This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Chill
Light on my side as my ego becomes
A funky child with some words on my tongue
Be like intake of breath and my mouth gets loose
So while I scatter my spit, I dream of juice
Have you ever made out in dark hallways?
Displayed a kiss that made your day?
Or, say, play a track from your record collection
It's your mix, congratulations
We changed a lot and then some, some
Know that we have always been down, down
If I ever didn't thank you, you
Then just let me do it now (come back in)
I bet you light up when we start the show
Follow me now, very close because I told you so
You know we glow because we throw sun rays
Yeah, we be freaky and we wanna stay, uh
We changed a lot and then some, some
Know that we have always been down, down
If I ever didn't thank you, you
Then just let me do it now
Lightning strikes, yo, we be in that violent force of light
Guaranteed to turn it out as bad as Dolemite
Because we're dope, kid, change like a chameleon
And the channel whenever the whack show "Real World" is on
You know we dazzle like ghetto box boomin' battles
Rattle inside your head, feel redeemed like cola bottles
Fall in love with your teachers, on the wax we are self made
Check the technique, 311 in L.A.
Changed a lot and then some, some
Know that we have always been down, down
If I ever didn't thank you, you
Then just let me do it now
Keep my feet on the ground
Keep my head in the clouds
Electrified by the sound
It comes from the down, and
We changed a lot and then some, some
Know that we have always been down, down
If I ever didn't thank you, you
Then just let me do it now
Light on my side as my ego becomes
A funky child with some words on my tongue
Be like intake of breath and my mouth gets loose
So while I scatter my spit, I dream of juice
Have you ever made out in dark hallways?
Displayed a kiss that made your day?
Or, say, play a track from your record collection
It's your mix, congratulations
We changed a lot and then some, some
Know that we have always been down, down
If I ever didn't thank you, you
Then just let me do it now (come back in)
I bet you light up when we start the show
Follow me now, very close because I told you so
You know we glow because we throw sun rays
Yeah, we be freaky and we wanna stay, uh
We changed a lot and then some, some
Know that we have always been down, down
If I ever didn't thank you, you
Then just let me do it now
Lightning strikes, yo, we be in that violent force of light
Guaranteed to turn it out as bad as Dolemite
Because we're dope, kid, change like a chameleon
And the channel whenever the whack show "Real World" is on
You know we dazzle like ghetto box boomin' battles
Rattle inside your head, feel redeemed like cola bottles
Fall in love with your teachers, on the wax we are self made
Check the technique, 311 in L.A.
Changed a lot and then some, some
Know that we have always been down, down
If I ever didn't thank you, you
Then just let me do it now
Keep my feet on the ground
Keep my head in the clouds
Electrified by the sound
It comes from the down, and
We changed a lot and then some, some
Know that we have always been down, down
If I ever didn't thank you, you
Then just let me do it now
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!
More Featured Meanings
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
I think everyone has positive intentions in their interpretations... but many are thinking to hard. I recently saw on TV and this guy talking about spirituality and one thing he was talking about was "The down". The part keep my head on the ground keep my head in the clouds hes saying you can be down to earth and still get high, it doesn't make you a moron. Then he says "comes from the down" and if you watch the music video they're meditating (which i do often) with that huge sumo looking guy. So i believe hes saying most nuances come from the down, which may be a deep state of meditation. I wish i could see that spirituality show again to listen more about "the down". With that said, the comments about fans being down is all legitimate, oh and also on the transitor CD cover those metal things are dudes sitting in a meditative position. Something to think about i guess. Stay positive
This was the very first song that got me hooked. This song i think, is one of there best. its one of my favorite rock alternative song, and 311 needs to be played a lot more on the radio!!
this song is 311 thanking all there loyal fans
get down with tha 311 style cuz they rock it, and they thank u.
they're basically thanking the fans that have been true and stayed with them throughout their career.
It's definitely a song for the fans. Nothing compares to hearing this song live...
i agree with all of you. great song, great band, if you've never seen them live you really have no idea what 311 is all about.
well bwebb, presonallyl, i dont think 311 needs to be played on the radio anmore than what they already are, because they already have a HUGE AND SOLID fanbase... "Friendly to the radio, all the shit is corn" they just dotn belong on hte radio...so just pop in the cd and let it play...:):)
I disagree, ate_16am. I think 311 should get as much radio play as they can. With all the negativity in music these days, I think it'd be great for as many people to hear them as possible. Radio play isn't gonna change my opinion of them..and I dont think it'll change the opinions of any other hardcore 311 fans. 311 definitely deserve the attention.
BAH! how dare u disagree! lol j/k...but what i meant, is that 311 has such a fanbase that they can get more fans grassroots style. BUT if we are talking about radio in general and the type of music on the radio, 311 should definately be played more to help "dilute the system"