Sometimes life surprises
Cause you'd never expect it to be that
Dangerous disguises
That you never expect to see

Some things never change
Nothings gonna change that
Some things you can't explain
Like why we're all embracing conventional wisdom in a world that's just so unconventional

Made you turn around
But you never expected to see that
That's what makes that sound
That you never expect to hear

Some things never change
Some things wanna change that
Some things you can't explain
Like why we're all embracing conventional wisdom in a world that's just so unconventional

They don't know they're wrong
But you know that they never can see that
That's what makes them strong
That they know that we'll never see


Lyrics submitted by badgercub, edited by bassmaster

Conventional Wisdom Lyrics as written by

Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING

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Conventional Wisdom song meanings
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8 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    Can't believe more people haven't written about this song. Like Goin against your mind, I think this song's about opening up your mind. Not embracing conventional wisdom and how some people will never be able to see past their own beliefs. What makes them strong is that sometimes you just can't help but try to get through to them. Is it any mistake that BTS are so psychedelic in their music and psychedelic drugs are known to open your mind.

    lelandjkon January 24, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    damn, i was just about to add these. this is by far my favorite track off of you in reverse. love the song.

    myshoesareblueon April 17, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    yea this song kicks so much ass, i love the lines

    "they dont know theyre wrong but you know that they never can see that thats what makes them strong that they know that we'll never see "

    beauty....

    built to spill rocks i gotta get this new album

    *Modest_ Mouse*on May 17, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this album isn't easily digestible but this track kept me interested until the rest of it made sense. love it.

    Moses19on June 24, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Moses19, so true. There always seems to be a key song that unlocks the rest of a difficult album, and this is it. So cool that BTS can still create a song this explosive after a decade of doing their thing. Great statement on our current state of polical punch-drunkenness too.

    lunaharpuaon December 01, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Does anyone else's version of this song say "who is Mike Jones." in it?

    jboon September 02, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think there's an error in this song lyrics. Fourth stanza, second line, I think might be "Somethings gotta change that," and not "wanna change that." Confirmation?

    mousefanon October 30, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    "jbo" haha yeah my buddy has this song that says "who is mike jones" in it like three times i thought it was saying who is my town but after reading your comment totally agree..

    And as far as the song goes i think its pretty much all talking about how we have all been fooled into believing this bull shit because no one has a "real" answer to how we were started and not any one person can ever tell the whole world they are wrong cause no one will believe you

    beetown24on April 09, 2008   Link

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