Modest Mouse – Make Everyone Happy/Mechanical Birds

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  My Interpretation:I think I read this somewhere on here but someone said it was like he was having a conversation with a therapist. That makes so much sense to me. Listening to it over and over I can picture him being depressed saying You can't make everyone happy and that the world is a sad place no matter how hard you try and the therapist replies: Well, you'd like to at least make yourself happy right? Trying to bring him out of depression.
  
  One of my favorites songs by one of the greatest bands out there!

  Flag Conchobearon January 09, 2013   Link

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  General Comment:once loved this song... then i realized it's just self-indulgent bs

  Flag arra3110on July 11, 2012   Link

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  My Interpretation:to me this is about trying to justify hating everyone.

  Flag expressfreelyon December 16, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:He tries making everyone happy
  He can't make everyone happy
  He can't make himself happy
  "I'm not sure who i am"

  Flag weakmoonon November 02, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:i'm surprised no one thinks this song is about him talking to a therapist. i hate it when my friends are depressed, and i said "i wish i could make everyone happy", then since modest mouse is my favorite band it reminded me of this song. and even more so after i read the lyrics. i'm going to disagree with what everyone has said this song is about, because i sense that it's isaac talking to a therapist. if you've ever been depressed and talked to one, you'd probably understand.

  Flag jazzyboopson August 04, 2010   Link

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    I've never talked to a therapist, but in a way i agree with you.
    
    "I think it's a state of mind. If you think shit's going to happen, it's going to. It's a whole power-of-positive-thinking bullshit I'm on. I'm trying to think more positively about shit, you know? It's a bummer, being all bleak about everything."- a quote from Isaac Brock
    
    He seems to have been in a depression until he eventually attempted to change his mindset by thinking more positively about shit. I recently had the same realization although i was tripping on shrooms and had a partially bad trip because of negative thoughts, insecurities, and what not. After the bad part of the trip had passed, i realized that negative thoughts fuck shit up. Making yourself happy by thinking positively works, but you gotta dedicate yourself to it.

    Flag Wozzyon August 18, 2010  
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  Song Meaning:"I'm not sure who I am, but I know who I've been."
  Damn good line, and it rings so true as you age. And not just teen years into your 20's, but then your 20's on. (I can't comment yet about hitting 30. Give it some more years)
  
  Saying your can't make everyone happy but you can make yourself happy doesn't really need an interpretation. You can't please everyone all the time, but you can please yourself all the time, if you wanted to.

  Flag MissingTimeon March 03, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:he isn't so sure of himself, and he's trying to make himself happy, i think this goes to the line that YOU are the most important person in your life and other PEOPLE come secondly, sounds selfish, it's the fucking truth.

  Flag INLimBo7on October 24, 2009   Link

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  General Comment:I know how Isaac does the chirping sound. There's this circular piece of metal you can buy at music stores that you use to make the sound. You just place the metal on the strings below the bridge and just move it up and down to create different chirps.

  Flag ScoutTaronon June 18, 2009   Link

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  General Comment:I know how Isaac does the chirping noises at the end.
  
  You just take a piece of metal, and place it below the bridge on a string. Depending on where it's placed, a different chirp is made. It sounds awesome. It works best with something smooth, thick and circular that you can slip on one of your fingers.

  Flag ScoutTaronon June 18, 2009   Link

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  General Comment:isn't it "And I'd hate to see anybody fail
  But I'd like to see you fail seeing me fail"

  Flag gazsafaon April 06, 2009   Link

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    +1

    That's definitely what it is. Thanks for getting it right!

    Flag JayWrighton October 25, 2012  

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