that Blake felt somewhat ostracized or judged harshly. by both this club attendees and the zine because Jawbreaker wasn't punk enough. That there's a punk checklist, and if you don't respond correct to five of the seven criteria, you're not punk.

    Instead, Blake is saying, who the hell is punk anyway? It's probably his friend Boxcar who couldn't give a rat's ass about the scene or monikers anyway.

    In all, Blake couldn't care less about "punk" if it means barriers put up between people.
    Flag Mickster215on October 02, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:yeah, my last comment was from three years ago. I got upset about some pretty stupid shit.

    I don't care who covers whatever anymore, it's music.

    And enjoifreedumb, um, I think that blake just really liked kerouac at the time (see: condition oakland).
    Flag Rabidon April 28, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I thought this song was alluding to the conformity imposed by the gutterpunk's of the berkeley scene where jawbreaker first arose.

    Its easy to see the mockery in the first line.

    "You're not punk, and I'm telling everyone." [echoed from the scene]
    Save your breath, I never was one." (the response)

    Followed by making a mockery of their purported idealism:

    You don't know what I'm all about. [echoed from the scene]
    Like killing cops and reading Kerouac. (the response)

    Its boiling down the simplified mindset.
    Its mocking them for their anti-authoritative voice unaccompanied by any action. Moreover the Kerouac reference is in regards to the pretentious delusion carried by these individuals for "living out of the bounds" (quite like Kerouac in "On the Road"), but in itself historically, Kerouac's impact on literature is nothing but spit in the ocean. These people feel so unique for having read Kerouac, though perhaps this has been their only excursion into the realm of literature (ie pretentious).

    "My enemies are all to familiar..."

    The again refers to the "scene." Because there style of music or even perhaps lifestyle does not coincide with what was expected.

    In truth none of this should be further explained because its becomes self-evident.
    Flag enjoifreedumbon April 17, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:hahahaha no shit...the ataris covered this song?
    "You don't know what I'm all about.
    Like killing cops and reading Kerouac." - So good! I feel like those lines should be thrown in the faces of so many people.
    Flag Antonskeyon January 12, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:jawbreaker can pull it all off, some people laugh at these lyrics, i see genius.
    Flag Iamyouronlyon November 23, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Hehe Was there ever a better place to put a silly childish argument about who's "more punk". Ataris great band. Jawbreaker great band. Both amazing in their own ways. Although, I admit I do prefer Jawbreaker.
    Flag RevolutionJoeon May 14, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:skiddingforjesus just ended this discussion, great :).. Let's talk about the JAWBREAKER song instead..
    Flag Arpiieon May 22, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I am not saying that you suck if you like the Ataris, I am just saying that no one can do a better jawbreaker song than jawbreaker
    Flag skiddingforjesuson April 23, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:adds: totally ageed logansrun51!
    Flag rtkdon April 13, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:ha, ha, u guys couldn't be a better example for what this song is about. :)
    Flag rtkdon April 13, 2007   Link

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