Operation Ivy Offered Revolutionary Tunes AND Lyrics

Operation Ivy dropped a bomb on the world of punk rock in the short time they were together. From 1987 to 1989, they created an EP called Hectic, played countless shows at 924 Gilman St. helping develop the “East Bay Sound,” and created their LP Energy. While this band is constantly in the limelight as one of the first to fuse hardcore and ska, their lyrics are brilliant, to say the least. To showcase their words of wisdom, and instead of labeling some of their bigger hits, I thought I’d fill you in on a few of their lesser-known tracks from their first EP Hectic released by Lookout Records. Each song was made over 25 years ago and can still be applied today, sad to say. Enjoy, swine.

Before I go on, if ya wanna know more about the history of Operation Ivy – check out my post titled Before There Was Rancid, There Was Operation Ivy.

1. Junkies Runnin’ Dry by Operation Ivy

First up, and first track on the EP Hectic, is “Junkies Runnin’ Dry,” a poke at those devoted few who chose a forty-hour work week. They are the junkies eager for their next fix, giving up the majority of their life working like a slave. We see it today, a sea of zombies running to unhappiness and giving up their souls for a steady paycheck. All it takes is a bit of self-worth to see a person’s brilliance and understand life is more than just working toward retirement. And remember this was created in the late 80s, shocking how these facts can still be felt even to this day. Maybe one day we will all learn the lesson. Fingers crossed. 

I always looked up on to the ones who walked away
Choosing themselves over present ways
Of looking at a future that had no room for the
Questions they lived for
Always knew i never could have walked away myself
My self worth was beyond any help
And i didnt care to test it against the rejection i had seen before

But those i loved so much they underwent a change
They’re working fourty hours they got caught in the game

Like junkies running dry,
The vulnerability
Junkies runnin dry
They’re always there on time
Junkies runnin dry
They cant be satisfied like
Junkies running dry

This wonderful generosity
A third of our lives to do what we please
Doesn’t look that great to me
In fact it doesnt even look fair
They call it youthful idealism
And even I would have to agree with them
Except some of us grow up and its still there

But those i loved so much they underwent a change
They’re working fourty hours they got caught in the game

Junkies running dry,
The vulnerability
Junkies runnin dry
They’re always there on time
Junkies runnin dry
We cant be satisfied like
Junkies running dry

I grow up too slow I don’t wanna go
I grow up too slow I don’t wanna go
I grow up too slow I don’t wanna go
I grow up too slow I don’t wanna go

But those i loved so much they underwent a change
They’re working fourty hours they got caught in the game

But now i’m working just like everyone else
But ill get out of here

Junkies running dry,
The vulnerability
Junkies runnin dry
They’re always there on time
Junkies runnin dry
We cant be satisfied like
Junkies running dry

“Junkies Runnin’ Dry” by Operation Ivy

2. Here We Go Again by Operation Ivy

Track two is “Here We Go Again” from the EP Hectic and next on our list. This baby starts slow before a madness of spitfire, intelligent poetry screams out. The theme and tone are an attack towards toxic masculinity, putting quotes around “man” and how most beef heads like to push down the weak to stand tall. And I believe this tune is trying to say not a single person who abides by the systemic pressures of the “big men” is happy, or sane. It’s insanity and what’s even more insane is it still happens today. 

It’s not the ending its the beginning
The ground is moist and it rained last night
Smells like smoke and it smells so clean
The sun is shining down like a freindly white light

Here we go again

Analyzed the world i was born into but i could never understand
Knew i never wanted to grow up if that meant being a “man”
Dominating strict competition is the meaning of our lives
Stomping on the weak keeps us the winner of the battle in our minds
Tensions in our lives that are destroying our minds
Unite themselves together to make our consciousness blind
Conditioned to self-interest with emotions locked away
If that’s what they call normal then i’d rather be insane
Relax yourself from giving what you want to do with your life
Ease up from giving up things like control of your own mind
If you never ask any question then you’re never gonna get no answers
Always be wondering what do you want while you keep getting older faster
Tensions in our lives that are destroying our minds
Unite themselves together to make our consciousness blind
Conditioned to self-interest with emotions locked away
If that’s what they call normal then i’d rather be insane

Insaneeeeeeee, Insaneeeeeeee

Tensions in our lives that are destroying our minds
Unite themselves together to make our consciousness blind
Conditioned to self-interest with emotions locked away
If that’s what they call normal then i’d rather be insane
Relax yourself from giving what you want to do with your life
Ease up from giving up things like control of your own mind
If you never ask any question then you’re never gonna get no answers
Always be wondering what do you want while you keep getting older faster

Here we go again
Another test of manhood
Here we go again
Just when you’d thought you’d won
Here we go again
The more we keep competing
Here we go again
The more the battle has just begun

”Here We Go Again” by Operation Ivy

3. Healthy Body by Operation Ivy

The last song to talk about, and the last track of the EP Hectic, is “Healthy Body.” This one pokes fun at the “normal” people with a catchy humorous track full of fun lyrics you can sing along to. Each person runs from this errand to the next with fake smiles and stories based on “lies lies lies.” It’s exhausting to see and understandable how all of them appear so unsatisfied. I particularly love the line, “The money you spend on running shoes could feed me for a week” – Ha! I run and have to laugh at that a bit. Hopefully, you do the same. The laughing, I mean.

Expensive vitamin pills and wheat germ on your windowsill
Your schedules hectic and you got no time to kill
You’re earning money and spending it the right way
You’re just in such a rush you don’t know if it’s night or day

5:30 get up and you run, run, run
Then you work eight hours
Slaving under the gun
Your little world’s based on lies lies lies
Always rushing but you’re never ever satisfied

Healthy body sick mind
You’re working overtime
Healthy body sick mind
Too hectic too hectic
Healthy body sick mind
Why don’t you just unwind
It’s just a matter of time
Sick body sick mind

The money you spend on running shoes could feed me for a week
Your plans are laid so well you can’t even sleep
Pursuit of happiness got your life locked up under Marshall law
You got everything to lose so you’re paranoid about some fatal flaw
5:30 get up run run run
Then you work eight hours
Slaving underneath the gun
Little world is based on lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies lies
Always rushing but you’re never ever satisfied

Healthy body sick mind
You’re working overtime
Healthy body sick mind
Too hectic too hectic
Healthy body sick mind
Why don’t you just unwind
It’s just a matter of time
Sick body sick mind

“Healthy Body” by Operation Ivy

“Junkies Runnin’ Dry,” “ Here We Go Again,” and “Healthy Body” should give you a glimpse into the intelligent soul of Operation Ivy. Each with a depth of knowledge we can all appreciate. During an interview, Jesse Michaels of Operation Ivy stated, “Because the lyrics are so serious that’s where I get a lot of my energy. So that’s where I feel it.” As a fan enjoying both tunes and words, I couldn’t agree more.

For those who wanna listen to the full EP Hectic, check out the YouTube video below. Turn it up!

EP Hectic:

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