They call holidays an option for a reason
I heard you're comin' back to life just for the fourth
I've been catchin' all your ghosts for every season
I pray to God that you won't come back here anymore
Do you pray with him too?

They should deliver all my blessings
In small brown paper handbags near the porch
I wished I'd known that you were bleeding
While I sat and watched you reading with the Lord
I read with him, too

When you look at me
I'll be digesting your legs
'Cause I can hardly see what's in front of me
These days and those days too

I've got to take what I'm makin'
And turn it into somethin'
I've got to take what I'm makin'
And turn it into somethin' for you

I've got to break what I'm makin'
And turn it into nothin'
I've got to break what I'm making
And turn it into nothin' for you

When you look at me
I'll be digesting your legs
'Cause I can hardly see, what's in front of me
These days and those days too

God, where have you been?
God, where have you been?
God, where have you been?
God, where have you been?

God, oh God, where have you been?
God, my God, my God
Where have you been?
God, where have you been?
God, God, where have you been?



Lyrics submitted by PunkRocks64, edited by suckmyclit

Track duration: 06:14

"Where Have You Been?" as written by Andy Hull

Lyrics © CHRYSALIS MUSIC GROUP

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Where Have You Been song meanings
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66 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment:I don't know if anyone has actually touched on this yet, and I thought I could actually help you guys out on at least part of it. In Manchester Orchestra's DVD, Andy Hull talks about this song.

    From what I remember, since I can't remember everything that he said, at the end of the song when he's saying "God, where have you been?" He is talking about the question of people asking where God has been. It's basically that simple, haha.

    He talks about at that part where people always are expecting God to show up, where in turn in this song, he also takes the view of God asking us, where we have been.

    It's all in the DVD I swear to you, so if you really want the answers to the meanings of this song check it out. It's the "Let My Pride Be What's Left Behind" CD. And the DVD is titled "What's Left Behind".
    Flag patrickt836on June 24, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:To finally clear this up...especially for all the people who make an account with the name of a person in the band and people go 'ZOMG he in band he right!!!11!1!!!1' ( also as a side note i saw someone do this for Einstein when discussing if a qoute from him was real or not, I suppose that was actually him as well. Band members frequent this site right? lol). Google the phrase 'Jesse Lacey, Kevin Devine, Andy Hull Witty Banter' or 'Jesse Lacey, Kevin Devine, Andy Hull joy harmonies'. This should make it very clear as to what these three ( including the author of the song ) think the lyrics to the song, he ya know, wrote are. I'm pretty sure he would know lol. Check it out its really entertaining anyway.

    Finally, anyone of you who thought it said 'God' either heard the song once and were confused because it does say 'Joy, my God, my God' or, and I mean this in all seriousness, you should get a hearing test because mixing up those consonant sounds is going to be a problem in everyday life if you can't tell the difference between them.
    Flag SipSopon September 10, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:he really does change some lyrics when he sings sometimes, he did an acoustic set for daytrotter.com and this song was one of the ones he did, he says god in that version and also adds more lyrics towards the end, i think they were "and i can feed it with the lions to the christians, those lions are comin' oh their comin'", besides all that its f$@$%^@#%@ amazing when he does it acoustic check it outtt
    Flag nightmancomethon November 19, 2010   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:I always thought that the part where he sings "when you look at me, i'll be digesting your legs" was a little sexual. As in he's really attracted to a woman and whenever she looks at him he appears really attracted to her. Just my interpretation though, and that kinda made the song better for me in a way haha.
    Flag custardmopon October 26, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This part is wrong:

    i've got to take what i'm making
    and turn it into something
    i've got to take what i'm making
    and turn it into something
    for you
    i've got to break what i'm making
    and turn it into something
    i've got to break what i'm making
    and turn it into something
    for you

    it should say 'ive got to take what I'm making and turn it into something...' and then should say 'i've got to take what I'm breaking and turn it into Nothing...'


    Anyway, this could be totally off base, but I think in this part he might be talking about all of the things people do either for God/in the name of God, or for their dad/mom/parents in general, rather than for themselves. In particular, when I hear this part I think of all of the monuments, paintings, churches, etc, built as a tribute to God or for his glory, etc., as well as all of the wars that were waged and people killed in 'the name of God' (really in the name of religion). I think especially given his upbringing, he may be pointing to how foolish it can be to do extreme things (either good or bad) in the name of god/someone else, and letting someone else be in control of your life/actions. Let me know what you think; I don't know much about religion, so any input may help clarify this for me. Thanks!
    Flag OsoPolar5on March 03, 2010   Link
  • +3
    General Comment:The lyrics on this one change all the time. Here's a combo of some live versions, the studio, and acoustic performances of the song. Make what you will of it:

    ** [studio version] **

    They call holidays an option for a reason
    And I heard you're coming back to life just for the Fourth
    Well, I've been catching all your ghosts for every season
    And I pray to God you won't come back here anymore
    Do you pray with Him too?

