I'll take with me every single luxury when I leave you
Count on me for that and nothing more
- Count on me for that and nothing more
The view from this side's not what
The view from this side's not what
I thought it'd be, promise something differently
Close our eyes and let go of the wheel

It's not the quanity that bothers me
No it's not the quanity that bothers me
No it's not the quality that bothers me

It's the means, twenty-twenty surgery
Well, twenty-twenty surgery
For cheap dollar signs are a, for picture perfect point of view
Twenty-twenty surgery
Well, twenty-twenty surgery
For cheap, dollar signs are a, for picture perfect point of view

Well all young children listen, 'cause they got so much to learn
- Turn it in, turn it in
We'll get you home in time, to make them wretched be for free for being me

It's not the quanity that bothers me
- No it's not the quanity that bothers me
No it's not the quality that bothers me..

It's the means, twenty-twenty surgery
Well, twenty-twenty surgery
For cheap dollar signs are a, for picture perfect point of view
Twenty-twenty surgery
Well, twenty-twenty surgery
For cheap, dollar signs are a, for picture perfect point of view

- You do, you don't, you do, you don't
Would you like to think that?
You do, you don't, you do, you don't
Would you like to think that?
You do, you don't, you do, you don't
Would you like to think that?

It's the means, twenty-twenty surgery
Well, twenty-twenty surgery
For cheap dollar signs are a, for picture perfect point of view
Twenty-twenty surgery
Well, twenty-twenty surgery
For cheap, dollar signs are a, for picture perfect point of view

You're so sensitive
I am, I am a machine.
You're so sensitive
I am, I am a machine.
You're so sensitive
I am, I am a machine.
You're so sensitive
I am, I am a machine.



Lyrics submitted by hplssrmantcxox

Track duration: 03:55

"Twenty-Twenty Surgery" as written by Adam Burbank/mascherino Lazzara

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Twenty Twenty Surgery song meanings
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77 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:to me this song is about the infatuation of modern society with going under the knife rather than working to improve their character. About taking the easy way out by getting surgery to rectify flaws. when he sings
    "it's not the quality that bothers me, its the means" he's talking about the result of the surgery being obviously perfectly vain but the means of obtaining this artificial perfection are subverted. deep stuff. TBS is good shit.
    Flag madhungryon February 01, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:"It's not the quanity that bothers me
    (No it's not the quanity that bothers me)
    No it's not the quality that bothers me.."

    is wrong.
    the correct lyrics are

    'It's not the quality that bothers me
    (No it's not the quality that bothers me)
    No it's not that quality that bothers me...'
    Flag MaddS2on June 05, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I'm pretty sure TBS could care less about cosmetics, or surgeries, or hollywood drama... this is about a relationship/girl turning out to be something/someone totally different than what was thought, and now the person is "opening his eyes for the first time" so to speak.
    Flag ashoon April 16, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:GUESS WHAT =O
    all of tbs new stuff sucks. its the one of the worst thing i ever heard. my ears bleed from it.

    where you want to be>>tell all your friends>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>louder now
    Flag criscotwisteron August 09, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i love this song, mostly because of the ending with the line "you're so sensitive: i am a machine" i feel like that, lol. i think i agree with the hollywood shiz coz he says that the rent should be free since he is him and he's a star or summat and how i guess the hollywood, celebrity spotlight numbs you.
    Flag muse_fiendon July 07, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I am a machine.
    Flag bookwormson March 18, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this_glass_house - You're calling Adam a bastard because you THINK he wrote a song about someone in your favorite band? It's been years. The guy's moved on and I'm sure he doesn't care enough anymore to write a song about him.

    ellie117 - You need to learn to at least RESPECT other people's music choices. Honestly. That's rude. I love Taking Back Sunday to death. What you said won't change anyone else's opinion--it'll just offend and annoy.

    I pretty much agree with Jackeetbs's short interpretation. It seems like Adam's talking about a girl using him and through a "Twenty-Twenty Surgery" (maybe some sort of event or when they break up) he could see clearly and realized what she did. On a rather unrelated note.. Every time I hear this song, I think about vegetarianism.. even though I know it's not about it at all and the only veg in the band is Fred. "I do, I don't need you like you think
    I do, I don't, I don't need you like you think"
    It's like saying he doesn't need animal products, which I realize sounds like the stupidest thing anyone's ever said. ;] Oh well. It just makes me love the song even more.
    "No it's not the quality that bothers me
    It's the means"
    As in the quality of the meat or whatever doesn't bother him, but how it's attained. Yeah, I'm gonna shut up now. hahaa.
    Flag EndMyDaysWithYouon February 22, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think this song is a shot at Straylight Run...
    Straylight Run's song... 'Dignity and Money'
    was supposed to be named 'The Machine Goes
    On Without Us' and in 'Twenty-Twenty Surgery'
    the whole 'you're so sensative... I am, I am a machine'
    I think Adam is just taking a shot at that...
    Flag tensionandtheterroron December 08, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this song builds up really well ... and then the chorus just disappoints. bad. seriously. ;\

    all in all, a good song, nonetheless.
    Flag minutemanon November 06, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:My interpretation of this song has always been about a relationship..I really have lived this song myself and I understand it..

    Twenty twenty surgery - the title itself, defining what it's like to have your eyes opened to a new world, a world without that certain someone in it anymore..the 20/20 part signifies sight of course, of the eyes, but also the eye of the mind and eye of the soul.."surgery" signifies the process and transition, going into this situation and coming out..

    "i'll take with me every single luxury" - he'll take his belongings and the good things in his life, you can damn well guarantee it,

    "you can count on me for that and nothing more" - the grunt in his voice just screams in its way how goddamn determined he is to get away, and you can bet he will not have any more to do with the other person

    "the view from this side's not what i thought it'd be/promised something differently" - life without this person is a lot better than you ever thought it would be before..when you're in that grieving stage of a breakup, the first part of it, you dont think of life without them as a good thing, least its hard to..you feel like you were promised a world of hell without them, but you come to find you were wrong, life without them is good..

    "close our eyes and let go of the wheel" - take a chance with your life and lose control, take a different route, let life show you where to go, crash or burn, do it with dignity..

    "it's not the quality that bothers me, it's the means" - its not how good or bad the relationship itself was when it was alive, but the way it was done, before and after it..how the breakup came about..

    "dollar signs doll up a picture perfect point of view" - this line ive always had trouble figuring out what it's about..for me at least, not to say that adam is shallow enough to think this but for me, as a girl, a good day of shopping with your friends helps you realize the situation you were the victim emotionally and you now realize you're not anymore, you see the other for the scum they really are..

    "all young children listen cause you've got so much to learn" - all of those who have never been in this situation need to listen to hear what it's like, what hell a breakup, an end of something so strong in your life can do, but how you can get through, and that you CAN get through it..

    "we'll take ya home in time to make the rent/it should be for free for being me" - they'll show you the way in a short amount of time (duration of the song perhaps? lol) and it shouldnt have to lose someone you love just because you were yourself and they didnt like you, or grew to not like you, it shouldnt cost you such "monthly" hell

    "i do/i don't need you like you think i do" - you thought you needed them and you know now you dont and you never well, this is his way of shouting to the person it's over, it's completely over and you're more free than you ever were, it's a celebration now, the surgery is over, the results are great and you're seeing clearer than you ever were..

    "you're so sensitive/i am a machine" - the other person is just oh so "victimized" by him, and he is suppossedly the "bad guy" to this other person..

    love this song, lived it and loved it =)
    Flag LePetitPappilonon October 07, 2007   Link

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