You’ve got nowhere to go but up
To where you’ll dine with foreign kings
You can’t forget about our tryst
And all those other fleeting things

And will they train you like a dog
And will they walk you down my streets
The wind will whistle our old songs
The ones I’ll always keep

You’ve got nowhere to go
Whoa whoa
Nowhere to go
Whoa whoa
Nowhere to go
Whoa whoa
Nowhere to go
Whoa whoa

I’ve got a bone to pick with you
About the argument we had
The day you got into that cab
And said my world is in your past

There must be something wrong with me
My mind is just a sickly little alibi
And why am I surprised
You’re giving up on me
Goodbye
The words you’re wielding like a knife



Lyrics submitted by nikisayswhat

Track duration: 03:51


The Word You Wield song meanings
Add your thoughts

11 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    My Interpretation:I really just don't think this song is about a girl. I think it's about this Jesse Lacey guy katpav was talking about. It just makes more sense to me.

    I think the song is Max's anger that this guy thinks he's so much better than him. I think he's saying Jesse has hit rock bottom, and if he wants to leave, fine, but the next people are just going to use him.

    I think this is one of the best songs on the album, just because I can hear the raw emotion in his voice, and it was composed so well. The piano and guitar parts are just so perfect. I love it.
    Flag CaptiveLon March 14, 2013   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:this might be another song about jesse lacey....
    think about it.

    "You�ve got nowhere to go but up
    To where you�ll dine with foreign kings"

    over the years, he's gotten more and more "in touch" with god.

    "And will they train you like a dog
    And will they walk you down my streets
    The wind will whistle our old songs
    The ones I�ll always keep"

    will they train you like a dog might imply that maybe jesse's religion might control all of his views on certain things; he might be practicing what he preaches.

    the wind will whistle all our old songs, the ones i'll always keep --- kind of a given, don't you think?
    maybe songs means memories...they basically used to be best friends, or close to it.

    "I�ve got a bone to pick with you
    About the argument we had
    The day you got into that cab
    And said my world is in your past"

    my world is in your past....jesse told max that he won't be a guest vocal on in defense of the genre because he doesn't want to be associated with "that type" of music anymore.



    idunno. maybe it's just me though. i've just never thought twice about this song being written about a girl.
    Flag katpavon August 06, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Here's my interpretation, it's a pretty personal song to me.

    "You’ve got nowhere to go but up
    To where you’ll dine with foreign kings
    You can’t forget about our tryst
    And all those other fleeting things"
    I guess it introduces the song very bluntly with the narrarator (Max) being in a relationship issue and the relationship has ended. He is saying she has nowhere to go but up from him and find better guys, but he's not going to let her forget about his times with her.

    "And will they train you like a dog
    And will they walk you down my streets
    The wind will whistle our old songs
    The ones I’ll always keep"
    The new guy will tell him whatever he wants and she'll believe him, and do some of the same things he did, and he knows it.

    "You’ve got nowhere to go
    Whoa whoa
    Nowhere to go
    Whoa whoa
    Nowhere to go
    Whoa whoa
    Nowhere to go
    Whoa whoa"
    Basically saying you can't do better than me.

    "I’ve got a bone to pick with you
    About the argument we had
    The day you got into that cab
    And said my world is in your past"
    He wants to talk things over about why she left him and got out of his life, but she doesn't seem willing to.

    "There must be something wrong with me
    My mind is just a sickly little alibi
    And why am I surprised
    You’re giving up on me
    Goodbye
    The words you’re wielding like a knife"
    She gave up on him, and she's holding the fact that she left him over him and it's making him sick and making him feel down on himself.
    Flag lendmeyourbrainon August 20, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:And why am I surprised
    You’re giving up on me
    Goodbye
    The words you’re wielding like a knife

    ...those lines kill me every time. it's like i can feel the knife too.
    Flag cassadillaon July 29, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think this song is about how he is obsessing over the fact that him and his girlfriend have OFFICIALLY stop being a part of each others lives. At the beginning of the song

    You’ve got nowhere to go but up
    To where you’ll dine with foreign kings

    This message is more or less being told to him by his friends and the people around him. He's better off without her, and his life is about to turn around. However, he can't forget about her and all he can do is replay the last encounter they had together. He feels defeated.
    Flag picketfence14on February 02, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:"weezer? hmm the first verse gives off this cursive vibe.."
    uh which Cursive are you listening to? I def hear the weezer. There's little weezer sounding things throughout the whole album I noticed.
    Flag CAPTAINMORGUNon November 30, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this is THEE like best (2nd best next to "Walk Through Hell") Say Anything song....does any one else think this is the best band theyve ever heard? lyrics. the lyrics MAKE the band....omg...Max Bemis is my fucking idol!
    Flag shinyoctopus37on November 24, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:weezer? hmm the first verse gives off this cursive vibe.. i was so stoked the first time i heard this song.. the vibe stopped second verse in though. still, this songs great just for that part
    Flag vulgaron November 17, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I just think this song is simply about a relationship gone bad.
    Flag AndARevolutionon November 13, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:reminds me of weezer

    maybe this song is about giving up?
    Flag Twikkion November 03, 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