Summer's gone, I overslept and woke up to the chill of fall
Overworked, and now I'm all used up
This TV haze, sucks me through
I watch the world from the inside
Overworked, and I'm now I'm all used up

Final drag, fills my lungs and makes me high
They fill up as I bottom out
Steering wheels, watch them driving driving with someplace to go
I'd steer myself but I don't have a route

Working on demand, no ice cream man, beaches filled with sand
While the TV trays, wasted summer days, slowly slippin' away

But you're so little help, when days are slow
And I'm down inside, I'll have to go
You're so little help, when months are slow
And I'm down inside

Summer's gone, I overslept, and woke up to the chill of fall
Overworked, and now I'm all used up
This tv haze, sucks me through
I watch the world from the inside
Overworked and now I'm all used up

Working on demand, no ice cream man, beaches filled with sand
While the tv trays, wasted summer days, slowly slippin' away

But you're so little help, when days are slow
And I'm down inside, I'll have to go
You're so little help, when years are slow
And I'm down inside


Lyrics submitted by heartattack

TV Trays Lyrics as written by Nicholas Harmer Benjamin Gibbard

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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TV Trays song meanings
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10 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment

    this song makes me feel back to those days in the summer when you just sit around and chill.... and you want to get out and do something.. you just can't

    NeoPorthoson November 19, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    the opening line of this song is awesome. really makes you feel that seasonal transition. reminds me of the first day back to school in september, in that mental change of seasons.

    c0mpanycallson December 14, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    should be

    "you're so little help" not "you're so little, hell"

    Mopnuggeton December 17, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    (more) accurate lyrics:

    I try to scrape it off the thought of skin against skin and move it from the front to back and start it, go again but the depression and time breed and multiply and I've got more mouths to feed than I could ever it in this auto you go have a good time bring back stories 'cause I will stay behind

    so punch the clock, two months are up, and I am stuck down against the floor the heat rises out and leaves town as the depression and time breed and multiply 'til i've got more mouths to feed than I could ever fit in this auto you go have a good time bring back stories 'cause I will stay behind

    thats the story of a boy who tried to play it cool but found it hard to keep it up when you were changing rules and the depression and time breed and multiply 'til I've got more mouths to feed than I could ever fit in this auto you go have a good time bring back stories 'cause I will stay behind.

    raydeeyohedon January 23, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    ^^oops, wrong one...

    summer's gone, i overslept and woke up to the chill of fall overworked, and now i'm all used up this tv haze, sucks me through i watch the world from the inside overworked, and i'm now i'm all used up

    final drag, fills my lungs and makes me high they fill up as i bottom out steering wheels, watch them driving driving with someplace to go i'd steer myself but i don't have a route

    working on demand, no ice cream man, beaches filled with sand while the tv trays, wasted summer days, slowly slippin' away

    but you're so little help, when days are slow and i'm down inside, i'll have to go you're so little help, when months are slow and i'm down inside

    summer's gone, i overslept, and woke up to the chill of fall overworked, and now i'm all used up this tv haze, sucks me through i watch the world from the inside overworked and now i'm all used up

    working on demand, no ice cream man, beaches filled with sand while the tv trays, wasted summer days, slowly slippin' away

    but you're so little help, when days are slow and i'm down inside, i'll have to go you're so little help, when years are slow and i'm down inside

    raydeeyohedon January 23, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song is a lot more pop than any other death cab song. this is why i can't stop listening to it.

    OMFGYourSoIndieon August 25, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think this song is talking about someone who worked all summer, living on the bare minimums, without "beaches filled with sand". They live off TV trays; perhaps it's a job over college. It's basically saying "Don't waste your life working for nothing."

    darksys92on June 01, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Heh, today is my last day of summer vacation, and I am listening to this song.. I agree the opening line.. really describes summer.. In my personal meaning, it's just summer went by so fast.. sigh.. and working a job consuming most of the time of the summer you could have been spending having fun.. So everything is hazy.. just work during summer, eating out of TV trays, not being able to afford anything else, and going right back to school.

    InuShadowon August 05, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love this song because I can completely relate...sometimes I feel like my soul is being sucked dry working for the man..."overworked and now I'm all used up" I feel that the entire song is about wanting more out of life than just a 9-5 job that most of us have...

    dlang103on February 12, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    love love love. such an wonderful end-of-summer song.

    lexiedarlingon January 30, 2010   Link

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