Stickin' In My Eye by NOFX

Album: White Trash, Two Heebs and A Bean (1992)

License This Song

lyrics

artistfacts

Songfacts®:

When Songfacts asked NOFX frontman Fat Mike about this song, he explained: "There was a Germs song called 'Caught In My Eye,' but 'Stickin' In My Eye' was more like watching the news and you just keep looking at it."
The song is part of the fourth NOFX album, White Trash, Two Heebs And A Bean, released as punk rock was just starting to encroach into the mainstream, thanks to Nirvana's Nevermind album.

Nirvana's impact on NOFX ran even deeper: Fat Mike was very impressed with Kurt Cobain's lyrics and started to write more poetically and with more depth. He says "Stickin' In My Eye" is one of the first songs that had this flavor - earlier NOFX songs tended to be more obvious and sometimes puerile.
The band made a video for this song using performance footage and shots of their fans. MTV didn't play it, but it ended up on some video compilations. When punk got popular in 1994, NOFX made a video for their song "Leave It Alone" but didn't give it to MTV.
This is one of NOFX' most popular live songs, played at most of their concerts.
The song found an audience not just among punk rockers, but also with skateboarders and bikers, who sometimes used it in videos. The skaters and bikers helped NOFX keep the lights on early in their career when their albums were selling in the four figures, not six. When the Warped Tour started, many of these folks came out to see NOFX play on the bill.
The band's most memorable performance of "Stickin' In My Eye" came when they played the Bizarre Festival in Germany on July 10, 1993. It was their first big festival appearance, and the song was their set opener. Also on the bill was Hole, whose frontwoman, Courtney Love, used to date NOFX drummer Erik "Smelly" Sandin.

"As I was about to bring my sticks down onto the crash cymbals and officially mark the biggest moment of our career, someone started whacking me in the head," Smelly wrote in NOFX: The Hepatitis Bathtub and Other Stories. "It f--ked up my timing and trainwrecked the song. I turned to discover Courtney, spazzing out on my drum riser, excited to see her old friend."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

More Songfacts:

Live ForeverOasis

The Oasis song "Live Forever" was written in response to "I Hate Myself And I Want To Die" by Nirvana. "Kids don't need to hear that nonsense," said Noel Gallagher.

Put Your Records OnCorinne Bailey Rae

Corinne Bailey Rae's 2006 hit "Put Your Records On" borrows the opening line ("Three little birds sat on my window") from the Bob Marley song "Three Little Birds." Both songs have the same message: Don't worry, because every little thing's going to be alright.

When I'm 64The Beatles

In The Beatles' "When I'm 64," Paul McCartney asks a woman if she'll still be there for him when he's 64. In 2006, he got his answer when shortly before his 64th birthday, he and Heather Mills separated.

Try AgainAaliyah

Until December 5, 1998, a song had to be issued as a single to make the Hot 100. Aaliyah's "Try Again" was the first tune to top the chart based on airplay alone, without any sales figures being included.

I Remember EverythingZach Bryan

Zach Bryan and Kacey Musgraves had both gone through divorces when they wrote and recorded the wrenching duet "I Remember Everything." It was the first #1 Hot 100 hit for each of them.

Bad RomanceLady Gaga

Lady Gaga is a big fan of horror movies; listen for the names of these three Alfred Hitchcock films in the lyrics to "Bad Romance": Psycho, Vertigo, Rear Window.