Album: And Justice for None (2018)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The title is a play on "champagne," which is used for toasting the good life. But what do you do when you're living your dream and it's often a nightmare? That's the pain Five Finger Death Punch are feeling as they deal with unpleasant commitments and pesky legal issues. Still, they know they shouldn't complain - it's a "sham pain."
  • This song references an event-filled 2016 during which Five Finger Death Punch was sued by its record label, Prospect Park, and a woman claiming to be frontman Ivan Moody's wife accused the singer of infidelity and being violent during their relationship.

    My label tried to sue me
    TMZ tried to screw me
    Blabbermouth can f---ing suck it
    'Cause they never f---ing knew me


    According to guitarist Zoltan Bathory, the track is "a lyrical snapshot of probably the biggest, yet most chaotic year of this band's career. Everyone has a different way of dealing with the moments when life hands them lemons… some complain and some make lemonade."

    "Us, we pour gasoline on it and then hit it with a rocket launcher," he continued. "Sarcasm has always been our 'art of war' (if, from naming the band Five Finger Death Punch, you haven't figured it out yet)."
  • Speaking about the song's music video, Five Finger Death Punch bassist Chris Kael told KLAQ's Lisa Sanchez: "It was actually fun on this one. We all went down to the desert and just had some fun with it. It's kind of along the lines of the 'Jekyll And Hyde' video. We tend to do one very serious video and then follow it up with something a little more light-hearted and then back to a serious one. If you noticed, we're really not in the serious ones, for the most part. We try to allow the video to tell the story without the members of the band being a distraction from the story."
  • The song was released as the second single from And Justice For None. The long player's name references the band's legal fight with their record label. Rhythm guitarist Zoltan Bathory explained to HMV.com:

    "We've done what we always do, we've stayed on the road and we've kept going. It took a long time, but eventually, we settled things and we've moved on with our label. You never win a lawsuit, even if you come out on top in court, it costs so much to you and everyone else, it just ends. There's no justice."

    The album title may also be a nod to Metallica's 1988 LP ...And Justice for All.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Dean Pitchford

Dean PitchfordSongwriter Interviews

Dean wrote the screenplay and lyrics to all the songs in Footloose. His other hits include "Fame" and "All The Man That I Need."

David Sancious

David SanciousSongwriter Interviews

Keyboard great David Sancious talks about his work with Sting, Seal, Springsteen, Clapton and Aretha, and explains what quantum physics has to do with making music.

Roger McGuinn of The Byrds

Roger McGuinn of The ByrdsSongwriter Interviews

Roger reveals the songwriting formula Clive Davis told him, and if "Eight Miles High" is really about drugs.

Francis Rossi of Status Quo

Francis Rossi of Status QuoSongwriter Interviews

Doubt led to drive for Francis, who still isn't sure why one of Status Quo's biggest hits is so beloved.

Dan Reed

Dan ReedSongwriter Interviews

Dan cracked the Top 40 with "Ritual," then went to India and spent 2 hours with the Dalai Lama.

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"They're Playing My Song

It wasn't her biggest hit as a songwriter (that would be "Bette Davis Eyes"), but "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" had a family connection for Jackie.