“Feel it still” rebel just for kicks
Includes the great line “We could fight a war for peace”
Backstory: Vocalist John Gourley told this story of writing the song:
I picked up this bass and started playing this bass line. Our friend Asa Taccone was back there hanging out, and he heard something in that, so he had me track this bass line. As I’m doing it, he’s like, ‘Yeah, you got another part in there, you got like a bridge for me?’ I was like, ‘Yeah, sure I got this line.’
Can’t keep my hands to myself
Think I’ll dust ’em off, put ’em back up on the shelf
In case my little baby girl is in need
Am I coming out of left field?
He explained: “I have a little daughter named Francis. She’s five years old now. Over the course of this album, she’s obviously been growing up. She was two and a half, three years old when we started working on this record. Her growing up’s been a huge part of this record, and I think this song especially, some of that stuff just kind of seeped into the lyrics as I was writing.”
Asked by Billboard magazine about the line “I’m a rebel just for kicks now,” John Gourley explained it was inspired by Bernie Sanders:
“I think the lyric reflects the way a lot of us feel. It came out of this George Carlin quote, which was something we had talked about quite a bit within our circle of friends. George Carlin would talk about politics and religion but in the same breath he’d also mention he doesn’t vote, doesn’t trust politicians or religion.
It comes down to the way our political parties work where it’s basically football teams. If you’re not on Team Trump, you’re on Team Hillary and it’s such a ridiculous way to look at politics and to look at the way we’re voting. I’ll talk s–t all day long but at the end of the day I don’t want to vote for anybody. I don’t feel strongly for either one of those people. So many of my friends were for Bernie all the way and said, ‘If he doesn’t get it, I’m not voting.’ It’s a ridiculous process. The fact at all that Bernie had to run as a Democrat is kind of what the song is about.”
The vocal melody on this track kicks it like it’s 1961, drawing on the Marvelettes hit “Please Mr. Postman”:
Ooh woo, I’m a rebel just for kicks, now…
Oh yes, wait a minute Mister Postman…
John Gourley told Billboard magazine: “Anytime you borrow – or, should I say, buy – the melody from ‘Please Mr. Postman,’ I feel like it should work.”
Asked by NME about the lyrical inspiration behind the track, bassist Zach Carothers replied:
“Generally inspired by a couple specific sea changes that mean a lot to us. 1966 – Civil rights movements, war protest and LSD testing. 1986 – first finding out about New York hip-hop. License To Ill. ‘Fight for Your Right to Party.’ Essentially a rebel just for kicks.”
John Gourley recalled to Time:
I was trying to think of a bridge and [Taccone] picked up the mic and was in my face and started saying, ‘Is it coming… is it coming…’ and that’s where it came from: it was just Asa in my face trying to get me to write a bridge. The whole thing was just 45 minutes at the end of the day.”
source: www.songfacts.com
“Feel It Still” lyrics:
Can’t keep my hands to myself
Think I’ll dust ’em off, put ’em back up on the shelf
In case my little baby girl is in need
Am I coming out of left field?
Ooh woo, I’m a rebel just for kicks, now
I been feeling it since 1966, now
Might be over now, but I feel it still
Ooh woo, I’m a rebel just for kicks, now
Let me kick it like it’s 1986, now
Might be over now, but I feel it still
Got another mouth to feed
Leave it with a baby sitter, mama, call the grave digger
Gone with the fallen leaves
Am I coming out of left field?
Ooh woo, I’m a rebel just for kicks, now
I been feeling it since 1966, now
Might’ve had your fill, but you feel it still
Ooh woo, I’m a rebel just for kicks, now
Let me kick it like it’s 1986, now
Might be over now, but I feel it still
We could fight a war for peace
(Ooh woo, I’m a rebel just for kicks, now)
Give in to that easy living
Goodbye to my hopes and dreams
Start flipping for my enemies
We could wait until the walls come down
(Ooh woo, I’m a rebel just for kicks, now)
It’s time to give a little to the
Kids in the middle, but, oh until it falls
Won’t bother me
Is it coming?
Is it coming?
Is it coming?
Is it coming?
Is it coming?
Is it coming back?
Ooh woo, I’m a rebel just for kicks, yeah
Your love is an abyss for my heart to eclipse, now
Might be over now, but I feel it still
Ooh woo, I’m a rebel just for kicks, now
I’ve been feeling it since 1966, now
Might be over now, but I feel it still
Ooh woo, I’m a rebel just for kicks, now
Let me kick it like it’s 1986, now
Might be over now, but I feel it still
Might’ve had your fill, but I feel it still