311 is known to have a deep knowledge of music and pull inspirations from many different genres. This page is dedicated to songs that appear to be directly or indirectly inspirational or sampled by 311 in certain melodies or lines.
Note: Some may be more reminiscent of a portion of the song rather than directly sampled.
bassline
reminiscent solos
References in 311 Lyrics:
Sometimes Nick and SA will reference inspiring bands or literature in their lyrics. Here’s a list of examples.
“A Coney Island Of The Mind” is a book of poems by Lawrence Ferlinghetti – SA in Welcome
“Conjunction junction, what’s your function” from Schoolhouse Rock! – Nick in Hydroponic
“Tabula rasa” is a latin phrase that roughly translates to ‘a blank slate’. In the 1600’s, John Locke wrote An Essay Concerning Human Understanding comparing the mind’s initial resemblance to “white paper, void of all characters,” with “all the materials of reason and knowledge” derived from experience. – Nick in Plain
“Bukowski with a rage” is a reference to writer Charles Bukowski – Nick in Feels So Good
“I never visited Alaska, where the oil was spilled” is a reference to the March 24, 1989 oil tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground in Prince William Sound, Alaska, spilling 11 million gallons of oil. – Nick in Fuck The Bullshit
Some could think Lucy in the Sky and coat of many colors as references to The Beatles and the bible (or Dolly Parton) respectively, however it is a reference to LSD and a literal coat that had many colors – Nick in Homebrew
Evil Knivel mention – SA in Homebrew
Buddha mention – SA in Lucky
Beavis mention – Nick in Lucky
Curt Grubb is a longtime friend of Nick Hexum since grade school. In a freestyle rap during their college years, Curt threw out “Well the masses passes upon their fucking asses and if you don’t see it get glasses” and Nick put that lyrics in the song Nutsymptom.
Daddy Freddy is a Jamaican rapper who was once listed in the Guiness Book of World Records as the world’s fastest rapper for his rapid fire reggae-hiphop flow. He can be heard on Nix Hex and is later referenced in the lyrics to Nutsymptom.
Pawn Shop Press was a graphic design company that designed 311’s logo – Nick in Nutsymptom
The phrase “stranger flowers” is a reference to the Jack Kerouac’s On the Road. – Nick in 8:16AM
Mortal Kombat was a popular fighter game mentioned in Silver
Dracula mention – Nick in Silver
Captain Picard – Star Trek reference by SA in Silver
The French lyrics in “Salsa”, ‘Je vais à la plage parce que la guignol est chouette!’, translates to ‘I go to the beach because the puppet show is cool!’
Revy Horton Heat is short for Reverend Horton Heat, a pyschobilly trio. – Nick in Offbeat Bareass
“Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law” is a reference to the Book of The Law by Aleister Crowley – Nick (indirectly P-Nut) on Offbeat Bareass
Real World was a popular show on MTV – SA in Down
Bob Marley mention – Nick in Random
“The waiting feel is fine” is a reference to Bob Marley’s Waiting in Vain – Nick in All Mixed Up
Phunk Junkeez mention – Nick in Jackolantern’s Weather
Frank Black mention – Nick in Misdirected Hostility
Yeti, Trevor, Scotch, Ad(am) Raspler were all working with or for the band during the Blue Album – Nick in Brodels
James Brown mention – SA in Brodels
Mohammed Ali mention – Nick in Brodels
Barnum and Bailey circus reference – Nick in Brodels
“Scotty’s beaming up a wayward soul” is a Star Trek reference – SA in Prisoner
Jackson Pollack (painter) mention – SA in Countinuous Life
Hank Chinaski is a reference to writer Charles Bukowski’s in-book ego – Nick in Stealing Happy Hours
Black Eyed Peas, NOFX, Roni Size, Mr. Vegas are all music artists mentioned in Come Original
Aristotle and Socrates are philosophers mentioned in Livin’ and Rockin’
Baraka is the Islamic concept of blessing, essence or breath. There was a documentary under the same name in 1992. – SA in Sick Tight
Chewbacca, Star Wars, mention – SA in Sick Tight
KISS, Ozzy Osbourne mention – SA in Sick Tight
Count of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas book mention – SA in Full Ride
Salvador Dali (Spanish surrealist artist) mention – SA in Uncalm
“On the scales of desire your absence sways over someone else’s presence” is a line in a poem by Jeffrey McDaniel in The Last American Valentine. – SA in Uncalm
“If a person, place or thing could deliever, I would quiver with delight” is a nod to 77’s The Lust, The Flesh, The Eyes & The Pride Of Life – Nick in I’ll Be Here A While
Wounded Knee is a reference to the Battle of Wounded Knee where the Lakota tribe was massacred in 1890 and Crazy Horse was a Lakota chief – SA in Getting Through To Her
“I am the hobbit with the ring in the forrest” in reference to JRR Tolkien’s The Hobbit – SA on Existential Hero
“Auribus teneo lupum” is latin proverb that translates to “holding a wolf by its ears”) meaning there is difficulty to be met no matter what you do. A moderize phrase is “catch a tiger by its tail” – Nick in Better Space
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