You Get What You Give

New Radicals

1, 2,
1, 2, 3!

Wake up kids
We've got the dreamers disease
Age 14 we got you down on your knees
So polite, you're busy still saying please
Frenemies, who when you're down ain't your friend
Every night we smash their Mercedes-Benz
First we run,and then we laugh 'til we cry

But when the night is falling
You cannot find the light
You feel your dreams are dying
Hold tight

You've got the music in you
Don't let go
You've got the music in you
One dance left
This world is gonna pull through
Don't give up
You've got a reason to live
Can't forget
We only get what we give

I'm comin' home baby
You're tops,
Give it to me now

Four a.m. we ran a miracle mile
We're flat broke,
But hey we do it in style
The bad rich
God's flying in for your trial

But when the night is falling
You cannot find a friend (friend)
You feel your tree is breaking
Just then

You've got the music in you
Don't let go
You've got the music in you
One dance left
This world is gonna pull through
Don't give up
You've got a reason to live
Can't forget
We only get what we give

This whole damn world, could fall apart
You'll be ok, follow your heart
You're in harms way, I'm right behind
Now say you're mine

You've got the music in you
Don't let go
You've got the music in you
One dance left
This world is gonna pull through
Don't give up
You've got a reason to live
Can't forget
We only get what we give

Don't let go
I feel the music in you
Don't let go
Fly high
What's real, can't die
You only get what you give
You are gonna get what you give
Don't give up
Just don't be afraid to leave
Health insurance rip off lying FDA big bankers buying
Fake computer crashes dining
Cloning while they're multiplying
Fashion shoots with Beck and Hanson
Courtney Love, and Marilyn Manson
You're all fakes
Run to your mansions
Come around
We'll kick your ass in
Don't let go
One dance left
Don't give up
Can't forget


Lyrics submitted by Novartza, edited by SunsetCake

You Get What You Give song meanings
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54 Comments

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  • +15
    General Comment

    When I first heard and fell in love with this song, I was fourteen. And guess what, I also have the dreamer's disease (I kid you not).

    I hadn't heard this song in years, and when they played once again on the radio, I remembered why it's my favorite tune. This song is about perseverance, self-belief, optimism, staying true to yourself, going for your dreams, enjoying your life, not caring what people think and believing that if you give you will be rewarded.

    This song will always life your spirits up. Thank you Gregg Alexander and New Radicals for such a masterpiece!

    Hitman316on May 04, 2012   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    This song is just about sticking to yourself. Not giving up. Sometimes life sucks, but don't worry there will be something better down the road. Also, how many of us have had "frienemies"?! We've all had at least one. This guy is just saying that somewhere, there's a calling, there's a reason why we're all here. Such a shame that this group isn't around anymore. This actually is the last song that came out that Joni Mitchell was a fan of!

    TasChiBandGirlon March 04, 2003   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    New Radicals... a bit more poppy than anything else I listen to, but God, I love this band. And this song... holy shit. This song IS MY LIFE. I've got the dreamers disease, I have my crazy moments, I live by music, and I've had thousands of conversations with my friends about being "flat broke". This is a song every single person should listen to, because I have a feeling it's not just my life... it's the life of every single fucking human being out there. And that's what makes it so great.

    SpineofaJellyFishon January 03, 2005   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    XX Sunshine,

    I battled depression for a couple of years. And you're right--we've all got a reason to live and we should never forget that.

    SusanBassPlayeron May 18, 2011   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    This is a major feel good song, and you can't help but blast it up on those bad bad days!

    Lilakon August 01, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    this song is just so inspirational -- who can feel bad while listening to it! The front man and creative force for this band is Gregg Alexander from Grosse Pointe, Michigan (my own home state). Grosse Pointe is quite a rich area (probably why they added the "e" on the end of Gross and Point!). From what I have read however, Gregg was from your average middle class family and thus the references to 'smash your Mercedes Benz" "frienemies who when you're down ain't your friend" and "The bad rich -- God's flying in for your trial". The liner notes have some other unsung lyrics which are really interesting and further explain his political beliefs. I love the part best where he says:

    This whole damn world can fall apart You'll be okay follow your heart You're in harm's way I'm right behind Now say you're mine

    It kind of turns it more into a love song for a time.

    Another great part it where he calls Beck, Hanson, Courtney Love, and Marilyn Manson fakes and sell-outs, "run to your mansions" Beck isn't too bad musically, Hanson is certainly ok for pre-teen girls. However watching Marilyn Manson just creeps me out too much! And Courtney Love, I am sorry, that's just not music. She is a good screamer yeah, but so am I! Should I dress slutty, and right the coattails of some dead guy, scream my guts out and call it talent? It's like the emperor's new clothes or something - wake up people IT'S NOT MUSIC!

    Anyway back to the song I find it suck an upper! Too bad they disbanded. Gregg Alexander is now more into the production side of music. Maybe he was getting too rich and didn't want to sell out. Maybe it scared him having such a monster good song! Who knows! Anyway, too bad for all of us not to be able to look forward to any new stuff coming from that guy!

    Also, I just want to say MICHIGAN ROCKS!

    zengirl41on September 11, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Thanks to Theo Hutchcraft, Im now obsessed with this song. I love it!

    SashaPandaon January 01, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This is just a perty song. It's about being young and having a good time. It is also about not giving up and going for your goals.

    MrBlonde500on April 11, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love this song... methinks it*s a real shame that they are a "one hit wonder" ((not that that matters)) but that the split because of that! grr.

    JustWatchThFireworkson July 08, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love this song. It's really cool.

    sugarlover28on July 18, 2002   Link

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