Take a drive in the wrong hand lane
Got bad breath talking about fresh rain
My hand, my hand going to shake the same
Are you going to be your own goddamn best friend?
Well, we taught the fruit how to eat itself
It was hanging out alone all on the shelf
How do I land?
Because I don't understand
Walk across the country, shaking many hands
And you're buying the product
But you didn't get that because you already got it
And you do not understand
Take a drive
Black hole talking about nothing
You can't get the chicken or the stuffing
Going around and you think you're tough
When you can't kick ass
Take a ride on a downtown train
Wake up so you can get drunk again
Well, take a drive in the wrong hand lane
Got bad breath talking about fresh rain
We taught the mirror how to admire itself
Are you going to get sick worrying about your health?
Where do I land?
I don't understand



Lyrics submitted by PLANES

Track duration: 03:17


The Fruit That Ate Itself song meanings
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  • 0
    General Comment:lol to this song i say "yes i got a muffin it was lemmon flavored"
    Flag fadingmemoryon March 22, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:lol everyone misses how in the backround he says "you got yourself a muffin"
    Flag fadingmemoryon March 22, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Seems to me that it is about people being stupid, and making bad decisions about their lives. like a9entsmith said with the whole adam and eve thing.
    Flag Canceriddensealon October 21, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:So Isaac is bipolar, not skitzo. And if you listen to enough of his songs you'll see the common manic depressive, split personality theme. Take a drive in the wrong hand lane- going the wrong direction in life, and getting into a lot of trouble, like you would if you drove in the wrong lane. Bad breath talking about fresh rain- saying one thing, and meaning another. Are you gonna be your own god damned best friend- in extreme mania, bi polars feel like all they need is themselves. We taught the fruit how to eat itself- An american society that indulges in excess, like the Adam and Eve story, you know? Walk across the country, shaking many hands and you're buying the product but you didn't get that because you already got it
    and you do not understand- That Isaac literally traveled the country, possibly tripping on acid, trying to figure out existence, and came to the conclusion that he already knew everything that he needed to know, and then doubted it; Lightweight insanity. taught the mirror how to admire itself- metaphoric for the vanity of our culture. Amazing how simple, yet profound the lyrics are. And where do i land, i don't understand- is basically Isaacs inability to relate to any place he goes; or having a tough time coming down off acid? Who cares, great song.
    Flag nativesolon July 02, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I like your explanations, everyone. They all make sense. But really, do you think that every song Modest Mouse wrote, they meticulously made every lyric have a hidden, deep meaning?
    Once I read an interview with Jeremiah Green about how Modest Mouse's practices went. Somebody would lay down a beat or a riff or something, and they'd just "fuck around." I don't think all of their lyrics really make sense in their minds. And I think if you really over-analyze lyrics, they always will make sense. And some songs I think are just meant to set a mood. Exit Does Not Exist, for instance, portrays being trapped to me. This song seems like it was just Modest Mouse fucking around with Jeremiah Green's awesome drumbeat, Eric Judy's calm bass riff, an. Isaac's incessant yelling overdubbing his low muttering. All of which are extremely pleasant to hear. For me at least.
    Flag Modestmouse1115on June 29, 2010   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:Take a drive in the wrong hand lane
    Your not doing life right

    Got bad breath talking about fresh rain
    Talking about bad drugs bad, but good for your self

    My hand, my hand going to shake the same
    Hand shakes a drug deal commonly

    Are you going to be your own goddamn best friend?
    Usualy you cant trust others when your like this, cause everyone wants to get there's in.

    Well, we taught the fruit how to eat itself
    The fruit is us, doing drugs and eating away at our own lives.

    It was hanging out alone all on the shelf
    How do I land?
    Because I don't understand
    You dont understand how much you put into your habbits, but you want to be a better more excepted person


    Walk across the country, shaking many hands
    And you're buying the product
    But you didn't get that because you already got it
    Your still going around buying drugs and "shaking" many hands, buying your "product"

    And you do not understand
    Take a drive

    Black hole talking about nothing
    You usualy dont have much to talk about cause your life revolves around drugs.

    You can't get the chicken or the stuffing
    Wife=chicken stuffing= food on the table

    Going around and you think you're tough
    When you can't kick ass
    drugs make you feel that way sometimes.

    Take a ride on a downtown train
    Wake up so you can get drunk again
    Homeless drunk i guess.

    Well, take a drive in the wrong hand lane
    Got bad breath talking about fresh rain
    We taught the mirror how to admire itself


    Are you going to get sick worrying about your health?
    Where do I land?
    I don't understand
    He can't figure out his problem is drugs and drinking so hes stuck.
    Flag neargoreon June 07, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this song reminds of this kid i know. very into himself and is an unbeleivably talented compulsive liar. lies for no reason at all, and is completely serious. he also seduces 15-17 year old girls haha he is 21. the lines that remind me of this are "bad breath talkin bout fresh rain" "black hole talking about nothing" you literally space out when talking to the kid because 98% of it is bullshit.
    Flag boleteon April 25, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:YOU ALL NEED TO GO WATCH A CONCERT. I didnt ever make it to one with all of the original artists, but it sure was one of the most amazing experiances of my life, and go alone. watch the lights. close your eyes and open them wide. pour water on your face. eat cantelope, and smile, because your in the midst of a very shifting experiance.

    and yes, i do belive this song is about the fakness of our society today and how we think that just by portreying the "greatness" of the things we have accomplished, doesnt mean we have to "teach a fruit how to eat itself", we have almost come too far in evolution and look what We've arrived at... sure, we think we can accomplish any thing, but what are we really accomplishing? superioority? that is the "wrong lane".....
    Flag caileybirdon December 16, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:*a good thing.
    Flag A_Raging_Bullon September 01, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Along with Karma's Payment, probably my favorite track off the Fruit EP. The bass and the drumming, specifically the drumming, really compliment Brock's vocal delivery, which in this case is an incessant yell; and with Brock that's a good sing. He can yelp and howl like it ain't no thing.
    Flag A_Raging_Bullon September 01, 2009   Link

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