This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
I wouldn't sell my belt to industry
So they carded me
And they carted me off.
Naked with that belt around my waist
It was my father's once
I still see his face
They carted me off.
But I managed to escape the good gendarme
And I fled through field and farm stripped of natural charm
Naked but that belt I wear so well
Past the pyramids
And the liberty bell
Hey this is something I have to do for myself
I have to for myself.
I ignored the sheep and shepherds on my way
What could their small words say
When they say them that way
Bathed in sweat and feathered as a crow
I laid a beating on the sleet and snow
With my frostbitten toes.
I remained unrecognized in my home town
Beneath my monstrous gown
Of feather and down
But I gathered up and army made of those
Who aimed to shake them
From their repose
We took up weapons
And took off our clothes
So what say you
And all your friends
Meet all of my friends
In the alley with knives
What say you
And all your friends
Step up to my friends
In the alley tonight
So they carded me
And they carted me off.
Naked with that belt around my waist
It was my father's once
I still see his face
They carted me off.
But I managed to escape the good gendarme
And I fled through field and farm stripped of natural charm
Naked but that belt I wear so well
Past the pyramids
And the liberty bell
Hey this is something I have to do for myself
I have to for myself.
I ignored the sheep and shepherds on my way
What could their small words say
When they say them that way
Bathed in sweat and feathered as a crow
I laid a beating on the sleet and snow
With my frostbitten toes.
I remained unrecognized in my home town
Beneath my monstrous gown
Of feather and down
But I gathered up and army made of those
Who aimed to shake them
From their repose
We took up weapons
And took off our clothes
So what say you
And all your friends
Meet all of my friends
In the alley with knives
What say you
And all your friends
Step up to my friends
In the alley tonight
Lyrics submitted by trinket, edited by ModestVillain
Belt Lyrics as written by Max Bemis
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Naked but that belt I wear so well
Best phrase ever!
You're all wrong. This song is OBVIOUSLY about Pootie Tang.
I KNOW!! <br /> everyones getting so deep when its just Pootie Tang.<br /> I wouldnt sell my belt to industry..<br /> it was my father's once, i still see his face..<br /> my gown of feather and down..<br /> its so damn obvious lol
I would like to say one more thing. If you didn't catch it in the unscripted opening then you should of realized it with the open line, "I wouldn't sell my belt to industry..." meaning the music industry and the media in general utilize musicians' mental illnesses to make a couple of bucks. They did it to Jimi Hendrix, Ian Curtis (Joy Division), Kurt Cobain, etc. And Max wouldn't sell himself out to a major label where they would use his mental illness as a ploy to make money. "His lyrics are so talented. His bi-polar swings are expressed in 'Yellowcat (slash) Redcat". Of course it was inevitable because the media wears down and tears apart every and anything they want. It's a shame because having a mental illness isn't a gift..
An amazing song, by an even more amazing band. Say Anything Is A Real Boy is, honestly, the best album I've heard in the last two years of my life, rivaled only by The Mars Volta's De-Loused In The Commatorium.
I'm none to sure what this song is about, but (and keep in mind, I've watched Fight Club three or four times this week) it seems to be an almost anti-capitalist song. I imagine a man, refusing to abide by the system, forced out of society with nothing but that which they can't take away from him- his belt, perhaps a metaphor for the experiences and influences in his life, and all the things he's learned. An outcast from society, he wanders the land alone. In time, he finds that he is not alone. He raises an army. He fights back, ending in a rousing challenge, perhaps to everyone listening. "What say you/ and all your friends/step up to my friends/ in the alley tonight"
I don't know, I could be wrong, but either way it's a great song. The above is just this reporters opinion.
I love the acoustic version, especially when he freaks out at the end.
I love this song especially the end. I think this song is just about rebellion, since he kinda says that at the beginning of the song the whole intro. I love Say Anything, you really can't appreciate them until you see them live, they're amazing. At the end of this song, when I saw them, John Nolan and Jesse Lacey and John's girlfriend came on stage to sing. It was awesome.
I don't quite understand what's happening. The references to feathers and down may symbolize freedom. he's naked because he has no shame/nothing to hide. he and his friends are fighting the norms and steroetypes. Something like that sounds right.
I don't quite understand what's happening. The references to feathers and down may symbolize freedom. he's naked because he has no shame/nothing to hide. he and his friends are fighting the norms and steroetypes. Something like that sounds right.
okay well i read that labels have been trying to sign max bemis (lead singer of say anything) since he was in 8th grade. to me, his refusing to sell his "belt" to industry is him refusing to sell out and do the type of music that they wanted him to do. instead he took the long rode and made his own band and recorded his own album the way that he wanted to. he recorded almost all of "is a real boy" by himself except for the drum tracks. so i guess the weapons and friends part is about him and his band showing the industry that he can make it on their own. thats what i take at least.
the last part is like west side story.
So what say you And all your friends Meet all of my friends In the alley with knives