will you walk straight?
we're not like them
to pull them in, make it seem like your in trouble
make a sound, fake it enough.
what made you so scared?
maybe your mistaken for someone who cares

if you remember, remember
i've been trying to get back to the center
i'm sure it's not like it was before

to make them drink, tell them that it's only water
no one leaves 'till we figure this out
what made you so scared?
maybe your mistaken for someone who cares

if you remember, remember
i've been trying to get back to the center
i'm sure it's not like it was before

patience
both we and our words are over produced by influence
by influence
patience
both we and our words are over produced by influence
by influence
by influence

i'm only asking if you remember, remember
i've been trying to get back to the center
and i'm sure it's not like it was.



Lyrics submitted by birdhouse978

Track duration: 03:25


Act Appalled song meanings
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92 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment:you got it all wrong. lol. the whole album was based on the movie Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind. they said it in an interview. if you've seen the movie, all their lyrics make sense.

    this song is based on the scene where kirsten dust and other dudes were partying inside the room of jim carrey while his memories were being erased.
    Flag oi2simonon May 02, 2012   Link
  • 0
    Memory:In general, I think the song (especially the chorus) is about trying to fix some sort of relationship, like he's "trying to get back to the centre" of what it was about. It is open to any number of interpretations however, as shown by the number of comments, and that's one of the best things about Circa Survive.

    the one time I've seen Circa they were first on and after they had played Anthony came up to the bar and started talking to me. He asked me about which of their songs I enjoyed the most and (among others) I mentioned Act Appalled as they hadn't played it that night and I thought they would have as it was one of the singles from Juturna (at the time On Letting Go had not been released, although I think they may have played one or two songs from it). He didn't really explain why but he said something like "oh yeah well we don't usually play that anymore" but that they would play it if I promised him I'd get to their next show on the tour. I didn't go to the next show on the tour so I don't know if they did play it, or even if he had a particular reason for not playing Act Appalled that night, but it was still really interesting to talk to him, he seemed like a really down to earth guy, we both agreed we didn't really like the band that were playing when we talked (they had followed Circa and there were 4 bands in total).
    Flag adam106on April 03, 2012   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:"Patience... both we and our words are overproduced by influence."

    it may have been said before, but this part really suggests to me the idea that people are generally really worried about what other people think of them and what they say (the "influence" of others).

    This is obviously a negative comment on this and I see the "patience" bit as saying that one needs patience in order to put up with this kind of thing. When this album came out I was 16 or 17 (can't remember) and this idea particularly resonated with me disliking quite a lot of what I saw around me in school.
    Flag adam106on April 03, 2012   Link
  • -1
    My Interpretation:I've heard this song is about the members of Saosin trying to take advantage of some drunk underage girls, and Anthony not having any part of it, thus his departure from the band.
    Flag gregherecomesthetide777on February 02, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think it's all about how disingenuous we've become and how so many of us think we're so original but we're all just as fake as everyone else. I think JohnnyO was also correct, it's about how so many bands today(I'm looking at you Nickelback) manufacture this emotion but it's all just fake and they're completely manipulating and deceiving people into caring.
    Flag Aenema91on September 02, 2010   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:EpheAlshia and I have the same idea about this song - its about the lying process and its effect on the self and those around you. When you lie to someone you care about, it is often because you fear that the truth will hurt more than keeping it secret (I think this is what he's addressing when he asks, "What made you so scared?").

    But as time goes by, some realize that lying may have been the wrong path. Lies lead to more lies and distrust and alienation. Suddenly you find that you're trying to get back to the center, where everything was truly alright, but the hole you've dug is too deep; it's not and never will be like it was before.


    I think the deepest lyrics of this song lie in the bridge, "Both we and our words are overproduced by influence."
    To put it in less metaphoric terms, you could say it as "Both liars and their lies are overproduced by the influence."
    This argues that those who lie for the sake of a lasting happiness, relationship, etc. and the lies they tell are created by who/what we're trying to protect in the first place. You lie to your family, your friends, your loved ones because of the influence they have on you, what they expect of you and how they see you. Breaking the good image they have of you isn't worth telling the truth. A single lie was all it was meant to be, but as time goes by the lies are produced over and over again.

