This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Trailed by a mess
Of masking tape construction paper
And the best of intentions
He tried to patch up every hole as he went
Back and forth and back again
And his friends half full of half concerns
Embarrassed looks and tired words
They burrowed deeper into the ignorant
Little lives they preferred
And he envied their distance
Their lack of concern
He thought,
Once I shed the whole of me
Once I shed the whole of me
Then I'll be smiling
He cursed himself
And his instinct to nurse
Every idea to health
And all of the falls that he'd spent
Trying to coax his name from the mouths
Of success
He thought
Once I shed the whole of me
Once I shed the whole of me
Then I'll be smiling.
They litter me with small awareness!
Then they ask if I'm good enough
They litter me with small awareness
Just to wake me up
Why do the fools wake me up?
Of masking tape construction paper
And the best of intentions
He tried to patch up every hole as he went
Back and forth and back again
And his friends half full of half concerns
Embarrassed looks and tired words
They burrowed deeper into the ignorant
Little lives they preferred
And he envied their distance
Their lack of concern
He thought,
Once I shed the whole of me
Once I shed the whole of me
Then I'll be smiling
He cursed himself
And his instinct to nurse
Every idea to health
And all of the falls that he'd spent
Trying to coax his name from the mouths
Of success
He thought
Once I shed the whole of me
Once I shed the whole of me
Then I'll be smiling.
They litter me with small awareness!
Then they ask if I'm good enough
They litter me with small awareness
Just to wake me up
Why do the fools wake me up?
Lyrics submitted by skeeter688
Then I'll Be Smiling Lyrics as written by Matt Nathanson
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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More Featured Meanings
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
This is my favorite Matt song! I feel this way about quite few of my "friends." Kind of sad to feel so alone when you are surrounded by so many people.
Good Song...better meaning...at least in my eyes..To me this song is about a boy who thinks his friends are too deep in their ignorance yet dont care and dont do anything about it "They burrowed deeper into the ignorant Little lives they preferred" But then this kids like once i get to a better point in life where i know more...thats when ill be smiling because this is all too frustrating right now Then i take.. "Once I shed the whole of me" as him almost evolving like when a caterpillar does from their cacoon into a butterfly and better being so to speak Then.. "They litter me with small awareness' Then they ask if I'm good enough" As him saying that " his friends half full of half concerns" try and lace him with the same things but he doesnt follow it and they dont get why he wants something more out of life "They litter me with small awareness' Just to wake me up Why do the fools wake me up?" I think of this as them trying to distract him away from his dream of being a better person so why are these fools trying to wake him up from it and prevent such a positive dream.....
My favorite Matt Nathanson song by far. To me this song speaks very profoundly of a boy who is alienated by the ignorance of his family and peers. He is frustrated by the fact that he simply cannot bring himself to drop himself to their level to feel the blind happiness they seem to feel in their own little worlds. He is too attached to ideas of progress and of ambition, while they seem, in his eyes, to be happy the way they are. Therefore the chorus tells that in order for him to be happy, he would have to shed every ounce of who he truly is, a frustrating and almost impossible prospect for many.
I imagine a guy trying very hard to fix holes. I think that may be some kind of pitfall or trap that he sees as wrong. and he fumbles around, unable to ignore, trying to fix them. And his instinct to have ideas to fix holes...I feel these ideas lend him a kind of dignity. His his friends, on the other hand, are ignoring these holes blissfully. And although he feels betrayed, He envies also envies their freedom. His own instinct, though good intentioned, has failed.
I think it's just a phase. After he sorts it out he'll get his dignity back and, then HE WILL be smiling.