I'm feeling so alone now
They cut the telephone, uh, huh
Yeah, my life is just a mess

I threw it all away now
I could have made a fortune
I lost the craving for success

And as the acrobats, they tumble
And so the corn begins to crumble
While in the mirror
She admires a brand new dress

Live on the second floor now
They're trying to bust the door down
Soon I'll have a new address

So much for liberation
They'll have a celebration
Yeah, I've been under too much stress

And as the clouds begin to rumble
So the juggler makes his fumble
And the sun upon my wall is getting less

Don't, give a damn
Fight, while you can
Kill, shoot 'em up
They'll, they'll run amok
Shout, Judas
Loud, they'll hear us
Soldier, sailor
Who's your jailer?
They'll run for cover when they discover
Everyone's a nervous wreck now

I used to think she was so nimble
I would have bought her as a symbol
But now I can't afford the pen
To sign her checks

I Don't give a damn
Fight, while you can
Kill, shoot 'em up
They'll, yeah, they'll run amok
Shout, Judas
Loud, they'll hear us
Soldier, sailor
Who's your jailer?
They'll run for cover when they discover
Everyone's a nervous wreck now

Life's just a bummer, they got your number
Well, give as good as we get now
Rise from the gutter, stick with each other
We'll drive 'em over the edge now
They're gonna bleed, that's what they need
We'll get together and blow their cover
We're ready (yeah, we're ready)
Yeah, we're ready (yeah, we're ready)
Yeah, we're ready, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (yeah, we're ready)
Oh, we're ready, ready (yeah, we're ready)
Ah, we're ready, yeah (yeah, we're ready)

(Yeah, we're ready)
(Yeah, we're ready)
(Yeah, we're ready)
(Yeah, we're ready)
(Yeah, we're ready)
(Yeah, we're ready now)
(Yeah, we're ready)
(Yeah, we're ready)
(Yeah, we're ready now)
(Yeah, we're ready)
(Yeah, we're ready)
(Yeah, we're ready)
(Yeah, we're ready)
(Yeah, we're ready)
(Yeah, we're ready)
(Yeah, we're ready now)


Lyrics submitted by Jenkins, edited by stickshaka

Just Another Nervous Wreck Lyrics as written by Roger Hodgson Richard Davies

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Just Another Nervous Wreck song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

8 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +4
    General Comment

    This song establishes Davies as the driving force behind Supertramp to me. The quirky piano, nice 70's style solo, and anthemic chorus work together great. I could go on praising this song forever... I have to agree with previous posters about the subject of this song being a man going through the rigors of divorce. But I think the song also represents change in general. While the rest of the world is young and alive ("acrobats they tumble") this man and his relationship are growing old ("corn begins to crumble" and "sun upon my wall is getting less"), and his house of cards comes crashing down ("juggler makes his fumble"). But the best part about the song is that through all of this it remains inspirational. And I think thats where the metamorphisis really is. The man sees the change as a blessing in disguise and realises he "Don't give a damn", he's still young enough to "fight while he can". He accepts that he is a nervous wreck but thinks he can manage. Honestly, how much closer can you get to describing the human condition! Also I hear something like "tell me who's your fuckin tailor" after the lines "soilder...sailor". I always thought that was a reference to how "they got your number". This is a pretty abstract song for one with such blunt lyrics peppered throughout, but I guess I better leave some room here for other interpretations.

    mycology101on January 29, 2010   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    Really not sure how someone sees this as a warnign to other artists. I guess we all see life thorugh the filter of our own life.

    My filter shows this as a man who had it made, and his life is crumbling. Both financially and with his divorce. Just take a look at the verses. The first verse showa man alone and out of money. Second shows he was on track for a good life. The third one shows that as his life is crumbling around him, she is out being happy and spending money on a new dress. Stark contrast. Then he moves on to "the second floor". Showign he has sunk so low as to have to live in an apartment, buthe can't pay for it so he's being evicted.

    "So much for liberation" sounds like he thought he could divorce her and live the good life, but now that he screwed her over and his life is crumbling, "they" are laughing at him that he screwed up.

