They say that we ain't got the style
We ain't got the class
We ain't got the tunes that's goin to put us on the map
And I'm a phony in disguise
Trying to make the radio
I'm an anti-social anarchist, I sound like so and so
They say I'm just a stupid kid
Another crazy radical
Rock and roll is dead I probably should've stayed in school
Another Generation X who somehow slipped up through the cracks
Oh they'd love to see me fall but I'm already on my back

And it goes in one ear
And right out the other
People talkin' shit but you know I never bother
I goes in one ear
And right out the other
People talkin' shit
They can kiss the back of my hand

Now I know I'm not a saint
I been a sinner all my life
I ain't tryin to hide me flaws
I'd rather keep them in the light
They wanna criticize, scrutinize
Cast another stone
Burn me at the stake and sit and watch it from their throne
They say the devil is my pal
I do a lotta drugs
The crowd will only like me if they're really fuckin' drunk
They think they know my thoughts
But they don't know the least
If they listened to the words they'd find the message tucked beneath

But it goes in one ear
And right out the other
People talkin shit even though they never bother
It goes in one ear
And right out the other
People talkin' shit, they can kiss the back of my hand

(You hear that)
(You hear what's coming? Oh you better run for the hills)
('Cause we're coming to your town, and we're gonna burn that mother fucker down)

Here's the moral to the story
We don't do it for the glory
We don't do it for the money
We don't do it for the fame
So all the critics who despise us, go ahead and criticize us
It's your tyranny that drives us, adds the fire to our flames

And it goes
In one ear
And right out the other
People talkin' shit but you know we'll never bother
It goes in one ear
And right out the other
I'm only playing music 'cause you know I fucking love it
It goes in one ear
And right out the other
People talkin' shit but you know we'll never bother
It goes in one ear, and right out the other
People talkin' shit well you know they can kiss the back of my hand


Lyrics submitted by Spitpimp

In One Ear Lyrics as written by Donald Bradley Shultz Matthew Ray Shultz

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, 4U2ASKY ENTERTAINMENT INC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

In One Ear song meanings
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28 Comments

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  • +6
    General Comment

    This song has a pretty straight forward meaning. Which is people saying that they can't make it or do anything when they haven't even give them a chance. They also make it clear that they're in it for themselves and not for anyone or anything else. Class song!

    kurt_lives_onon June 25, 2008   Link
  • +3
    Lyric Correction
    • I ain't tryin to hide my flaws, I try to keep them in the light

    I think it's "I'd rather keep them in the light" than try to keep them.

    In any case, this song is so solid. I agree with whoever said Sound > Lyrics.

    allyourproblemson May 04, 2010   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    Its about how they try to change the world and the way people perceive the world by making these deep radical political songs but the fans don't care, they just want to hear good music that they play on the radio or whatevers popular at the time. They just let the political and sociological message go in one ear and right out the other.

    Its also about how their critics criticize their radical political beliefs, by labeling them as anarchists and radicals. But they don't care because they know that they aren't stupid ignorant musicians like alot of punk bands just saying fuck the government, but the critics don't give their intellect enough credit. The critics can make fun of them all they want, but it just goes in one ear and right out the other.

    skins189lbson February 24, 2011   Link
  • +2
    My Interpretation

    To me, it's about the people who only care about how the song sounds, rather than the actual meaning of the lyrics. The line 'but it goes in one ear, and right out the other' means that it's going right over their heads and they don't even bother to interpret it.

    'They say that we ain't got the style, we ain't got the class, We ain't got the tunes that's gonna put us on the map'

    'They think they know my thoughts, but they don't know the least If they'd listen to the words they'd find the message that's beneath'

    Sound > Lyrics

    karma1244on April 14, 2009   Link
  • +2
    Lyric Correction

    its defenitly "they wanna critices, scrutinize, cast another stone" and "burn me at the stake and sit and watch it from the THRONE" i think.. Makes since eitehr way..

    CageTheElephant053105on July 03, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    "i ain't tryin to have no buds, i'd rather keep them in the line"

    sounds to me like "I ain't trying to hide my flaws, I try to keep them in the light"

    Punk_Monkeyon September 28, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    "It's your charity that drives us" - I think it's 'tyranny', not 'charity'... haha, wouldn't make much sense to say the people who are criticising you are giving you charity...

    theryecatcheron August 01, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I'm pretty sure it's "They wanna criticize, scrutinize, cast another stone"

    Great song though.

    Godfathuhon March 29, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think you should spend more time discussing the lyrics than correcting them and saying "This song is awesome!" We all know that, that's why we're looking at the lyrics.

    Anyway, I think the lyrics are really cool. They're basically about not giving a shit what anyone thinks and just doing what you want to do.

    Modestmouse1115on May 31, 2010   Link
  • +1
    My Opinion

    i think this song means i dont give a FK what you have to say. i dont do this for you i do it for me and if you dont like my music i dont give a ST what you have to say

    CtE4lyfon May 06, 2014   Link

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