Jesus Christ
Pain
Take one
Yeah! Pain

Last time I saw you, I was holding your hand
And I couldn't wait for you to leave
I knew right then that it was over and done
And I couldn't believe that I was free

Help me now, I'm going down
And I don't know if I'll be okay
I'll be around, I'll be in town
If you need a place to stay

When the wind blows and there's a chill in the air
I hope that someone is taking care of you
I'm alright, yeah, I'm really okay
Just so you know I'm always there for you

Help me now, I'm going down
And I don't know if I'll be okay
I'll be around, I'll be in town
If you need a place to stay

[Radio Announcer]
This is Happy Birthday.....
Happy Birthday to you, happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday dear Karen, happy Birthday to you.....
You're no longer only just a teenager, you're a full-grown 20....



Lyrics submitted by molofan


Birthday Boy song meanings
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9 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:This song was written about Gene's then girlfriend (now ex-wife), Sarah. Story goes she broke up with him on his 20th birthday and he wrote this song.

    He also wrote "Sarah" and "Baby Bitch" about her.
    Flag APBradleyon September 16, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This is such a gorgeous heart-wrenching song.. Probably one of the most affecting songs I've ever heard. Pretty impressive for just a distorted guitar and voice, but that's the power of Ween and Gener's awesome vocals. What I wonder is if this really was as personal as it sounds.. I could never figure out if the intro ("Paiiinn") was sarcastic or not. Really sounds directly from the heart and it kills me every time.
    Flag jcjh20on March 11, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:reaal easy to relate to. Geners brings a lot of emotion into this song you can tell its close to the heart. i really like how he kinda flip flops on the way he feels on and off through out the song. He sounds happy about the break up in lines like "and i couldnt wait for you to leave" and "i couldnt believe that i was free". but then doesnt seem fine with it in lines such as "help me now im going down, and i dont know if ill be okay" especially given that in the second verse he says "im alright, yah im really okay". you can see and hear that hes in pain and hurt, but at the same time trying to convince himself hes okay with it.
    Flag BuckinghamGREENon November 26, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:yeah this song is simply mind blowing
    Flag hobophobeon July 31, 2010   Link
  • +2
    My Opinion:This is the greatest song ever written.
    Flag BrownWeenon June 07, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I heard them play a version of this song on acoustic guitar one time that almost had me crying my eyes out it was so gorgeous.
    Flag majestikmoose9on March 08, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:first of all, I need to correct the last stanza:
    it's several answering machine messages for Aaron (Gener) on his birthday. so, it's "happy birthday dear Aaron" (not Karen).

    this is my favorite ween song, and i was lucky enough to get to see them open with it in Boulder last year. i think it's about the poignant feeling of knowing a relationship is ending, that it's the best thing, but also feeling a very strong connection (and protective feeling) for the person and mourning the end of your love.
    Flag stallionon July 27, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The sound clips before the song, the synth sound and the sonar blips, and after the song, "Cloudless everyday you fall upon my waking eyes, In...", are excerpts from Pink Floyd - Echoes.
    Flag _helephanton July 02, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is about Gener confronting the fact that, while he has had a painful breakup with a woman, he still cares for her. A more cynical sequel to this song is "Baby Bitch", on Chocolate and Cheese.
    Flag molofanon April 05, 2005   Link

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