I know you want me to be that type of dude
And I want to be who you’d like me to
But we both know, I can’t do nothin’ at all
You say there’s no use in walkin’ out
And I say there’s just what I’m talkin’ ‘bout
‘Cause we both know I can’t do nothin’ at all


We do our thing, son
Some will spend a lifetime trying to find a reason
We do our thing, son
War takes prisoners and I aint trynna be one
We do our thing
No apologies, no complaints and no refunds
It’s mad work to be done


They may say I’m just a dreamer
Well at least I’m thinkin’ while I’m sleepin’
‘Cause the last thing I can do is nothin’ at all
They may say we’ll never win against ‘em
I say fuck you and your cynicism
As for me, I can’t do nothin’ at all


My past plagued by a plethora of regrets
In my agonist age I’m a questioner of precepts
If we left the staff in place to blaze the path then, uh
The shackles stay and bind the sequitur to each step
The chain, boss, be an irritant to contact
I’m trained not to be a militant of combat
Upon that, frame the shot – pop and aim
Sayin’ the game’s soft be the will of him who want that
“YO” said to be the idiom of paltry
Yeah, the broke fed upon the brilliance of bawdry
Lauded be, see folks spread – ahead go now
The quote read by the billions, so pardon me
The tag “sham” is but a negligent critique
While some had a chance others fester in the disease
The kid needs to pack the jam, man I get at y’all
Goddamn he’s pressin’ it, best believe


You can call me anything you’d like
And I will call you when it’s time to strike
‘Cause we both know I can’t do nothin’ at all
We may not be in agreement now
But we have got to try and work it out
‘Cause we both know we can’t do nothin’ at all


We do our thing, son
Long as you do yours, land here become fecund
We do our thing, son
Through the act we attract two, hope to reach one
We do our thing
Some’ll paint a piece, some’ll spray with a machine gun
It’s mad work to be done


Lyrics submitted by mattofwashington

Nothin' At All song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

1 Comment

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment

    Feel good song. "They, may, say, we'll never win against them, I, say, fuck you and your cynicism!"

    Word.

    Horroron October 11, 2011   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
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines: "Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet" So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other: "I had all and then most of you" Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart "Some and now none of you" Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship. This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
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
When We Were Young
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Album art
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Album art
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.