    Then comes the bitterness. The wantign to strike out at someone and and soemthing.

    The key is the "can't afford the pen to sign her checks". At one point he was so shallow that he would pay to have a pretty girl on his arm, and now that he is a broken man he is still paying....while she's out buying new dresses.

    Love the song, but it's comes off as a very violent reaction to a man suffering from loss of money and a bitter divorce.

    rbs5695on March 17, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Once we could make a living out of being an artist. Nowadays, everything involving art became a business. Every artists had to, one time or another, create something they didn't like - but they knew they would make money out of it. One time or another, if the artist creates too much only of the money, he breaks down and has no inspiration. The character in the song is not an artist anymore. He's giving warnings to all young and new artists out there.

    Ex Abruptoon July 09, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I agree with everything Ex Abrupto said about art being a business and what happens to artists who sell out and dumb down for commercial success. But I haven't the first clue how any of that can be inferred from this particular song.

    This song clearly depicts someone who was ambitiously chasing wealth and success...and somewhere, along the way, lost his drive. I really love the line, "in the mirror she admires a brand new dress." This woman is so self-absorbed, spending money on new clothes, how nice she looks in them, and what-not...and doesn't even notice the man in her life is falling apart.

    Since this song appears on the album "Breakfast in America," could the protagonist in this song BE America??? A first-person version of "Child of Vision" perhaps?

    Phx4stringeron January 09, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The lyrics above missed a line: "Soldier, Sailor/ Loser, tailor." Not that it has much to do with the song, the song exemplifies the pros and cons of the Hollywood scene, but mostly on the way it ruins the way people think, especially when they have money. This man is obviously fed up, and the energy of the refrain makes it seem as though he wants to start a revolution. The meaning though is that though Hollywood stars may look amazing and happy, everybody has their own fears and personal battles, and truly that those who neglect those are truly the nervous wrecks

    FanOfFans88on July 05, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I as a former hard drug addict am perhaps projecting my own BS here. But always saw it as a description as how one would feel after they crapped out with meth or crack

    You know the "could have made a fortune" and of course the paranoia that typically comes from using those hard drugs after time.

    Hell, if this song is about that kind of divorce (as others say), the music and lyric perfectly describes the end of my drug career. And I say this despite being the total opposite of one of those curtain/window peaking buzz-kills there!

    Whatever it is about, an awesome keyboard riff like THIS song justifies buying the whole damn A plus album beyond just the massive hits one could buy for a buck a pop off of iTunes or mp3 form (I am an MP3 guy, by the way!)

    GuitarMatton July 24, 2015   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Sure, it's clearly a song about a man who gave his marriage all he had and, now that his marriage is over, is extremely angry about the fact that his wife has proven to be an all too common materialistic bitch. Along with "Child of Vision," this is yet another one of the fantastic "B-Side" songs from the wonderful Breakfast In America album that was sadly overlooked by the out of control rockstar wannabe FM programmers of the 70s and 80s...but what do I know, that could be a good thing, right? In closing, I watched a movie once in which the main character, a man whose woman had left him, identified his hated "second floor" rival neighbor as a "Supertramp fan." Yeah, I'd be pissed too if my girlfriend moved upstairs, but referring to him as a man of great taste just doesn't make any sense!

    KNexus9on August 23, 2023   Link
  • -1
    General Comment

    This song sounds like someone who was on the path to achieving their goals but got sidetracked into a "normal" life where they got married, had kids, and maybe even bought a house. Somehow that marriage turned and now they are getting a divorce. The character is so absorbed with the stress of trying to deal with the divorce and the financial burdens that he can't even begin to focus on trying to pursue his dreams again.

    The end sounds like he is trying to get all men who have been screwed over in a divorce or breakup to join forces and revolt! lol Great tune, one of Tramp's finest.

    drumcomposeron January 19, 2010   Link

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

Album art
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
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.
Album art
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve. The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future. Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere" The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Album art
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Album art
Gentle Hour
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,
Album art
Plastic Bag
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.