Read all the pamphlets and watch the tapes
I get all confused when you mix up the dates
Whoa!

Don't gimme the pretend you come for the weekend
And you stay for the week
You say that you hate it but that's how you made it
Just keep it oblique
We're both high high high, high high on lemon sips
We're all suh-suh-suh sucked-in-by parlour tricks

Oh the people deceive you the kids never leave
'Cause you make them at home
You try to appease them and they show you the stick
But still you pick up the phone
But hey man, you can take it
As long as they don't shove you out in the cold
It's not getting better, no it's not getting better, man
It's just getting old
Ah ooh! we do what we're programmed to do
Hey we do what we're told

I never remember to carry my book when I get on the bus
You never forget it's your time to collect
When they are making a fuss
We're both high high high, high high on lemon sips
We're all high high high, high high on wiggling hips
Ah ooh! you break off your plans for the weekend
And ah oh! you can tell them the dates
But that don't mean they're letting you go

Don't gimme the pretend you come for the weekend
And you stay for the year
Avoid all the plans cuz we're making our day jobs
Into a steady career
We're both high high high, high high on lemon sips
We all claw claw claw, cli-climb-on to sinking ships
And ah ooh! avoid all the cold sideways glances
And ah ooh! celebrate! celebrate! celebrate!
And then turn to stone

Read all the pamphlets and watch the tapes
You turn 25 and now you're all out of escapes
C'mon

Hey the rock writer told me to tell you:
"Though you're great and you're brave
You still lack that which makes you a star."
Read all the pamphlets and watch the tapes
We all get a little drunk and then we act like apes
Ow!



Lyrics submitted by roboclone

Track duration: 03:55

"Watch the Tapes" as written by James Jeremiah Murphy

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Watch The Tapes song meanings
Add your thoughts

5 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    My Interpretation:I believe this song is about being consumed by self-destructive behavior, running into walls, and basically becoming totally burnt out by your late-20's from all the late nights of clubs, one-night stands and drugs.

    The title lyric of this track, suggests that the dead-end club lifestyle, and addictions you get sucked into becomes routine, so it bares a "pamphlet/tape like set of instructions on how to do so"

    "I get all confused when you mix up the tapes" - a new drug or trend hits the scene, so you must figure out how to be in the know all over again.

    "Don't gimme the pretend you come for the weekend
    And you stay for the week
    You say that you hate it but that's how you made it
    Just keep it oblique
    We're both high high high, high high on lemon sips
    We're all suh-suh-suh sucked-in-by parlour tricks"

    First line refers to maybe being unemployed and using friend's couches to crash on. Or maybe the start of an addiction to club-life, going from a weekend outing to an every night thing. You claim you hate it, but you're addicted to it. I always interpreted the lemon sips as being either alcohol or the glamourous side of things. And the last line refers to the superficial attractiveness to night-life. Although, I always thought the line was poli-tricks.


    "Oh the people deceive you the kids never leave
    'Cause you make them at home
    You try to appease them and they show you the stick
    But still you pick up the phone
    But hey man, you can take it
    As long as they don't shove you out in the cold
    It's not getting better, no it's not getting better, man
    It's just getting old
    Ah ooh! we do what we're programmed to do
    Hey we do what we're told"

    The kids are always coming back to the same clubs because they're felt at home. You're starting to spiral into a pattern of endless nights of booze and drugs, and it's just getting old.

    "Don't gimme the pretend you come for the weekend
    And you stay for the year
    Avoid all the plans cuz we're making our day jobs
    Into a steady career
    We're both high high high, high high on lemon sips
    We all claw claw claw, cli-climb-on to sinking ships
    And ah ooh! avoid all the cold sideways glances
    And ah ooh! celebrate! celebrate! celebrate!
    And then turn to stone

    Read all the pamphlets and watch the tapes
    You turn 25 and now you're all out of escapes
    C'mon"

    You start to avoid all the prior long-term plans you might 've had for a steady career due to your addictions, so you can only manage the same part-time you've manage to keep for all this time. Climbing onto sinking ships, is the being totally aware of the consequences of your indulgences, yet you proceed anyways. Club is like a giant celebration, but once you get your dosage of whatever substance, you turn to stone.

    A fairly loose interpretation
    Flag ainstormon July 21, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think it's about being in your mid-20's, when you're just starting to work for a living, but you still have dreams of playing music, and doing something creative with your life... but you need that steady source of income so you get a part time job, or you freelance a few days a week, and the next thing you know "you stay for the year". What was supposed to just be a dayjob turns into a... "steady career".
    The chorus is just something you'd hear at orientation for a new job.. sort of like "refer to the employees manual." The " high on lemon sips" line is sort of sarcastic, like the most exciting part of your day becomes eating junk food at lunch...
    Or maybe i'm completely wrong. That's just how I relate to it.
    Flag residentgianton July 23, 2010   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:AND WATCH THE TAPES!

    - I had to create a profile just to post this...and it was so worth it!
    Flag jmc04004on April 27, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:READ ALL THE PAMPHLETS
    Flag Waterproofon March 16, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i htought it was 'sucked in by polytricks'?

    could never work out these lyrics though

    AMAZING SONG
    Flag lalalalon April 04, 2007   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

Back to top
explain