Down In Flames

"let us back in your underground" is about the ska scene and now they had made it big and then the ska phase had passed would they still be appreciated.

only 1 comment??? cmon guys, this song is amazing!!! this was one of the songs rbf played in their 5 song encore. this is one of my fav rbf songs. its kinda sad but hopeful. they made music, got popular, but then no one liked em. but they still did something, but now their original fans dont like em anymore b/c they got popular. "we had a chance, made our point and you're not gonna take that away" i love the line that says "pay attention cuz you know you'll have to pay either way" great song w/ so much meaning.

In my opinion, this the best RBF song musically. The lyrics are great too. They're a bit cynical about their future but they still have hope. They're afraid that the ska fad will "go down in flames." Later, when they "blow over", the "main stream" will "cough up another shell", or another fad, and they'll be carried downstream and cease to exist.

I always interpreted this as a stab at the resurgence of ska that took place and seemingly centered all around the Bosstones. RBF had their big deal with Sellout, and it was a nice little nod, then "The Impression That I Get" comes along and BLOWS UP. The world is swinging from the Bosstones sack for a few months, while a ton of other ska bands got left in the dust.

I think its more of a dig at how fads come and go than anything else and how fashion dictates what people listen to far more than the actual music itself.

this song is awesome

I always took this one to be a bitter stab at the 'fans' who liked them before the single Sell Out, and once that they were big and on the radio, they can't possibly be 'cool' enough for you?? I love them, and I get it...

Multiple people have already said stuff like this in the comments, but I will add my thoughts to the meaning of the song as well. Yes, I think it's about how the band got fairly popular with their songs from Turn the Radio Off, but then later the producers, radio and possibly the "fans" ditch them and won't accept their newer stuff. It reminds me of the lyrics in "One Hit Wonderful", another RBF song. They don't love the band, they love that one song they made. He's very cynical about the future of the band, as he feels it's all going to go "down in flames", and once "the main stream coughs up another shell" once the ska fad is over, he feels as if he won't be let back into the "underground".

I really like the beginning lines:

"You don't know me, but here I am in your living room, You don't own me, but you paid and that means alot to you, well, You never listen, but I know that's what you think that you do"

I think what he means by "here I am in your living room" is that it's a song of his playing on someone's stereo, and he feels like people THINK that they know him and are his fans, but again, he is cynical about it and he thinks they're really not, they just want to hear that one song he made.

It's really an amazing song, I love how the music is so upbeat and happy, as if, yes, he's very disappointed in how everything is going to go, but he still wants to make fun songs and he's somewhat hopeful at the same time.

To me, the song can also mean something on a metaphorical level; it could be a relationship you have with someone/some people. People can act like they're your friend, but they just cling onto a certain aspect of you and inside, don't actually care about you. But it's alright, it's okay, it was going to happen anyway... I just absolutely love how the song's lyrics are so cynical and sad, but at the same time, it has this feeling of "it's all going to be fine in the end". One of my favorites.