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.
Life is not a spark in space
An episode of Will & Grace
Controversial yet mundane
Debra's messing with your brain
Even scientologists
Know there's more to all of this
Search the ruins for trap doors
Wonder what you're put here for
Simple as a hint of gas
Climbing nostrils as you pass
Making Harvard graduates feel childish when they laugh at it
Climb the rungs to kingdom come
Sour patch to acid tongue
Are you opposed to having fun you clench the world between your bun
You could do better
You could do better
You could be the greatest man in the world (woah!)
You could do better
You could do better
You could be the greatest man in the world (woah!)
Your life is always the post of something else
Where's the present?
The way that you present yourself
And it's disgusting how little that you try
The existential equivalent of pink eye
Drink alone and watch TV
Your'e expecting harmonies
To tap yout tune with silver spoons
The anthem of impending doom
Guiding Satan's steady hand
Forcing Beatles to disband
It's eco-freaks and drama queens
The young at heart know what I mean
You could do better
You could do better
You could be the greatest man in the world (woah!)
You could do better
You could do better
You could be the greatest man in the world (woah!)
You could do better
Better than that
You're a fraud
Thank god you learnt to keep your shirt on
You could do better
You could do better
You could be the greatest man in the world
You burn so brightly
You burn so brightly in the dark
You burn so brightly
You burn so
You burn so
You could do better
You could do better
You could be the greatest man in the world (woah!)
You could do better
You could do better
You could be the greatest man in the world (woah!)
You could do better
Better than that
You're a fraud
Thank god you learnt to keep your shirt on
You could do better
You could do better
You could be the greatest man in the world (woah!)
You could do better
You could do better
You could be the greatest man in the world (woah!)
We could do better
We could do better
We could be the greatest band in the world (woah!)
An episode of Will & Grace
Controversial yet mundane
Debra's messing with your brain
Even scientologists
Know there's more to all of this
Search the ruins for trap doors
Wonder what you're put here for
Simple as a hint of gas
Climbing nostrils as you pass
Making Harvard graduates feel childish when they laugh at it
Climb the rungs to kingdom come
Sour patch to acid tongue
Are you opposed to having fun you clench the world between your bun
You could do better
You could do better
You could be the greatest man in the world (woah!)
You could do better
You could do better
You could be the greatest man in the world (woah!)
Your life is always the post of something else
Where's the present?
The way that you present yourself
And it's disgusting how little that you try
The existential equivalent of pink eye
Drink alone and watch TV
Your'e expecting harmonies
To tap yout tune with silver spoons
The anthem of impending doom
Guiding Satan's steady hand
Forcing Beatles to disband
It's eco-freaks and drama queens
The young at heart know what I mean
You could do better
You could do better
You could be the greatest man in the world (woah!)
You could do better
You could do better
You could be the greatest man in the world (woah!)
You could do better
Better than that
You're a fraud
Thank god you learnt to keep your shirt on
You could do better
You could do better
You could be the greatest man in the world
You burn so brightly
You burn so brightly in the dark
You burn so brightly
You burn so
You burn so
You could do better
You could do better
You could be the greatest man in the world (woah!)
You could do better
You could do better
You could be the greatest man in the world (woah!)
You could do better
Better than that
You're a fraud
Thank god you learnt to keep your shirt on
You could do better
You could do better
You could be the greatest man in the world (woah!)
You could do better
You could do better
You could be the greatest man in the world (woah!)
We could do better
We could do better
We could be the greatest band in the world (woah!)
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according to max himself:
"This is a song I wrote later on in the writing process. It's about the recognition that we live in a flawed society. I wrote the lyrics first. They were a criticism about myself and, like, this really negative song. What I realized when I finally finished the lyrics is that I had overcome a lot of the things that I was making fun of about myself, and that to write a song about those things would be a novelty or sort of typical Say Anything act--to make a negative, self-deprecating song. So my goal was to write a positive, uplifting song, but still have it be very "Say Anything." It's about the ability every human being has to fulfill his or her potential. It doesn't mean we can all be godlike, but we can do better than how we tend to do. Once you realize that, you have a lot more options open to you as a human being."
bah thank you. I immediately thought Max was writing about himself. It's kind of a giveaway when he finishes the song with "we could do better, we could be the greatest band in the world". Best songwriter ever.
thank you for posting this. <br /> and I think Max acheived what he was going for. I think it is uplifting. Its honest thought. He looked at himself honestly, wrote what he saw, and then decided that he could be more. <br /> i aspire for this.
Where's the present in the way you present yourself?
good wordplay.
Ooohhh man I love this song, it's easily the standout song on the new album on the first few listens, to say the least.
I particularly got a kick out of the first verse, and the "Debra's messing with your brain," as Debra Messing is the girl who played Grace in Will and Grace.
Overall just a great, catchy, feel good song, but with a message to present, and it's such an experience to listen to, I can't get enough of it.
well, anyone could get a lot out of this song. it sounds as if someone is talking ot him during the second verse; like a wife or a parent after he went downhill for a while with drinking and stuff.. the first seems to be about his outlook on life maybe.. either way its an amazing song. someday i will marry max bemis :3
Favorite off of the new album. It's witty, clever, and everything I was hoping for when I heard the sound clip.
I agree with what Jason Tate said, it's like their first genuine follow up of Wow, I can get sexual too.
you just broke my heart.
I loved it as soon as I heard it it just flows so ~smooth and it's fun to listen to
This is absolutely incredible. Love it.
it sounds to me like "you clench the world between your buns."
i think it's actually "climb the rungs to kingdom come"
also, i think it's "anthem of impending doom"
fucking amazing song. couldn't help but smile the first time i heard it.