    That's what I think it means anyways. It has a lot of depth; more than I can type in a box. :P
    Flag OsnapItsAnthonyon November 11, 2009   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:Extra note: Perhaps he only started to realise the whole thing when he saw other people lying in order to preserve the well-being of their relationships. He then wanted to be different from other people, NOT for the sake of being different, but for the sake of him getting back on track with life. And hence, the song was created.
    Flag EpheAlshiaon September 28, 2009   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation:In my opinion, it's a monologue. The person is trying to convince himself or herself to tell the truth, even if things may not go his or her way. This is because he's got nothing to lose by doing so, as he has been trying to get back on track with his life, "I've trying to get back to the center, and I'm sure it's not like it was before".

    The first 4 lines in the first verse basically describes a lying process, and the person is asking himself whether he ready to change what he has always been doing, that is, lying. "What makes you so scared? Maybe you're mistaken by someone who cares", the person is asking himself whether he's afraid that he would lose someone who cares about him by telling the truth. Losing a loved one has never been an easy thing to face, that explains why the person insist on telling lies, in order to preserve the well being of his relationships.

    "If you remember, remember" is just the person trying to remind himself of what he has been trying to achieve, that is to get back on track with his life.

    First 2 lines of 2nd verse is also a lying process, where sooner or later the person would know whether it's really 'water' or otherwise.

    The bridge is where the person tells himself to be patient and persistent in telling the truth. Due to the way we are programmed to explain a situation, it usually results in hurting other people's feelings. Therefore, we must try and try to explain in a way that they will accept us until we succeed.

    The chorus in the end indicates that the person, deep inside, really wants to step out of the his garden of lies.

    It took awhile for me to think my interpretation, but in fact it seemed really simple. Anyway, I like Anthony's high pitched singing. Don't you? :D
    Flag EpheAlshiaon September 28, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i have 2 completely different interpretations for the song. maybe both are wrong this is how i get this.

    1)'' will you walk straight?
    we're not like them
    to pull them in, make it seem like your in trouble
    make a sound, fake it enough.
    what made you so scared?
    maybe your mistaken for someone who car''

    i think its a about a girl who says that she has been raped, but she lies, in order to receive attention or sth like that.

    ''if you remember, remember
    i've been trying to get back to the center
    i'm sure it's not like it was before''

    in addition, the guy found trouble with is, and all of this, pretty messed up his life a bit, now he is trying to get back in his daily routine and erase the past

    ''to make them drink, tell them that it's only water
    no one leaves 'till we figure this out
    what made you so scared?
    maybe your mistaken for someone who cares''

    i think this verse is a metaphor about how generally can fake and lie to ppl in order to get what we want

    ''patience
    both we and our words are over produced by influence''

    to be real convincing , she needed some good fake speech to tell to cops or friends, yet to act appalled (hence the title) , on the other hand, he was telling the truth, propably in some more art way, to be more ''believed''



    2)in general he wants to state how he and his bandmates are way different of the other bands out there,
    because they create the music they want, they love what they crate, not some other bands who signs to major labels make a shitty love song and become popular, they are original, they have quality and they know it. and also he wants to state that his career hasn't finish when he left saosin, he and his band are here to create music.


    Angelos



    Flag DanceAngelDanceon September 18, 2009   Link
  • 0
    Memory:Ok, so I'm gonna do this for every Circa song... I'll listen to the song and tell you what I think when I hear it. ok
    =====
    So, the start, feels almost like how a big wave can crush someone and they can be caught in the tide.

    The center might be referring to the center of gravity, or the center of any situation to try to solve the problem perhaps...

    [oh and btw, there is no meaning that is written in stone, and if there was there wouldn't be this site, so be happy we can read each other's opinions.]

    "What made you so scared? Maybe you're mistake for someone who cares"

    Maybe that's asking a stranger for advice and how sometimes they'll tell you you're crazy and to ask someone else.
    It sorta shows how cold people can be.

    (I think the main theme of this song is trust and how trust can be lost)
    for now at least...

    Patience... that part, I think it's showing how cliche' life can be, and how the things in life we all see and know are consistently being repeated. The last thing I want to say is that, this song probably mostly has to do with the nature of people, and how getting back to the center might be getting back to the equilibrium of finding peace, and maintaining understanding in people's lives because of how untrustworthy people are today.

    The last chord and the ending guitar part is really cool how it sorta floats there.

    Ok, that's it, thanks for reading, check my other ones I'll be posting ont he rest of the songs in this album and the On Letting Go album songs.

    Peace,

    Mike
    Flag mikeskatesnjon September 05, 2009   Link

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