Out of the box, out of the kitchen
Out of the world she's grown so fearful of
So fearful of
I don't ever want to see you again
I don't ever want to see you again
I don't ever want to see you again
I don't ever want to see you again, my friend
This is the end

Out of the house, she grabs the keys
Runs for the hills and doesn't leave a letter
That way the impact will be much better
Away from the man that she's grown so fearful of
So fearful of
I don't ever want to see you again
I don't ever want to see you again
I don't ever want to see you again
I don't ever want to see you again

Why, oh why do you wear sunglasses in the home when
The sun went out about an hour ago?
Why, oh why do you wear sunglasses in the home when
The sun went out about an hour ago?
Life should not be that way

Always up or down, never down and out
Dream of demons while you sleep
That make you stutter when you speak
Always up or down, never down and out
Dream of demons while you sleep
That make you stutter when you speak
Speak now or forever hold your peace in pieces

Now that I'm grown I've seen marriages fall to pieces
Now that I'm grown I've seen friendships fall to pieces
Weekend warriors, and our best friends
The writers weren't kidding about how all good things must end
Then again, some things-
Then again, some things are far too good-
Some things are far too good to go ahead and let go

Always up or down, never down and out
Dream of demons while you sleep
That make you stutter when you speak
Always up or down, never down and out
Dream of demons while you sleep
That make you stutter when you speak
Speak now or forever hold your peace

We won't forget Tony or Johnny
No matter how they miss us they still wish us the best on the road
Garrett took a plane to Paris, France
Now he's cooking up entrees for the pretty, pretty French girls
Bookends, Blue and Clarity, to The Wall and Grace
Darkside, Wish and a toast to the late Figure 8

Weekend warriors and our best friends
The writers weren't kidding but the good things will live in our hearts

Always up or down, never down and out
Dream of demons while you sleep
That make you stutter when you speak (stutter when you speak)
Always up or down, never down and out
Dream of demons while you sleep
That make you stutter when you speak (never down)

Always up or down, never down and out
Dream of demons while you sleep
That make you stutter when you speak (never down)
Always up or down, never down and out
Dream of demons while you sleep
That make you stutter when you speak
Speak now or forever hold your peace in pieces


Lyrics submitted by ADimeADexter

Down and Out Lyrics as written by William Beckett Michael Carden

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Down and Out song meanings
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68 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment

    This is one of my favorite songs off the new CD. They are such a great band live too. The first half of the song makes me think that "she" is being abused in a relationship, but then I'm not sure about the second half.

    splitendson February 04, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    my favorite song off the CD

    TyroneShoolaceson February 07, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The Academy Is... is such an awesome band. A lot like Fallout Boy IMO but a tad bit more melodic, maybe? I can't place it, but there is something really different between the two...

    Anyway. The first stanza to me is about a girl who is trapped in a world that she is mistreated in and she is going to leave.

    The "why o why you where sunglasses in the home" part is kind of like, asking "why are you hiding from yourself? (or possibly life in general)

    The chorus is pretty self explanatory and so is the following verse. The stanza that starts with "We won't forget Tony and Johnny" seems to be about how everyone in this guy's circle of friends went away to do their own thing, leaving behind "the good thing" mentioned.

    Great song!

    belladonna_on April 06, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    When I saw TAI in Chicago opening for Something Corporate He dedicated this to one of his friends.. I really didn't think this would be the best choice for a friend.. but I do love the song.

    clippy.hangeron April 06, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Okay there's some obvious shout outs in this song, such as Blue (Weezer), Clarity (Jimmy Eat World), Late Figure 8 (Elliott Smith), Darkside, the Wall, and Wish (all Pink Floyd) and Bookends (Simon and Garfunkel?? possibly?) but where did "Grace" come from?

    lyme01on April 13, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    the beginning has to be about someone in an abusive relationship. "why oh why you wear sunglasses in the home"? that's what i got from it, at least.

    iknowimsopatheticon April 26, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    in response to the person who was wondering where "Grace" came from... It's a wonderful cd by Jeff Buckley. one of my favorites.

    sailortattooson May 21, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Why do I wear sunglasses in the home, When the sun went out about an hour ago? Why do I wear sunglasses in the home, When the sun went out about an hour ago? Life should not be that way.

    ^^^for some reason that makes me think that like, she gets abused? has black eyes? so she wears sunglasses to cover it up, thats why it says ''Life should not be that way.''

    RiiPoon May 26, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    that does make sense. the shout outs are pretty obvious. i think it's about a girl leaving her abusive father. just kind of strikes me that way. i think it's the whole running away thing. it's more of a teenage girl kind of thing rather than an abused wife. the sunglasses part makes sense though. i love the "speak now or forever hold your peace in pieces" part. his voice just totally takes over the song.

    sheslikeohsoemoon December 07, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    RiiPo

    late response, but i'm thinking she wears sunglasses inside from crying as well. for example, at a funeral you wear sunglasses to cover you emotions. i don't know

    martinusgirlon January 12, 2006   Link

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