Some boys are filling, some boys are filling the hole
They're making the killing at the top of the billings
Their role, and that's all that they know
But some boys don't listen, some boys don't listen at all
They don't ask for permission, they lack inhibitions
No walls, and they get what they want

But some boys don't know how to love

Some boys are singing, some boys are singing the blues
Joylessly flinging with the girls that they're bringing to their rooms
And then leave them, they're through
Some boys are sleeping, some boys are sleeping alone
'Cause there's no one that's keeping them warm through the evening
They know that they're on their own

'Cause some boys don't know how to love

Some boys are filling, some boys are filling the hole
Some boys are sleeping, some boys are sleeping alone

Some boys don't know how to love
No, some boys don't know how to love
No, some boys don't know how to love
No, some boys don't know how to love

They won't get what they want


Lyrics submitted by TDDx8

Some Boys Lyrics as written by Benjamin Gibbard

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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Some Boys song meanings
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  • +5
    General Comment

    ^ I don't think that's quite it. You may be on the right track, but using the wrong evidence.

    I actually thought that this was about two different spectrums of boys (the good and the bad/those who get what they want, and those who don't), but I think it's actually four.

    The first set of boys is on the first verse:

    "Some boys are filling Some boys are filling the hole They're making a killing at the top of the billing It's their role and that's all that they know"

    These are the winners. They're filling the holes, or the emptiness in their lives with someone else. Making a killing at the top of the billing refers to being the lead in a play (the billing are those playbooks you get when you see a play that tells you about the show and it's actors). So he's a winner all around, and that's all he knows as a winner. These guys get love.

    Second verse is another set of boys:

    "But some boys don't listen Some boys don't listen at all They don't ask for permission They lack inhibitions No walls and they get what they want"

    These boys are exactly what they sound like. Reckless, confident, the outlaws, and they get what they want because they are so determined and ambitious to do so. Of course these boys are winners too, but we're getting close to the bad side. These guys get love

    Third set of boys:

    "Some boys are singing Some boys are singing the blues Joylessly flinging With the girls that they're bringing To their rooms Then leave when they're through"

    These guys are sad, but they're sort of evil too. They sleep with women constantly, and one-night stands with that. The women come and go, and since they're "joylessly flinging" it's more about having "sex" than making passion and love. These guys have no love.

    The last set of boys:

    "Some boys are sleeping some boys are sleeping alone Because there's no one that's keeping Them warm through the evening And they know That they're on their own"

    These guys are the absolute loners. Who knows if they are bad, or if they're good. Maybe their love is just in their fantasies, but they're on their own forever.

    Actually, the "Some boys" that don't know how to love can be the fifth can final set of boys. If you compare the four other boys to the some boys don't know how to love, well who is really the judge of how to love? The fifth set of boys are those who can't show love. The first boys show love through being winners, and being the best at what they do. The second boys get the love whether the one being loved likes it or not. The third boys thinks love is never for one person, and that it shouldn't be focused on just one either. The fourth knows that they'll forever be alone because the way they can show love may not be what others are attracted to, but they at least try to show love in their fantasies. Those boys who don't know how to love, well they're just heartless.

    Effortson May 27, 2011   Link

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