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After one or two I get used to the room
We go slow when we first make our moves
By five or six I'll bring you out to the car
By number nine with my head on the bar
And it's sad but true out of cash and i-o-u's
I got desperate desires, and unadmirable plans
My tongue will taste of gin and malicious intent
Bring you back to the bar get you out of the cold
My sober straight face gets you out of your clothes.
And they're scared that we know all the crimes they'll commit
Who they'll kiss before they get home.
I will lie awaken and lie for fun
And fake the way I hold you
Let you fall for every empty word I say.
Barely conscious in the door where you stand.
Your eyes are fighting sleep while your mouth makes your demands
You laugh at every word trying too hard to be cute
I almost feel sorry for what I'm gonna do
And your hair smells of smoke
Who will cast the first stone?
You can sin or spend the night all alone
Brass buttons on your coat hold the cold
In the shape of a heart that they cut out of stone
And you're using all your looks that you've thrown from the start
If you let me have my way I swear I'll tear you apart.
Cause its all you can be
You're a drunk
And you're scared
Its ladies night all the girls drink for free.
I will lie awake and lie for fun
And fake the way I hold you
Let you fall for every empty word I say.
I will lie awake and lie for fun
And fake the way I hold you
Let you fall for every empty word I say.
We go slow when we first make our moves
By five or six I'll bring you out to the car
By number nine with my head on the bar
And it's sad but true out of cash and i-o-u's
I got desperate desires, and unadmirable plans
My tongue will taste of gin and malicious intent
Bring you back to the bar get you out of the cold
My sober straight face gets you out of your clothes.
And they're scared that we know all the crimes they'll commit
Who they'll kiss before they get home.
I will lie awaken and lie for fun
And fake the way I hold you
Let you fall for every empty word I say.
Barely conscious in the door where you stand.
Your eyes are fighting sleep while your mouth makes your demands
You laugh at every word trying too hard to be cute
I almost feel sorry for what I'm gonna do
And your hair smells of smoke
Who will cast the first stone?
You can sin or spend the night all alone
Brass buttons on your coat hold the cold
In the shape of a heart that they cut out of stone
And you're using all your looks that you've thrown from the start
If you let me have my way I swear I'll tear you apart.
Cause its all you can be
You're a drunk
And you're scared
Its ladies night all the girls drink for free.
I will lie awake and lie for fun
And fake the way I hold you
Let you fall for every empty word I say.
I will lie awake and lie for fun
And fake the way I hold you
Let you fall for every empty word I say.
Lyrics submitted by BrandNew1208
Track duration: 05:19
"Me vs. Maradona vs. Elvis" as written by Vincent Accardi Jesse Lacey
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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But I think it's a warning call, communicating something that not every guy who says what he says will really mean it. In this song, Jesse personifies some asshole at a party who targets a girl who's had a few too many, and closes her off from the world to take advantage of her - faking his feelings and filling her up with empty words.
Think about it, nobody would write a song about date rape that's just about him blatantly taking advantage of some drunk girl at a party. Even if he did rape someone or something like that, it would be stupid to just say that - in every other one of Jesse's songs he tries to communicate something, and jumping to "date rape" is way too straightforward.
Ultimately, I think he's saying that there are boys that will seek to only pleasure themselves by faking feelings for someone. I'm generally supportive of feminism, and I obviously see how someone could read these lyrics and instantly be disgusted. But that's the nature of the song, it's a warning, and it's supposed to carry it's message on shock value. Even though I hate references to rape in songs like these, I think that feminists targeting it is misdirected - there's more to it and people should try to read between the lines before they jump to conclusions.
Keep the fight, and know your targets well.
the line "1 or 2 i get used to the room" means that he isn't very drunk because he's still used to the room, or in other words he's aware of his surroundings.
"by 5 or 6 take you out to the car" i'm not sure if this means either 5 or 6 as in time, or as in how many drinks she has had, but he takes her to the car thinking he's going to get something out of her.
and jumping to the line "i almost feel sorry for what i'm going to do" sounds kind of sarcastic, like he doesn't really feel sorry for taking advantage of her, and the line "cause it's all you can be, you're a drunk" gives the feeling that he isn't sorry for what he's doing, because all she is to him is some drunk girl and he doesn't have meaningful feelings for her, which is evident in the chorus "i will lie awake and lie for fun and fake the way i hold you, let you fall for every empty word i say." he's saying his words are empty and he doesn't mean what he says, and he's only looking for a one night stand.
anyways, thats how i interpret it. beautiful song, too.
the line "1 or 2 i get used to the room" means that he isn't very drunk because he's still used to the room, or in other words he's aware of his surroundings.
"by 5 or 6 take you out to the car" i'm not sure if this means either 5 or 6 as in time, or as in how many drinks she has had, but he takes her to the car thinking he's going to get something out of her.
and jumping to the line "i almost feel sorry for what i'm going to do" sounds kind of sarcastic, like he doesn't really feel sorry for taking advantage of her, and the line "cause it's all you can be, you're a drunk" gives the feeling that he isn't sorry for what he's doing, because all he is to her is some drunk girl and he doesn't have meaningful feelings for her, which is evident in the chorus "i will lie awake and lie for fun and fake the way i hold you, let you fall for every empty word i say." he's saying his words are empty and he doesn't mean what he says, and he's only looking for a one night stand.
anyways, thats how i interpret it. beautiful song, too.
