What have you been doing lately?
Your life could use improving greatly.
I just wanted to know what's going on, but everything that goes is going wrong.
What have you been doing lately?
Your life could use improving greatly.
I just wanted to know what's going on, but everything that goes is going wrong.
When I saw Justin he said he was just in visiting on spring break.
I said "What a surprise. You're one of those guys I haven't seen since 1998."
We talked for a while, and I tried to smile as he told me about his college life.
He parties Fridays through Thursdays (but not for birthdays).
He's acquired a taste for Miller Lite.
Pardon me while I throw up.
I guess some people never grow up.
What happened to the salvation you claimed?
It breaks my heart to see how much you've changed.
It breaks my heart to see how much you've changed.
And then there's Vanessa.
Her life got so messed up.
She just can't get along.
Her emotions they can't cope, 'cause she's lost all hope.
She can't see right from wrong.
Rationality left her (or shrunk with her sweater).
She's a fanatic.
She's over the edge.
She needs lemon Pledge to clear those cobwebs from her attic.


Lyrics submitted by ThreeMilesDown

What Have You Been Doing Lately? Lyrics as written by Matthew Arnold Thiessen

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing

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What Have You Been Doing Lately? song meanings
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17 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    Cowboytiger, I think that you are also partially wrong. While I do think that this song is about how people can be distracted and turn away from God, it happens (generally) BECAUSE of peer pressure! If you surround yourself with the worng people, you can become just like them!

    spamguyon October 06, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Kletus: lol, If you are just pretending to be that blatantly stupid as a joke then its pretty funny. If you truly are that idiotic... then lol.

    I'm not even a christian or anything.. just think you sound pretty stupid.

    Inviltriston July 06, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I thin kthis song is about how friends can change when you go off to college. Ones that used to be clean started getting into stupid things like drinking and stuff.

    Emericanskateron June 16, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i love this song, it's exactly how i think, because i am so scared for some of my friends who are christians, but are very easily swayed, that this is going to happen to them. because you know how college is, party, party, party and there are a LOT of people that are very strong christians in high school, then go to college and turn away from God, sometimes forever.

    malli321on July 03, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Yea I believe they turn away because they have too much freedom and don't knwo waht to do. Plus they have gone to church their whole life and may be getting bored of it.

    Emericanskateron July 19, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    its not just about how people change goin off 2 college, its about how they change throughout their lives and are often influenced by peer precure. They start 2 drink or become kinda slutty...etc. and how it saddens them 2 see how easily their friends were changed and how they didnt stand up for their beliefes.

    RKfoolon July 22, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    we can't make anyone hold to their values, but fellowship is so important in strengthening one another. we should be there for our friends when they're struggling. so, besides the moral of this story, i think this song has some really interesting bits of songwriting, like "parties friday through thursdays (but not for birthdays)" and "shrunk with her sweater" both of those lines reveal so much about each person's predicament.

    BtownMeggyon July 27, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Most of you are wrong. About how peer presure can change people? No its about how people distracted from our lord and savior, and turn away from god. Matthew is asking whut happened to ur life for god? its now a life for posessions. Lets remember, relient k is a christian band.

    Cowboytigeron July 30, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    And btown, ur wrong. Its not about being there! It seems like the people matthew runs into werent really close friends. So hes just asking, i thought u were living your life for god?

    Cowboytigeron July 30, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love all of Relient K's songs... but I really like this one, because it's telling the listeners how much you can be affected by this world. In the song, Justin (a professing Christian) drinks beer every weekend. Vanessa's life is messed up. And it's all because of the temptations that Satan has put in our paths. We must choose to kick his boulders, that he places in our way, out of our way. And we must keep our focus... our goals... on Jesus Christ.

    Peige42on August 19, 2002   Link

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