Lyrics I like, part 3: Jimmy Eat World
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I don't often look to pop music for wisdom. A quick listen to most of the drivel that's being shoveled out there is enough to let anyone know that what sells tends to lean towards the banal and vaccuous, and yet the masses today eat it up and come back hungry for more. Still, there are songs whose lyrics strike a tone with me and really make me think. This is one of them. Normally, I wouldn't pay much attention to a band like Jimmy Eat World. Not my thing, you see. But this song, taken from their 2001 album Bleed American, has a great message about living life without trying to live up to the expectations of others. I assume, based on lyrics and video, it's written from the point of someone trying to cheer up a teenage girl who is once again finding herself on the outside of the popular crowd in school, but really the words are general enough that they work for everyone.
A quick word about the video. While I enjoy a room full of people in their underwear as much as the next bloke, it's always struck me a slightly antithetical to the message of the song. You know, "hey, don't worry about what others or society tells you is acceptable, just be yourself. And while you're at it, here's a bunch of hot people being hot. You should be hot, too." I don't think that's the point of the video, really. I think it's more emphasizing the feeling of vulnerability we all feel (aka the dreams of showing up at school naked, etc), and at the same time trying to draw people in, but still . . . a little over the top.
Hey, don't write yourself off yet
It's only in your head you feel left out and looked down on
Just try your best
Try everything you can
And don't you worry what they tell themselves when you're away
It just takes some time
Little girl, you're in the middle of the ride
Everything, everything will be just fine
Everything, everything will be alright, alright
Hey, you know they're all the same
You know you're doing better on your own
So don't buy in
Live right now
And just be yourself
It doesn't matter if it's good enough for someone else
It just takes some time
Little girl, you're in the middle of the ride
Everything, everything will be just fine
Everything, everything will be alright, alright
It just takes some time
Little girl, you're in the middle of the ride
Everything, everything will be just fine
Everything, everything will be alright, alright
Hey, don't write yourself off yet
It's only in your head you feel left out and looked down on
Just do your best
Do everything you can
And don't you worry what their bitter hearts are gonna say
It just takes some time
Little girl, you're in the middle of the ride
Everything, everything will be just fine
Everything, everything will be alright, alright
It just takes some time
Little girl, you're in the middle of the ride
Everything, everything will be just fine
Everything, everything will be alright
Comments (8)
such a great song and one I actually sing out loud to as I am playing guitar hero
which gh game is it on?
its on guitar hero world tour as well as rock band 2
of which i have neither. :-(
Beautiful lyrical song.............Visit www.uploaded.tv for cool music, pictures and videos.
I was forced to watch that vid for research purposes only
:-)
There's so many songs out there that take the "poor me, no one understands me, I'm such an outsider" route. It's refreshing to hear songs that say "we all feel that way sometimes but just be yourself and things will get better." It's a great pick-me-up song for anyone, little girl or not.