Another day I call and never speak
And you would say nothing's changed at all
And I can't feel much hope for anything
If I won't be there to catch you if you fall

[Chorus]
Again
It seems we meet
In the spaces
In between
We always say
It won't be long
But something's always wrong

Another game of putting things aside
As if we'll come back to them sometime
A brace of hope
A pride of innocence
And you would say something has gone wrong

[Chorus: x2]


Lyrics submitted by rabidpenguin, edited by DeaconTint

Something's Always Wrong song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

28 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +7
    General Comment

    Here are the background lyrics (they do fit better when you add these lyrics with the main ones as they are sung

    "Again we fail to meet and mend The spaces safe between intents We say too much and long been gone, Oh but something's always wrong."

    "Again we fail to make amends And wend our way between intents And looking back, not moving on Oh but something's always wrong."

    "Again we fail to meet and mend The spaces safe between intents We say too much, too long been gone Oh but something's always wrong.

    piemericaon August 28, 2008   Link
  • +5
    General Comment

    This song is about a man who is trying to get in between another man/woman relationship. The woman insists he will break up her current relationship, but something is always wrong and it never happens.

    Another day I call and never speak And you would say nothing's changed at all And I can't feel much hope for anything If I won't be there to catch you when you fall

    The nothing's changed at all is the apparent breakup attempt. Nothing has happened. The singer does not feel much hope for a new relationship to begin if he cannot be there for her when she falls (has a falling out in her current relationship).

    Again It seems we meet In the spaces In between

    They meet when the woman's current boyfriend is not around, hence the spaces of time in between.

    We always say It won't take long But something's always wrong

    Both claim to want a new relationship together and she promises it won't take long before she breaks up with her current boyfriend, but something is always wrong and nothing ever happens.

    Another game of putting things aside As if we'll come back to them sometime

    The usual shell game. The woman does not want to break it off with her current boyfriend. Puts aside little situations or problems that should be resolved, but she does not.

    A brace of hope A pride of innocence And you would say something has gone wrong

    Whenever there is a tiny chance... she still can't get it to go through. She either still has strong feelings for her current boyfriend or she is using and abusing the singer.

    ckdamascuson November 21, 2004   Link
  • +4
    General Comment

    To me this is a song about a near impossible relationship. One in which the intent is pure but the feeling non-existant, or not 'right' for lack of a more distinct word.

    "It seems we meet in the spaces in between" says to me that they agree on nothing, "Another day I call and never speak" says that the relationship is uncomfortable.

    It's a perfect song for those relationships that we wish worked but just don't.

    LikwuidIceon April 12, 2004   Link
  • +4
    General Comment

    I have my own interpretation, which came to me yesterday when I heard this song for the first time in a long time and really listened to the lyrics. I have been friends with someone for over 20 years and it's been up and down. She's never available, always busy, her life is full of problems and drama. When she does call me it's to apologize for not calling, not to chat or make plans. Recently I felt like I've had enough and when thinking about it I realized that I think she's unconciously filling her life with people who need help because that makes her feel needed. I'm not part of her daily life because I'm independent and therefore I don't make her feel useful. Then I heard this song and it seemed to be about our friendship. "Another day I call and never speak" - that's me calling and always getting voice mail and not leaving a message. "And you would say nothing's changed at all" - her calling to say we're still friends, wish we could get together yada yada yada "And I can't feel much hope for anything If I won't be there to catch you when you fall" - I'm not part of her daily life so I'm not there to help her with the latest crisis. "Again It seems we meet In the spaces In between We always say It won't take long But something's always wrong" - we seldom talk or see each other, only in between the problems and crisis and time she spends helping all her needy friends. We always say we'll get together soon, but something's always wrong and she never has time for me. I'm glad I'm learning to let go and expect nothing from her. I really like her and I'm sorry her life is a mess but I realize I'll only get hurt. I won't turn her away if she needs me but I won't expect to hear from her either. And from now on, this song will always remind me of the way things are.

    skidmocaon September 23, 2011   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I really love this song, it touches me deeply and I can relate to the lyrics a lot. Unfulfilled promises can sometimes be worse than broken ones.

    closer to myselfon June 21, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Yet another underrated band, Toad the Wet Sprocket. Another great song from them, too. I first heard it in the closing scene of an episode of "Scrubs". The great thing is that they have such a distinct sound that I was sure I knew who it was who was singing it. This song speaks to me and my relationship with my friend. Something IS always wrong between me and her, and we can never quite figure out what it is.

    speed114on May 02, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I am 41 and divorced. My ex-wife is still my best friend. I emailed this song to her about a month after I moved out. Also, I grew up about 30 mlies south of Santa Barbara. Toad is my hometown band and this song meant the world to me.

    MuseTraveleron March 03, 2012   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Is this correct?

    Another day, I call and never speak. And you would say, "Nothing's changed at all." And I can't feel much hope for anything, If I won't be there to catch you if you fall...

    ...again. (again we fail) It seems we meet, (to meet and mend) In the spaces, (the spaces safe) In between. (between intents) Always say, (we say too much) "Won't be long." (and long been gone) No, but something's always wrong.

    Another game of putting things aside, As if we'll come back to them sometime. A brace of hope, A pride of innocence. And you would say, "Something has gone wrong...

    ...again." (again we fail) It seems we meet, (to make amends) In the spaces, (and wend our way) In between. (between intents) We'd always say, (and looking back) "Won't be long." (not moving on) No, but something's always wrong.

    And again, (again we fail) It seems we meet, (to meet and mend) In the spaces, (the spaces safe) In between. (between intents) Always say, (we say too much) "Won't be long." (too long been gone)

    No, but something's always wrong, Something's always wrong, Something's always wrong.

    formeaton October 11, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    i think your wrong about the other boyfriend interpretation. i truly believe it's about a failed relationship because of two different people who want the relationship to work but there is something in it that is missing. they have the hope that things will get better but their problems are always there

    makemybeddon February 27, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    To me this song has always been about how timing can really suck in life and how people push the important things in life aside for things that in the big picture are probably less important. For instance you meet a great girl but your are both in big transition points in your life and you really don't feel like you should be dating so you push it aside.

    bakismakion May 16, 2006   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
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Album art
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Album art
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Album art
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Album art
Magical
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.