This just proves what I've been saying for years. Everything of Mike Ness and Social Distortion, literally every song he and they have ever performed, should be re-released as acoustic albums.
Can’t help but listen to this song on repeat after Mike’s diagnosis of tonsil cancer. It showcases his incredible voice, a voice of wistful fury. Raspy as he spits out lyrics and then ever so soft especially with a song like “Story of My Life.” I hope to hear him sing again someday soon. And if we don’t, then at least he gifted us with recordings like this.
"Story Of My Life" High school seemed like such a blur, I didn't have much interest in sports or school elections. And in class I dreamed all day, Of a rock 'n' roll weekend And the girl in the front of the room, So close yet so far y'know she never seemed to notice That this silly schoolboy crush Wasn't just pretend. [Chorus:] Life goes by so fast You only want to do what you think is right. Close your eyes and then it's past; Story of my life And I went down my old neighborhood The faces have all changed there's no one left to talk to And the pool hall I loved as a kid Is now a Seven Eleven I went downtown to look for a job I had no training, no experience to speak of. I looked at the holes in my jeans And turned and headed back. [Chorus] Good times come and good times go, I only wish the good times would last a little longer. I think about the good times we had And why they had to end. So I sit at the edge of my bed I strum my guitar and I sing an outlaw love song. Thinkin' 'bout what you're doin' now And when you're comin' back. [Chorus]
First time I've heard this acoustic. Amazing. The lyrics can be lost in the full band rock version, but here it just shines and shows how sad this song is, full of regret, missed opportunities. God when Mike sings "wasn't just pretend..." jesus, you know how much Johnny Cash was an influence here. And then when he hits the chorus for the first time.... his voice just kills it. This song is a goddamn folk classic.
High school seemed like such a blur, I didn't have much interest in sports or school elections. And in class I dreamed all day, Of a rock 'n' roll weekend And the girl in the front of the room, So close yet so far y'know she never seemed to notice That this silly schoolboy crush Wasn't just pretend. [Chorus:] Life goes by so fast You only want to do what you think is right. Close your eyes and then it's past; Story of my life And I went down my old neighborhood The faces have all changed there's no one left to talk to And the pool hall I loved as a kid Is now a Seven Eleven I went downtown to look for a job I had no training, no experience to speak of. I looked at the holes in my jeans And turned and headed back. [Chorus] Good times come and good times go, I only wish the good times would last a little longer. I think about the good times we had And why they had to end. So I sit at the edge of my bed I strum my guitar and I sing an outlaw love song. Thinkin' 'bout what you're doin' now And when you're comin' back.
What a breath of fresh air since the fall of the Marshal Tucker Band and New Riders of the purple sage Country rock back in the 70's, Definitely a Gram Parsons influenced artist [whether he knows it or not]. He uses a Buddy Cage style steel guitar on a lot of his studio tracks. The ruff and tough singing this stuff is great and even better you can tell by the use of his lyrics He's not I repeat NOT a mainstream narrow pathed bigot. I played pedal steel guitar for a lot of them here in Nashville.
their self title album and somewhere between heaven and hell came out when i was still in high school. class of 94. those 2 albums really are the sound tracks to my life and every song on those 2 albums have a deeper meaning for me than someone who just started listening to them for the last 5 years. thank you mike ness for writing songs that jarbroni like me can relate to.
coming from working class, behind the factory walls waitin for the end of the month to got some cash and buy some records and had a rock n roll weekend on country side.... close your eyes and it is past... story of my life.
@Yumaky Plus, blues and country are both american which are the parents of all rock 'n 'roll regardless of genre. And honestly, social distortion incorporates both elements so well that they're not really one or the other, they're just both without either label.
Mike started Social D when he was 18 or 19..you can find early practice sessions on here, look for 1945 or Stepping Stone. He filled in on rythem guitar in Easter in the late 80's..I came after him for a short period, then brett replaced me. I don't think you're gonna find anything from Mike earlier than early/ mid 80's (83 84)
this one of the first songs I have ever herd my dad was just like mike ness and looks alike but not now and as a kid it was all I wanted to be was a greacer same with my dad he wanted to be a greacer and ended up being one I think the movie resivor dogs had a big effect on my dad he loved that movie and later on in life was tricked into joining the marines and made it out with no injuries but PTSD and seems normal so that is the story of his life oh and he had 3 kids
