I remember thinking when I laid upon the floor
all of the lights off and listening to Sharp
I was afraid
I was afraid
but I'm not sure what of
and I would shut my eyes and turn on the tv
to people speaking in a language I can't speak
and I would say, how I would say
that I was being healthy
but no, nobody saw me at all
but they say sometimes you just gotta be alone
and if you can't be happy on your own
then how will you ever be happy with somebody else
think I was dancing when she walked into the room
next thing I know, we're sharing a cab home
I made her laugh
I made her laugh
but I should've left it alone
cause cut to two weeks later and I have to face the facts
when at a party her friend tells me "don't be mad"
'twas a mistake, a small mistake
and I was aware of that
but no, it don't hurt that bad
it's only a scratch
I'm not a train wreck for you
and like they say
sometimes, well you just gotta be alone
and if you can't be happy on your own
then how will you ever be happy with somebody else
I dont know
well she was falling down the stairs, drunk and pathetic
it was so hard not to laugh, I won't ever forget it
I was sitting on the floor, dressed up as batman
flicking people off and making fun of their accents
concluding to myself that I would always be alone
but it was premature, I was only nineteen years old.
but sometimes, well you just gotta be alone
and if you can't be happy on your own
then how will you ever be happy with somebody else...else
but sometimes, well you just gotta be alone
and if you can't be happy on your own
then how will you ever be happy with somebody else
but sometimes, well you just gotta be alone
and if you can't be happy on your own
then how will you ever be happy with somebody else
I don't know


Lyrics submitted by imsoooadragon, edited by tylerdavis0028

Gotta Be Alone song meanings
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    General Comment

    He said at the show last night that it was about masturbation, haha.

    Rainclawon May 17, 2010   Link

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