We get high in back seats of cars
We break into mobile homes
We go to sleep to shake appeal
Never wake up on our own

And that's the way we get by
Way we get by
And that's the way we get by
Way we get by

We go out in stormy weather
We rarely practice discern
We make love to some weird sin
We seek out the taciturn

And that's the way we get by
Way we get by
And that's the way we get by
Way we get by

We found a new kind of dance in a magazine
Tried it out it's like nothing you ever seen
You sweet talk like a cop and you know it
You bought a new bag of pot, said let's make a new start

And that's the way to my heart
The way to my heart

That's the way we get by
Way we get by

We get high in back seats of cars
We put faith in our concerns
Fall in love to down on the street
We believe in the sum of ourselves

I said that's the way we get by



Lyrics submitted by rjbucs28

Track duration: 02:41

"The Way We Get By" as written by Britt Daniel

Lyrics © BUG MUSIC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


The Way We Get By song meanings
Add your thoughts

51 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment:I think they've all been identified, but:

    -"Shake Appeal"
    -"Some Weird Sin"
    -"Down On The Street"

    All Stooges songs. Maybe they should be in quotations in the lyrics?
    Flag mr.sozeon December 11, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:For me the importance of this song is in the 'we'. The fact that the people in the song do all of these things together shows that they have a bond- How many people are willing to break into mobile homes with you? Go out in stormy weather?

    It sounds like these people are so in sync that they'd have to be lovers, soul mates, or best friends. "And that's the way to my heart"... Even when life is tough they have a way of doing things that only they understand, and may be wrong, but that's the way they get by.
    Flag morikidon November 18, 2012   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:Plenty has been said here and much of it very good, but here is my take: Even though the song is written in the present tense, the Stooges references seem to back date it. The song could be about the lifestyle of a band when starting out. Traveling to small clubs where no one knows who you are ("seeking out the taciturn"). Staying wherever you can to save money ("breaking into mobile homes"). Recreating with locals during set breaks ("getting high in the backs of cars"). Getting over arguments that happen when strangers travel together ("new bag of pot, let's make a new start"). Having fleeting romantic encounters ("make love to 'some weird sin' ", "never waking up on our own"). All for the promise of the group's success ("we believe in the sum of ourselves").
    Flag justlovesmusicon September 25, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think he's saying We all have our methods of "getting by". And I think he's talking about the way he gets by, in a matter of fact kind of way.
    Flag misstwiggsteron October 08, 2010   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:OK, well to attack everyone on different levels,

    First I'll go after the people I like most, those who hate the O.C. people. As much as I agree that the show is one of the worst shows becauses it uses predictable plot lines and sex to get people to watch it, and then tells people how life should be, if it has good music, it has good music. I hate when people act as if they are Spoon themselves, and that their music shouldn't be listened to by everyone. Spoon can give out it's rights to anyone, and so what if trendy little tweens listen to The Way We Get By and get the giggles because they said pot. I have faith in the great songs they put on those shows in that they can handle the two weeks the idiots will listen to it and then find whatever is the new hit song from the show. Although I can understand your feelings, don't let these people bother you since it isn't your music in the first place.

    Secondly, I am attacking anyone naive to think that this song isn't about drugs, especailly pot, or anyone who is naive enough to put a negative connotation on pot. Obviously, the life of a stereotypical stoner is not a good one to live, but if people actually knew anything about marijuanna, you would know that it isn't going to kill you, and the damage it causes is minimal. It is a great song, so enjoy it, but don't try to pretend you don't year what you are listening to.

    Thirdly, I am going to attack anyone who thinks this song is just about pot, however, this isn't really a harsh attack since you would have had to read Trainspotting to see where i am comming from. If you have read Trainspotting, it is about heroin addicts who are huge fans of Iggy Pop and The Stooges. While Spoon (like what you cook heroin on) may just also be big fans of IP, I find it odd that they would break into mobile homes, go out in stormy weather, and rarely practice dicern becuase of pot. This sounds more like someone who needs their fix, similar to the book/movie when he fishes through the shit to find the suppositories. Also, the idea that they are the sum of themselves, as in better together, makes me think that the group relies on each other for getting the gear.

    As to the idea of this song being negative, I think it is sort of negative from an outsider view, and from the singer, almost negative in the fact that he is aware of all the redic stuff they do for their gear, but neutral in that it is just life for them. Sort of like the song Time to Pretend by MGMT.
    Flag ChuckBeanson January 29, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:the music in the background reminds me of "A day in the life" by the beatles
    Flag MaggiexMaccaon October 23, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Putting the drug references aside. For me, 'that's the way we get by' or 'we'll get by' means 'we'll survive.'
    Flag thewaywegetbyon October 11, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:personally, this song to me is about bored teens, just getting by on drugs as their main sorce of entertainment or main distration from their live's. "thats the way to my heart" means that pot is what they love, and its how "they get by" in everyday life.
    Flag cat121on October 05, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i agree completely with calculatorwatch

    i totally agree with the thing about how its not about the morality of the lifestyle described.. its just "the way [they] get by" not good not bad... just like the pot imagery isn't trying to say anything about the stoner lifestyle its just how it is...

    i dont think calculatorwatch could have phrased my opinions better if i let him/her borrow my brain...
    Flag c4r4me1on July 17, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I really do feel that this song is about a couple, and not just a "group". Why else would he talk about falling in love, and making love. I don't talk a bout those kind of things with my group of friends. I think it is just describing a lifestyle, that we've all experienced at some point, though not a necessarily bad one..
    Flag rockndrollmasteron July 16, 2008   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

Back to top
explain