I have no space
No room to move around
And this box is getting smaller
I'm trying to get out

How did I get so far
From where I was
When did I decide
To lose my way
Who have I become

I've got a new low
All 52 cards in a row
I see now that I won't let go
No I won't let go

Well who am I?
A cold shoulder left to cry
You feel bad, well so do I
Yeah so do I

I've been right; I've been left
I've been wrong; I've been left behind
I've been up but mostly down

I've been right; I've been left
I've been wrong; I've been left behind
I've been up but mostly down

I can not help feeling like
I have so much at stake
So I lock myself inside my head
And I just run in place

So many directions I don't
Know which way to go
I'm so busy doing nothing
I got nothing to show

I've got a new low
All 52 cards in a row
I see now that I won't let go
No I won't let go

Well who am I?
A cold shoulder used to cry
You feel bad, well so do I
Yeah so do I

I've been right; I've been left
I've been wrong; I've been left behind
I've been up but mostly down

I've been right; I've been left
I've been wrong; I've been left behind
I've been up but mostly down

I make mistakes
Just like everybody else
But instead of letting go of it
I can't forgive myself

Well I did my time
In a windowless box
Like it or not
All I got now is today
Tomorrow ain't here
And yesterday has gone dead on me anyway

I've been right; I've been left
I've been wrong; I've been left behind
I've been up but mostly down

I've been right; I've been left
I've been wrong; I've been left behind
I've been up but mostly down


Lyrics submitted by MF2007, edited by allisonvdb, SJW4216, soulmite3, VenussBlue

New Low song meanings
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26 Comments

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  • +6
    General Comment

    Wow...you are all wrong...I don't usually post but this song, which is the best I've heard in a long time, demands justice. I came here to get other perspectives but yall are lost. The song is about being depressed, about shortcomings, mistakes, and the regret that follows. Some people can't get past their mistakes, while others wake up everyday looking toward tomorrow. The writer lives in the past...but wishes he didn't.
    And the 52 cards thing is...the number of cards in a deck. No matter the card, everytime (all 52), he strikes out.
    He's not in prison, he's not playing solitare, he wishes he could move on from something, like some people do, but he can't.

    ken06on December 12, 2010   Link
  • +5
    General Comment

    Certain that steak should be stake

    Slumdogon November 10, 2010   Link
  • +5
    General Comment

    I found this article....we're all wrong! LOL!

    When asked what the primary inspiration was for “New Low,” Stockham explained it as that feeling of entrapment and inadequacy that can creep into one’s soul when dealing with the monotony of the daily grind:

    “That’s probably how we kind of feel on any given day. A little bit confused. And not to be like we don’t know which size coffee to order at Starbucks, or you don’t even know which coffee place to go to because there’s so many now…Overall, just a little bit confused.”

    “I don’t know, maybe a little bit disappointed in adulthood. You know, maybe we thought it was going to be something else when we were growing up.”

    “You used to play house and stuff when you were younger because you thought it was cool to be an adult. And then you become an adult and you realize it’s not really cool and now you’re pretending to be a baby.”

    Mikem60525on January 17, 2011   Link
  • +2
    My Opinion

    I stumbled across this site and well..everyone is right. Its about depression, its about relationships, struggling in actual middle class, and it could even be about being in prison. Thats the beauty of lyrics and poetry. Its what entire religious writings are based on. The simplicity and depth to touch people in different situations and walks of life in the same way. The ability of an artist to use words literal or as metaphors to make everyone that hears it or reads it feel a specific emotion. What life circumstance we all personally relate this emotion to does not make a bit of difference. the song is just simply about feeling frustrated and feeling like you have lost control.

    lokaidia22on February 26, 2011   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    It's a pretty universal theme which is why it seems so personal to so many people, like he ripped the thoughts right out of my head. For me its the metaphorical prison of anxiety, so many thoughts and memories swirling around in your head its paralyzing. Reliving the mistakes you've made through life, just continuously criticizing yourself and replaying bad memories like a song on repeat that can't be turned off. Looking back at where you were and where you thought you were going and then the inevitable realization that this is it, this is life, this is your life.

    Great song

    erawkon April 16, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    this song is clearly about carson palmer, and why he wants out of cincinnati

    findinghomeron January 25, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think this song might be about a guy who lost his woman for some reason. He made a mistake and can't stop thinking about it. Usually the only time I can't stop thinking about a mistake is when it involves a woman, but that might just be me.

    Brandon77on February 28, 2011   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    I guess I can't argue with anyone here, it's all so true.

    I find it's also for me about having lost a lot, and I mean a lot of everything, love, friends, people in general, even a lot of yourself. It doesn't stop there thought because as much you you've lost, there's something bigger missing, in yourself, that's what's killing you, and causing you all this loss.

    You hear that again and again about being trapped with nowhere to go, that's how it feels when you know the problem is in you but it's more than you can handle to fix, you need someone to help you get through it but the catch 22 is, nobody will stick around to help you through it, no matter how caring they seem.

    'You feel bad? Well so do I' - just getting back to how hard it is when you know you can't keep living this way, you've become so dependent on people, even your happiness has become an outlet in other people that you plug into. It's hard because people feel hurt, but they can't see how hurt you are and what you really need despite what they think is best for you.

    The last line is important too, because that's how you feel every day you live like this. There has to be an end, and I believe this song is about that journey, to self healing, and figuring out how to love yourself, and how to stand tall, and draw in a world of love to you.

    justride13on November 16, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this would have to be one of my favorites...i've been to several of their concerts at The Boardwalk [in Orangevale, CA] (might i mention that this is a two-man band??? =] ) it can have a few different meanings. from the part:

    "I have no space, no room to move around And this box is getting smaller I'm trying to get out

    How did I get so far from where I was? When did I decide to lose my way? Who have I become?"

    i get that it's about someone being under pressure and getting so caught up in it that they lose who they really are. they dont know who they are anymore.

    "I can not help feeling like I have so much at steak So I lock myself inside my head And I just run in place"

    maybe this is the only place they can be free [in their head]

    can't wait to hear this one live again. =]

    butterfleXxXbeeon April 11, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I would have to say that this is one of my favorite songs. In fact, I am actually writing a song about it. I think that the part where he says: "I can not help feeling like I have so much at steak So I lock myself inside my head And I just run in place"

    I think this would mean that though he knows that he has a gambeling problem, part of him wants to try to bottle it up so that he may continue to think that it is not doing any harm, though in reality he is running himself into the ground.

    catlinon April 20, 2009   Link

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