Armageddon

Verse 1

i was under the impression that one day our world would find peace,

led by a nation that stood tall and true in its beliefs.

but lady liberty is on her knees, and dropped the torch that's slowly burning,

the fuse to a bomb that's waiting to explode.....

Chorus 1

so we hand out the guns to all our firstborn,

stock up on lives, preparing for war.

the cause and effect right now are unkown,

the seeds of regret have yet to be grown, and armageddon is at hand,

are you ready for the end?

Verse 2

how long will the suffering run rampant up and down our streets?

we say we wanna change the world when we're surrounded by hypocrisy.

so lady justice stands up proudly, brainwashed by political greed,

spending our lives to lower the price of oil.

Chorus 2

so hand out the guns to all our firstborn, stockpile bombs we're going to war.

some do it for peace or God or for both, the embers that burn,

we choose to provoke, and armageddon is at hand,

are you ready for the end?

Bridge

it's been forseen over centuries

and the body count has forwarned us of it.

feel the temperature rise, echoing in the cries

of a world that's sick of the nonsense.

too concerned with the lines, that we've mapped over time

letting us know what's yours and not mine.

i say what does it matter, why can't we come together,

even just for one moment in time...

just one moment of silence, the scream of violence is too much to take.

B                        F#   E          E^-D-A-G

Winding down a never ending road,

                           D         A                 F#-B

To reach the end is our primary goal, but,

B                        F#      E         E^-D-A-G

Where we are doesn’t seem to be,

                         D         A              F#-B

The place we intended ultimately.

B                        F#  E          E^-D-A-G

No final warning of things to come,

                    D  A                 F#-B

Coupled with a lack of direction.

B                       F#           E        E^-D-A-G

The question is now what will become,

A    G                      D   A                         F#-BB-ABB-ABB-ABB-F#E

Of what we will do to change what’s left undone.

B                     F#         E        E^-D-A-G

So unsure of where we wanna be,

                      D       A                   F#-B

Yet we run around chasing degrees

B                          F#    E           E^-D-A-G

To get a piece of the American dream,

                    D   A                     F#-B

Only to find our pockets empty.

B                     F#       E          E^-D-A-G

I could preach to you day and night,

                        D   A                                    F#-B

I’m not gonna give up until you learn to fight,

B                   F#               E           E^-D-A-G

For the life you’ve been taught to give.

                           D   A                         E^-B-E-A-D-A-F#

Take it back now before regret kicks in,

G          A               B 

Asking yourself, “Why do I go on,

           A 

And where do I belong,

      G 

I’m dying to live for a greater cause.”

        B 

The life I live freely

        A

Is crippled by my need to be,

 G                                           E-D-F#m

Bigger than the world that governs me.

                    B-A-D-A-B-A-D-A-B-A-D-G^-E^-F#m^

We all hail king greed!

B                  F#   E                          E^-D-A-G

Why keep waiting for a moment of fame,

                      D     A                             F#-B

Like a beggar sits hoping for pocket change?

B                             F#           E       E^-D-A-G

What will you do when that day comes?

                                 D             A                       F#-B

You’ve lost your mind thinking money means freedom!

B                 F#     E            E^-D-A-G

It’s in belief, it’s a state of mind,

                             D         A                                      F#-B

Not what’s written from another age for other times.

B                                 F#       E                   E^-D-A-G

The founders wrote of what could never be,

                             D   A                                   E^-B-E-A-D-A-F#

One nation under God, one nation for you and me…

So stop asking, why should I be strong 

And who’s to blame when no one’s wrong,

          E^      B      E    A            D    C#   A   B        A

Just give it time and life will show you the way, someday,

G           B     E       A              D      C#  A   B            F#^

In due time you’ll look life straight in the face, one day. 

      G          A………

Please tell me why do you go on,

      Bm                     D               

I'm sick and tired of people who try

       Em^        A              Em^          Bm     

to make their way in life while they minimize

         Bm                            D

their effort to be a decent human being

Em^  A                               Em^        Bm                

neglecting their conscience and their self-esteem.

F#m                                       D-A-Bm

i don't see a change ahead,

F#m                                          D-E^-^F#m-E^-D

your destination's a dead end.

        G                       D          A                   

the time's arrived for you to make up your mind

        ^E   Bm     G^-F#m^

with no delay,  

                    Bm      C#m-D

before you break.

                     G                  D             A

don't let your life go by leaving you high and dry

         ^E      Bm-A-D-G-F#m        

with no esca---------------p-e.

D

There is no escape.

Bm                                             G

how you gonna play the game...you decide.

A                                            F#

bend the rules as you see fit...it's your life.

Bm                                      G

live it up without shame...don't ask why.

A                                       F#

live by faith not by fate in every step that you take.   

http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2007/dec/20/hometown-cds/

Every new punk band spawns its own subgenre or sub-subgenre. There's Southern California Whine Punk, popularized by the vocal stylings of Tom DeLonge from blink-182. There's Happy Poppy Whine Punk, Uplifting Punk, Emo-Crossed Punk, the Ol' Middle Finger I Gotcher Punk Right Here Punk, and a thousand others. They all sound slightly different, but the difference exists. Pissed-off rocking fills many a varied bottle.

Critical Me is different because it falls neatly into the category spawned by almost-famous Pennywise -- the subgenre being, "Not Whiny, but Disgusted with Most Every Aspect of American Life Punk." They've got the rhythm speed and indignation of Pennywise, as well as the lead vocals -- rougher, ragged, and manlier than most SoCal Whine Punk sissy bands. Thank God. Another Whine Punk CD crosses my desk, and I'm going to eat my computer speakers.

All in all, Critical Me is a talented band that plays tight and coordinated punk. Peter pops the skins with skill, and Muheim's bass keeps the driving pace required by quick music. A good night of High Skill San Diego Punk would be a team-up of Fifty on Their Heels with Critical Me at a clean dive like the Kensington Club.

Album: Promised Land (2007)

Artist: Critical Me

Label: Magnitude 6.19 Records

Where available/price: Lou's Records, Off the Record, Music Trader, and Spin Records for $10.

Online at Smartpunk.com, and CDBaby.com for $10, and iTunes.com for $9.99.

Songs: 1) Promised Land 2) No Escape 3) Russian Roulette
4) Halfway Home 5) Excuses 6) King Greed 7) Going Nowhere 8) Through My Eyes 9) Armageddon 10) Waiting in Line 11) Same Ol' Bullshit

Band: Caleb Bedsole (vocals), Chris Buckel (guitar), Carl Muheim (bass), Josh Peter (drums)