NASHVILLE |THE ALBUM
Singer/lyricist Sarah Reitkopp talks about the songs on Halfcocked’s debut album, The Last Star, produced by Ulrich Wild [Powerman 5000, Static X] and released on Megatronic/Dreamworks Records on June 12, 2001.
“I Lied”: Hmmm, this song is directed toward a specific person. Actually, it’s directed toward a couple different people, but I’m not mentioning any names! I’m evil! It was written very heat-of-the-moment. It’s about a situation where you hook up with someone only to have them reject you. And your response is, “You know what? FUCK YOU, I lied too! I don’t care about you.” It’s also one of my favorite songs to play live.
“Always”: It’s about life’s unpredictable nature. It’s about life not working out exactly how you thought it would and becoming bitter and empathetic about it all, giving up, no longer wanting to try to reach your dreams…just letting life fall where it may around you.
“Drive Away”: It was just a miserable time in my job and my personal life. It was that whole fantasy of wanting to pack up everything into my car and leave and start all over again somewhere else. As I was writing it, it became a cool, visual story of a rebellious woman: “Smell the gasoline as the engine rumbles/the fuzzy dice sway to the time you’re making.”
“All By Myself”: It’s about self-esteem and empowerment. Growing up, especially as a girl, I think we all feel pressure to change who we are to fit in. This song is saying “I don’t have to change, I can survive just as I am, all by myself.”
“Held Under”: We wrote this song just before moving to LA. It’s about staying in an unhealthy relationship too long. You know, those people who will bitch and bitch about their boy/girlfriend, but won’t leave no matter how bad it gets. It’s a bit sarcastic “I though you WANTED to be held under.” I thought you WANTED to be completely controlled and disrespected since you never seem to have the self respect to leave.”
“Over”: This song was written in Los Angeles. I was feeling a bit out of my element when we first moved here. We worked hard and struggled for so long in Boston. Then our “dream” finally came true, and here we were in sunny LA signed to a major label and able to quit our day jobs. Believe me, I’m not complaining, but the whole thing was a little surreal. I think it was my way of saying “Success or no success I know where I came from and appreciate all the obstacles I have had to overcome to get here. And I also appreciate all the people who have believed in me and the band along the way. It’s about moving on, but trying to hold on to your integrity, loyalty and love and hoping it will hold on to you.
“Gun For Hire”: This is another song I actually wrote the lyrics for in LA while we were in the studio recording. It’s about losing your integrity or at least feeling that way. A lot of people expect that to happen when you sign to a major label. I am proud to say it hasn’t happened to us, yet.
“Sell Out”: The song was inspired by an intoxicated night I spent at a drag queen club in Boston. I think a lot of people can relate to its message. It’s about feeling insecure and alone, but sticking to your guns anyway. It’s about following your heart no matter what people around you might say or think.
“Thanks for the Ride”: This was on Sell Out, our first indie CD in 1998, and Spider really liked this song. It’s really, honestly, one of the first songs I wrote, and the original song was under two minutes. I wanted to write fun words. And yes, it’s our vibrator song. That’s what lyrics like “thank you for the comfort and style” pertain to.
“Sober”: It’s what we would like to be…yeah, right! It’s about believing you’re in “love” until the haze (or alcohol) fades and you see clearly again. “Two days closer to being passed over” is feeling like you’re missing the boat. It’s about being in a relationship that might be stale or even dead, and that you’re not into when you’re sober. In the cold light of day, you don’t even like that person.
“Touchdown”: It’s about football, man. Nah, it’s about getting caught up in and indulging the “darker” side of yourself and your desires, about giving in to the thrill of the moment and not worrying about the consequences. Jumping in with both feet is something we’re good at in this band. We’re always teetering on the edge, kind of like that old saying, “You only live once,” and using that as an excuse. Just doin’ it and ignoring the consequences.
“Devil Shoes”: This song is about sex. It’s about having a one-night stand because that’s all you want. “Put on your shoes and pants and start walking/I’ll see you on your way out/You must have mistook me for someone who cares.” We all know that there is still the double standard for women when it comes to casual sex. It’s OK to just want sex sometimes. We don’t have to be in love with everybody!
“Glitter”: I love the glam era–the ’70s one, not the ’80s so much, though we did open for Poison and Ratt recently. The images are very visual and evocative. In the studio, Ulrich said to me, “This is about suicide, right?” I said, “No, actually, I hadn’t intended that.” But I guess it could be. I intentionally wrote it sort of tongue in cheek and melodramatic. At the time, I was working at the Paradise Club in Boston for $9 an hour, and this was sort of inspired by so-called “rock stars.”
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