Hey, haven't seen you around in a while
Hey, haven't seen you around in a while
Hey, haven't seen you around in a while
Hey, haven't seen you around in a while

I didn't go to work for a month
I didn't leave my bed for eight days straight
I haven't hung out with anyone
Because if I did, I'd have nothing to say

I didn't feel angry or depressed
I didn't feel anything at all
I didn't want to go to bed
And I didn't want to stay up late
When you're living your life, well, that's the price you pay

Whenever I breathe out, you're breathing it in
Whenever I speak out, you take it all in
Whenever I breathe out, you're breathing it in
Whenever I speak out, you take it all in

Your feelings are positive, negative, positive, negative
I'm feeling this positive, negative, positive, negative
The seasons are positive, negative, positive, negative

Whenever I breathe out, you're breathing it in
Whenever I speak out, you take it all in
Whenever I breathe out, you're breathing it in
Whenever I speak out, you take it all in

I didn't go to work for a month
I didn't leave my bed for eight days straight
I haven't hung out with anyone
Because if I did, I'd have nothing to say



Lyrics submitted by PLANES, edited by MMfan

Track duration: 05:18


Whenever I Breathe Out, You Breathe In (Positive/Negative) song meanings
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85 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:Beauty of this song is in the music, the simplicity but uniqueness of isaacs guitar is why modest mouse is as amazing as they are. T.his song, to me, is merely a breakup song, the endless search for purpose in a life where things dont seem to click at all times hence "whenever you breath out, im breathing in" my take on a great song
    Flag DillaHeadon December 16, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:A real talent that modest mouse has often lies in Isaac's guitar playing, you know, on top of his incredible lyricism. He creates a dreamscape-ish, surreal sound with distortion and harmonics that emphasizes the numbness of his feelings in the song. It's just that little extra push over the edge that makes this songs rather indelible to those who've experienced a similar feeling as this song suggests.
    Flag milesawayon November 14, 2012   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:I'm wondering why I've always thought about this song differently than most of the other interpretations that I've read here. Anyway, here goes.
    The second and third paragraph is written in past tense and thus the protagonist looks back on a recent period of his life where he's suffered from some sort of depression, numbness, absence of feelings, whatever. The point is, that the first paragraph, written in present tense, represents his friends, colleagues, family, whatever, seeing the protagonist for the first time in a long time; for me, this shows that he's now over this negative part of his life and can now begin another positive part of it.
    Notice my choice of words: This is not the first time that his life's been negative nor positive, thus the lines: "When you're living your life, well, that's the price you pay." + "I'm feeling this positive/negative, positive/negative."
    The main point of the song is essentially that life, as well as anything else, goes up and down; it's positive/negative, and that's just how it is.
    Flag MMfanon May 26, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I wonder what I'd have done without modest mouse. I dont tell about them to my friends because they are all into the sort of music that makes you jump around for the night and then just nothing. I just hope this whole 'mainstream' shit doesnt kill off real music or dare i say, poetry, like MM.

    My test of good music is that whether you'd want to listen to it, say at something like 4am instead of just pull up and sleep. Only few pass it. MM being one of them.

    "I didnt wana go to bed
    and I didnt wanna stay awake"

    I sometimes feel that. But never felt it'd make for such a powerful line.
    Flag pranav0091on March 20, 2012   Link
  • 0
    Lyric Correction:The lyrics say "Whenever I speak out, you're speaking out", but it should be "Whenever I speak out, you take it all in"
    Flag JiveTurkey45on February 25, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I'll be quite honest with all of you, I find the production value to be fantastic.

    In fact, I think it makes the song. You think it's poor. I have no idea why.
    Flag getthoselyricsrighton November 12, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:When you're living your life, well, that's the price you pay
    Whenever I breathe out, you're breathing it in
    Whenever I speak out, you're speaking out
    I'm feeling this positive/negative, positive/negative


    *Correction*
    Flag jrdnbeedyon January 28, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I can relate to this song so much right now. Love.
    Flag katycontion January 18, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:your* f***
    Flag devaztatoron August 11, 2010   Link
  • +3
    My Interpretation:well.. i feel like i should put in my two cents. Even though it doesn't matter if i'm right or wrong. BUT, This is how i take this song: First of all he is talking about himself in the song. When he talks about the "you're" he isn't talking about anyone in specific.

    In the first part of the song when he says "Hey, Haven't seen you around in a while" he is talking about the "depression" he is having. I put quotations on depression because i believe depression is something different than what popular opinion believes. It's a numb, emotionless feeling. You're emotions are depressed. So when he says "I didn't feel angry or depressed" he's saying he's not here or there, he's not up or down, he stuck in a blank middle.. positive negative positive negative.

    also, he could be anxious and he doesn't know why? The feeling of "I should be doing something.. but i don't know what or i'm not interested enough". He's bored and disappointed with life.

    The lyrics "When you're living your life, well, that's the price you pay
    Whenever I breathe out, you're breathing it in
    Whenever I speak out, you're speaking out" I interpret that as "There's not much to this existence. I do the same shit, you do the same shit. I'm breathing it out and you're breathing it in. I'm speaking out but so are you. I'm not significant and neither are you."

    whew! done. I hope someone has the patience to read this and tell me what they think.
    Flag devaztatoron August 11, 2010   Link

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