I've been cheating on you ever since we broke up
I've been dreaming about you ever since I woke up
And my hearing's disappearing ever since you spoke up

I'll devise a plot
To break your heart
Plan a revenge that I'll never carry out
What's wrong with you?
Tell me now, what should I do?

Don't let me down
I couldn't take much more of your love
Don't call me up
I'm so fed up with being down

I asked you to the show but I knew you wouldn't show up
You came to my birthday party just to tell me I should grow up
And I see another girl and I think I'm gonna throw up

So I'll devise a plan
To nuke your man
An evil scheme to come back and take command
I'll win your hand
We'll hijack a plane and we're never going to land

Don't let me down
I couldn't take much more of your love

Don't call me up
I'm so fed up with being down


Lyrics submitted by iou1galaxy

The Ups and Downs Lyrics as written by Hugo Garnet David Manuel

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Royalty Network, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

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The Ups and Downs song meanings
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4 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment

    i love this song. he wishes that she would get back together with him, he plans all these evil deeds, that he knows deep inside he could never actually commit to, because he loves her all too much. he only wishes that she would choose him over this other dude. *Lina

    iheartlollipopson August 03, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i agree with the above, plus the stuff in the beginning. to me, it means that even though they're broken up, he still feels her in everything he does. and that he can't stop thinking and daydreaming about her, since the break up "woke him up," like a snap into reality. and that since she spoke up (which i take to mean she broke up with him), he shut off his ears and won't listen b/c it hurts too much.

    snozzberryon August 14, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I agree with both the above i just need to add...It seems that she is still around and he wants to get her off his mind shw just seems to around him.

    ryan311_ozmaon August 28, 2002   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning

    「I've been cheating on you ever since we broke up I've been dreaming about you ever since I woke up And my hearing's disappearing ever since you spoke up」

    He sees dating and or trying to flirt with other women as cheating as he is now with someone new. The second line is self explanatory- he cannot get this person off his mind. The third line seems to be him involuntarily blocking them out in a defensive way.

    「I'll devise a plot To break your heart Plan a revenge that I'll never carry out What's wrong with you? Tell me now, what should I do?」

    The first three lines is him being spiteful and seeking a way to get revenge on the person for not being with him, although, he knows he can never carry this out whether this be due to a lack of confidence or his undying love for them and not wanting to hurt them. The next two lines he questions what is wrong with them, it isn't entirely clear whether or not this is directly being asked to the person or if he is just wondering what is wrong with them. Next, alongside asking what is wrong with them, he also asks what should he do, showing he is lost and unsure of what to do or where to go.

    「Don't let me down I couldn't take much more of your love Don't call me up I'm so fed up with being down」

    He's telling them not to disappoint him, there is obviously some kind of hope or the person is still close with him and nearby, this of course hurts him and makes him want to isolate himself from them. Then he admits how much he hates being depressed over this person.

    「I asked you to the show but I knew you wouldn't show up You came to my birthday party just to tell me I should grow up And I see another girl and I think i'm gonna throw up」 He asked her on a date knowing she would say no. She still managed to show up as a friend to his birthday party to tell him to grow up. I am assuming this is a time after he has asked her out multiple times. The third line is either saying he saw a girl that looks like them, or just another girl in general. This could hint at the person he has sought after making him somewhat misogynistic. Ozma starting with Weezer covers backs this up pretty strongly as Rivers Cuomo tends to also be very misogynistic.

    The next chorus carries the same meaning as the first, but with witty lyrics and hinting at wanting to leave everything behind and start anew with this person.

    As for notes, and a TL;DR:

    This song is most definitely about a relationship that ended poorly and left at least our main character here in love. As to whose fault it was is left unknown. The guy plans for revenge all while knowing he can never follow through with it due to his seemingly undying love for the person. We get very little backstory, but based on the second verse, our main character asks her out despite knowing he will get rejected. The birthday party line pretty much proves that they are at least somewhat close friends. This makes me believe that this is most likely not his first time asking them out.

    This song is so relate able for me, as I and many others have also been stuck in this depressing stage with a girl where after what was an important relationship in your life is cut off and you are still attached to them. This song along with the entire R&R3 album are very good and I hope to listen to more Ozma in the future.

    dazerblazeron January 04, 2018   Link

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