show me the sidestreets in your life
train yards like boneyards sharpened knives
sidewalks are unassuming fields
concrete and cracks won't cut you deals
lost teeth like white jewels of some kind
petty theft for penny crimes
and we yell
ahh like a good old fashion nightmare

riding trains to the end of lines
still we've got nothin but time
the skyline looks brighter tonight
lets go smash out every light
your left foot in front of right
and we yell
ahh like a good old fashion nightmare



Lyrics submitted by cartoon violence

Track duration: 03:28


Good Ol' Fashion Nightmare song meanings
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10 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment:...Still we've got nothin but time. Awesome song. You could take it as understanding that your background can tell a lot about you, and you shouldn't be ashamed of it. Embrace it and be proud of it, no matter what you had or didn't have. It's very upbeat.
    Flag legslikelittlespiderson January 11, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:At a concert I went to Matt said it was inspired by when Kim used to be a nanny in Brooklyn. Not sure how it translates, but fun fact!
    Flag kelleygon June 27, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:It's just about accepting the good in bad in people and in life.
    Flag allyfalcon42on February 03, 2010   Link
  • -2
    General Comment:This song rox! I love matt AND kim.
    I love them like a "Good Ol' Fashion
    Nightmare".Kudos if you saw that comin'.hahaha
    =P
    Flag Udahoon October 13, 2009   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:I second rioking94. I think it is about learning everything about someone and their past, but looking forward to see who they are and appreciate them and their past "nightmares".
    A lot of this interpretation is founded in the part where he says "Show me the side streets in your life" which means he's looking into all of the little intricacies of a person and admiring every part, much the same way you don't "know" a city until you have seen many of the side streets. Normally, I wouldn't put so much emphasis on a single line, but it's stated without music, increasing the emphasis on the lyric.

    He then goes on to discuss a lot of negative imagery, "train yards like boneyards sharpened knives" and how those are the previous situations and nightmares of the past.
    The sidewalk imagery represents moving along a journey to either know someone or to be who you are. I think it's more about knowing who someone is. The sidewalk is "unassuming" because most people don't ever boast about their past nightmares; they usually try to hide them. "Concrete and cracks won't cut you deals" is more or less talking about the person's past and how their "sidewalk" was harsh and didn't ever cut them any slack.
    The next lyric pretty much solidifies this whole reasoning for me. "Lost teeth like white jewels of some kind" means that even though this person has had many "good ol' fashion nightmares", these nightmares (lost teeth) have become a sort of jewel for them internally. They use these past horrors to drive them to be who they are.

    The second part of the song is all about the person listening simply accepting them for who they are and appreciating their past troubles. The train imagery is meant to represent the journey of this relationship that's being built... Because the listener appreciates the speaker's past pain, they will likely have a stronger relationship (still we got nothin' but time).
    "The skyline looks brighter tonight, Let's go smash out every light, Your left foot in front of right" comes to describe how they eventually begin to share the same experiences. It's the listener "picking up" and pushing the speaker to be who they are, regardless of their past.

    Agree/Disagree?
    Absolutely love the song.
    Flag imjeffwitcheron September 08, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think it's about learning everything about a person. Even the bad parts.
    Flag rioking94on July 15, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this is probably my favorite song on this album too.


    i think it's just about nightmares. i guess.
    Flag porklulzon July 09, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:My favorite off their new album.
    Flag Llij27on June 12, 2009   Link
  • 0
    My Opinion:"Show me the side streets in your life"

    They're seriously brilliant. My love for them expands every day.
    Flag coldsunburnon May 17, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I have no idea what this song means but I love the sound. Very original.
    Flag bostonrocketon May 16, 2009   Link

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