I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
I'll just tell you now
'cause I don't think you know
The things you tried to kill
I found a way to grow
I'll just tell you now
You may have made your mark
But I'm still here today
Knowing who you are
I'll just tell you now
I'll just tell you now
(Don't want to disappoint you)
You're not the City of God
(Or be one to annoy)
You can't strike me down
(But it won't go away now)
From your mountain top
(And here's the reasons why)
I'll just tell you now
(You took my intuition)
You're not the City of God
(My knowledge of the truth)
You can't shoot me down
(The love I had in this world)
From your mountain top
(I gave it all to you)
I'll just tell you now
I want to tell you now...
I'll just tell you now
'cause I don't think you know
The things you tried to kill
I found a way to grow
I'll just tell you now
(You took my intuition)
You're not the City of God
(My knowledge of the truth)
You can't shoot me down
(The love I had in this world)
From your mountain top
(I gave it all to you)
I want to tell you now...
Say this one packs a fight
Just crazy, out of my mind
Say sorry, yeah it's all right
Just give me back what you took that night
I want to tell you now
I say it full out
I want to get up in your face
And tear your thoughts right out
I want to tell you, tell you now
I'm gunna tell you, tell you how
You didn't change my mind
You didn't do a thing
'Cept made me hate myself
And made me fear everything
You thought I'd run and hide
And keep it all inside
How can you see me
And think it's all right?
I want to tell you now...
'cause I don't think you know
The things you tried to kill
I found a way to grow
I'll just tell you now
You may have made your mark
But I'm still here today
Knowing who you are
I'll just tell you now
I'll just tell you now
(Don't want to disappoint you)
You're not the City of God
(Or be one to annoy)
You can't strike me down
(But it won't go away now)
From your mountain top
(And here's the reasons why)
I'll just tell you now
(You took my intuition)
You're not the City of God
(My knowledge of the truth)
You can't shoot me down
(The love I had in this world)
From your mountain top
(I gave it all to you)
I'll just tell you now
I want to tell you now...
I'll just tell you now
'cause I don't think you know
The things you tried to kill
I found a way to grow
I'll just tell you now
(You took my intuition)
You're not the City of God
(My knowledge of the truth)
You can't shoot me down
(The love I had in this world)
From your mountain top
(I gave it all to you)
I want to tell you now...
Say this one packs a fight
Just crazy, out of my mind
Say sorry, yeah it's all right
Just give me back what you took that night
I want to tell you now
I say it full out
I want to get up in your face
And tear your thoughts right out
I want to tell you, tell you now
I'm gunna tell you, tell you how
You didn't change my mind
You didn't do a thing
'Cept made me hate myself
And made me fear everything
You thought I'd run and hide
And keep it all inside
How can you see me
And think it's all right?
I want to tell you 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
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
I love the more punk Le Tigre songs. man.. this song can make me sob.