Phantom signals

Every time someone says we made it
I think back to when we could barely afford guitar strings
Back then we had next to nothing
So every little gig we played meant next to everything
We formed a team to pay for the expensive habit of wanting to pay rent and make some noise
And maybe order a pizza from time to time
But little did we know that was the price we’d pay for the luxury of having our souls dеstroyed
I guess it could've been worsе

We’d make up new songs in the dugout
About smell of the ballpark, friendly rivalries, and those nights that we wish would never end
Teasing hops about all the games we’d lose
And how we’d never ever win
We’d raise a middle finger toward the sun
We were jubilant and free, and there was nothing we couldn’t do
But that was when everyone was still around
Before all the weather broke through

Back then we’d go out to the bar after every away game
Make up a name and pretend we were some local band
But after about 20 minutes
Someone would figure us out and start calling out for their favorite song
It was always something pretty obscure for some reason
Something about that song must’ve touched that person in particular
We’d play it for them, buy a round for everyone, and then sneak out the back
Those were the good times

But then our songs started getting a little bit darker
About the smell of fire on the mound and death and wishing the game would just end
About feeling alone in a world of people who love you (we’ll suck forever)
After you finally manage to win (and we’ll never ever win)
And when we’d raise a middle finger toward the sun
It was with spite and anger and the memories of those we knew
But we’d pull ourselves through anyway (i’m pretty sure that’s what punk rock means)
I mean, what else could we do?

We’d turn the radio to some strange frequency
Pick up phantom signals from other worlds
Those songs would fill our hearts with strange comfort
Even if we could barely hear the voices through the static
Songs about somehow someone out there got away
And maybe we could too
Their soulsongs would guide us through the snowstorm
If we could just somehow make it through