Live-in Skin

To me, it's pretty obvious what this song is about. It's a song about being yourself, even if being yourself means being a little cynical and different.

The verses tell of Dave shedding the things that distracted himself from being the real him. The chorus is Dave saying that he's surprised that he's still able to go on with all of the things life has thrown at him and maybe that's where the cynicism of this new skin comes from. He demands that we all blend in and stop being so fake.

The last part of the song that starts with 'turn your insides out to the outside' is what made it so concrete for me. Switch the person you are inside of you that you might hide from others for the person you give to people, the outside person that doesn't offend or cause any waves. Trade your inside out for the outside, turn your insides out to the outside, etc., etc.

Also, the live-in skin is the skin where you're yourself and you can't change back for anyone, you won't change back for anyone, you're a live-in skin that's new.

And, of course, when I say Dave, I don't mean him in particular, I mean the narrator he's writing for, if that be him or if it was just an idea.

I always thaught he was saying I'm a Mountain

I know that there was a lot of incorrect speculation that every song Dave wrote was about Nirvana or Kurt's death, but I am wondering if this song is about the transition from Nirvana to the Foos. Take your payroll and lottery, could refer to the fact that Dave worked hard for his money from Nirvana, but it was also a matter of luck that he was in a successful band like Nirvana, the robbery was Kurt's death and so he takes the money from Nirvana and Starts the Foos, but doesn't want to ride on the back of Nirvana's success, I swear I'll never tell. Head on with my hate, Dave hated all the constant referrals to Nirvana and the accusations that he had no right to be writing and playing after Kurt's Death, into the lights ahead, stage lights. I amazed that I'm still standing and demand we all blend in. Dave is amazed he has a chance to continue doing what he loves and wants the Foo fighters to be recognized as a Band.

This is a killer song even. if I got it wrong

why has no one put that this song is fucking great? this song is fucking great. ah now someone has

kid A i always thought that too...made it seem like that last nirvana song 'on the mountain' (original name for 'you know you're right')

really great song tho, and i have no idea what it means, other than something about some big money-making scheme.

amounted can be used to mean equality or equivalency. When he says "I'm amounted", he's saying that people should not have to fit a mold, who they are is enough. Some people conform through hard work (payroll) and some just naturally fit the mold (lottery). I think he's just trying to say that there's another way to live. Its a cry against materialism and superficiality.

In my opinion, this song is about how conformist and greedy the world is. hence the Lottery line. How, unless you don't conform, "We'll all make out so well". He's made it all the way without conforming and he's "Amazed that he's still standing". But the line that sums this song up altogether is "Turn the outside in for the inside".

i think the chorus is being sarcastic about gritting your teeth and blending in

Oh, I'm amounted, All Dave's experience from Nirvana and his musical experience have amounted to where he is at in the the Foo Fighters.

I absolutely adore this song!