For me this song is about a girl in a bad spot, insecure and trying for all the wrong things and the guy who is there to take advantage of her weakness.
Great play on words in the title :)
First off, it is obvious that "fall for every empty word I say" sets the tone of the song, up til the ending chorus. He is whispering sweet nothings to us as if he were smooth talking his victim. We get his softest, melodic voice and it puts us in a trance and thinking this is such a great guy, without us ever really paying attention to what is going on. You could listen to this song a half dozen times and come away thinking "that Jesse is such a nice guy". Then after about the 10th listen, you actually pay attention, and realize this guy is a complete jerk (too late!)... not unlike the bar scene.
So rather than sing to us his sweet nothings, he replaces it with his real thoughts and "justifications". I think the "justifications" part is where I differ from most others here. I dont know that we are getting a real perspective on the woman, but possibly we are getting his justification of doing this to her, since we are inside his head at this point.
The title "Me vs Maradona vs Elvis".. disagree with those saying its him claiming to be as big as them. He is just choosing recognizable figures to compare to. Both were abusers that gave into their addictions (sex, drugs, & alcohol). I dont think the fame part is necessarily relevant, unless your perspective is that he sees himself as the industry's victim (I could see that way as well).
"With one or two I get used to the room". That is easy. Anyone that doesnt feel comfortable with the scene or is burdened by guilt or self-image needs to get their buzz going first (I can relate to that one and this scene, having "played" it many times). Takes the edge off and removes conscience from the picture.
"We go slow when we first make our moves". Set the trap; dont want to come across as a jerk or floozy.
"Out of cash and IOUs". I still havent seen a take on this that makes complete sense. But if you take the Elvis and Maradona examples, these guys crashed hard and maybe the guy here has used up his credibility and money and is now this pathetic creature, no doubt adding to his desperate feelings.
"I got desperate desires and unadmirable plans". He knows that he is just looking to score (feed that addiction temporarily).
"A sober straight face gets you out of your clothes
And they're scared, that we know
All the crimes they'll commit
Who they'll kiss before they get home"
OK, this is where the music industry could be a nice fit as well. The sober straight face could be that he knew what he was getting into (its not beer goggles), and it could also be the "real" face of the music industry. Suddenly we are talking about the crimes "they" commit (as opposed to "you" in the previous line), which would fit the industry better. In the context of hooking up, it could be the girls not wanting to appear as sluts and it could be the guys taking advantage of them.
"I almost feel sorry for what I'm gonna do". I'm surprised that people think this represents a guilty conscience. I think its the opposite. He knows this is going to end badly before he begins. It is all about coldness and cunning from here. Anyone who follows the rest of the song would have sympathy for the broken girl, but he says he "almost" does (aka, he doesnt). He has no remorse, but feels just a bit uneasy about that, because others would.
"And your hair smells of smoke
Who will cast the first stone?
You can sin or spend the night all alone"
There are no angels here. You went out looking for trouble and you got it. He's justifying his actions. You think any of these other barflies will call him out either? He knows your options are to cling to rescue for one night from loneliness or to wallow in it. He is aware of your pathetic options and is preying on it.
"Brass buttons on your coat hold the cold
In the shape of a heart that they cut out of stone"
- used & abused past
"You're using all your looks that you've thrown from the start
If you let me have my way I swear I'll tear you apart"
- about to be used & abused again (along with some justification)
"'cause it's all you can be, you're a drunk, and you're scared
It's ladies night, all the girls drink for free"
- he sees her as this pathetic creature, prey to his game
"I will lie awake
And lie for fun and fake the way I hold you
Let you fall for every empty word I say"
- he's kind of laughing at her patheticness, while admiring his own cunning a bit. He no longer needs to bother with the sweet talk. Time to wrap it up and move onto the next..
It's clear here that the persona (not Jesse, although it could well be his experience) at least cares about the girl. "Get you out of the cold", "almost feel sorry". These aren't the feelings of a rapist. The fact that the first verse is also about drinking a lot clearly shows that they're drunk. So ultimately i'd say this was about one-night-stands. Nothing more sinister than that.
To add to this, he also clearly states that the girl is as much to blame if not more then him. "mouth makes your demands" "trying hard to be cute" "using all your looks". To me these lines indicate her acting promiscuously and is clearly trying to charm/'pull' the persona of the song. She's drunk yes, and probably doesn't have any feelings for him, but she's trying to get him home and in bed.
The title. Me Vs Maradonna Vs Elvis, I feel is also not about drugs, well at least not predominantly about drugs at least. Maradonna and Elvis are icons of their chosen fields (Football and Music). They were more then just famous and would have, as a result, had hundreds of girls throwing themselves at them in purely emotionless ways. By including 'me' in the title he is comparing himself to them, and almost making it a competition. Both Maradonna and Elvis also had a fall from grace (with the drugs and such) moments of their lives not to be proud of, this to me tells me that the persona is also ashamed.
I've seen a lot of people write about how this song reminds them of their cheating ex's and it really shouldn't , this song isn't about cheating, or in fact about the 'sins' of man. It's about brutal crippling loneliness. At every stage the guy is clearly aware and saddened by his actions. But like he so aptly says "you can sin or spend the night alone".