    Well, they should deliver all my blessings
    In small, brown, paper handbags near the porch
    Oh, I wished I'd known that you were bleeding
    While I sat and watched you reading with the Lord
    You know, I read with Him too

    'cause when you look at me I'll be digesting your legs
    'cause I can hardly see what's in front of me
    These days, and those days too

    I've got to take what I'm making
    And turn it into something
    I've got to take what I'm making
    And turn it into something for you

    I've got to break what I'm making
    And turn it into nothing
    I've got to break what I'm making
    And turn it into nothing for you

    'cause when you look at me I'll be digesting your legs
    'cause I can hardly see what's in front of me
    These days, and those days too

    If they call holidays an option, it's pretentious
    So I'll deliver all my presents for the Christians
    With those lions a'comin', oh, they're comin'
    Those lions a'comin', oh, they're comin'

    ** [studio version] **



    ** [Coachella Festival 04/27/2008] **

    And this is the price I pay
    I'm not ashamed of the guns I'll take to push You away
    This is the fashion-conscience religion about You
    And this is the price I pay
    I'm not ashamed of the guns it takes to push You away
    This is the fashion of conscience, religion

    Oh God, it's true

    This is the price I pay
    I'm not ashamed of the guns it'll take to push You away
    This is the fashion-conscience religion, or is it true?
    This is the price I pay
    I'm not ashamed of the guns it'll take to push You away
    This is the fashion-conscience religion

    Oh God it's...

    This is the price I pay
    I'm not ashamed of the guns it'll take to push You away
    This is the fashion-conscience religion
    This is the price I pay
    I'm not ashamed of the guns it'll take to push You away
    This is the fashion-conscience religion

    Oh God, it's true

    ** [Coachella Festival 04/27/2008] **



    ** [The END 11/09/2007] **

    God, where have You been?
    God, my God, where have You been?
    And God, where have You been?
    And God, God, my God, where have You been?
    And God, my God, where have You been?
    And God, my God, my God, where exactly have You been?

    Child, my child, where have you been?

    And God, my God, my God, where exactly have we been?

    ** [The END 11/09/2007] **



    ** [House of Bricks 12/02/2008] **

    And I woke alone for an hour or so
    'til you began to fill the room with Your Holy Ghost
    Just because I did not see the man that I was being
    It doesn't mean I won't ever see You

    I don't mind if you arrive soon
    I wouldn't mind hearing from you
    'cause I sit nights, wondering bedside
    Not sad, or even happy, just kind of mixed up

    And I hope that you still love me
    The way I love you
    And I hope that you still need me
    The way I murdered you
    And I hope that you still eat me
    The way I ate you
    'cause in the end we're just dogs
    Through and through

    'cause in this moment I am alive again
    And now I need You all the time
    'cause in the moment I was finally alive again

    ** [House of Bricks 12/02/2008] **
    Flag SephNiteon January 29, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:its JOY not God.
    Flag MiNHaJon October 27, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:"they call holidays an option for a reason
    i hear your coming back to life just for the fourth"

    he hears jesus is coming back on the fourth day?
    i know jesus came back to life on the third day n went to heven but hes supposed to come back to earth right?.....hence the fourth day

    why is it sucha big deal for it to be "joy my go where have you been?"
    he could be asking god where is the joy in his life or injustice in the world. the song is all about the struggle with faith wanting to believe but unable to keep from questioning

    "i wished i'd known that you were bleeding while i sat and watched you reading with the lord"
    any ideas for this??
    uhh he wishes hes known jesus was bleeding (on the cross) while pll just watched him prayin....just thinking out loud idk

    "i've got to take what i'm making
    and turn it into something
    for you"

    hes gotta take all his feelings of doubt n what hes doing with his life and force it to become faith n serving god?
    ---stop talking bout joy or god.......what about the rest of the song
    "i've got to take what i'm making"
    and turn it into something
    for you
    Flag thewordcellardooron September 19, 2009   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:Oh my god this song just makes me melt. Andy Hull has such a wonderful voice.
    "God, my god, my god, where have you been?"
    I think it's the third to last time he repeats those words, he just says it with so much passion I almost cry.
    Flag ComicalBirdon April 16, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:Has no one watched the documentary on the band, "What's Left Behind?"? Its amazing and everyone should watch it, but in it he explains that he envisioned the song to end with a shouting match between the character and god, which is why he changes the lyrics from "god" to "child" and so forth.
    Flag admirableintenton April 09, 2009   Link

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