always a spectacle,
its a public show,
unimpressed so its time that i let you go.
reputation,
from these antics, I may not be pure,
but i'm not all that toxic.
Now I'm checking out,
And enlisting for stable efforts,
so lets drop the act,
I've found something that's more appealing.
All this dependence on modern machinary.
come for the weekend,
you'll stay for the scenery.
Tear down the buildings,
Bludgeon the architech,
biased opinions for outdated intellect.
Its a spectacle,
its a public show,
unimpressed so its time that I let you go.
Reputations,
from these antics,I may not be pure,
but I'm not all that toxic.
If I wanted to,
make a comeback would kids..resent..me?
Unemployment,
I've been ruined by young..kids..clapping.
i'm sailing....
And we cant....save....me.....
(and your gone)
i'm sailing...
and they cheer while they say...your name...
(We hang our heads and take the blame)
(With daggered mouths and stay controlled)
Sail along...
(These chemicals...will take your soul...)
We're sailing...
And we cant...(sailing....)
we're sinking with our ship
We're sinking with out ship....
And we can't....
And we can't......


Lyrics submitted by Sparkle_motion

Kansas City 90210 Lyrics as written by Mike Stoller Jerry Leiber

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Kansas City 90210 song meanings
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11 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    if you ask me, this song is really sad. it makes it sound like from autumn to ashes hates what they do for a living, but they're terrified of stopping playing music, because they don't know much else. who knows i could be wrong

    atreyuxfataxon December 04, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The line, "And we keep sailing, with a fear of failing", I think means that they love doing what they're doing, but they don't want to let their fans down. I don't know.

    the ferninatoron December 17, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think it's about a couple things. One of them is that the music industry isn't what it's cracked up to be. It's all a big hype where machines take over the art. "All this dependence on modern machinery." The other is how they feel about their older fans not appreciating them anymore. "Always a spectacle...I'm not all that toxic."

    sillyrobon March 02, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Pretty sure this one's just about the troubles the band have faced throughout their career, both musical and otherwise... the "I may not be pure, but i'm not all that toxic" line sounds like it means their music has to be recorded in an expensive studio and engineered, but in the end it's still their music. Not sure exactely. The whole album kind of sounds like they're hating what they're doing.

    strifeiion March 19, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Francis said that? Sick cant wait for there new album then.

    ear24on May 09, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i believe this song is actually about the difficulties that the band faced with ben ben ended up leaving the band because it wasnt what he wanted to do and was afraid of being hated for it

    xxiamexhumedxxon April 11, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    xxiamexhumedxx, Ben didn't quit. They kicked him out.

    I think this song is about Fran's outlook on the band ending. It's a really sad song.

    You'll be a memoryon May 14, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    ya man i think ur right i thought he quit but i must have misred shite

    xxiamexhumedxxon May 23, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Love this song.

    The impression I get is that it's about being musicians with an uncertain future. About how performing in front of fans that care about their music is so gratifying that the thought of having to go back to a 9-5 job is almost unbearable. It almost sounds like he's struggling with the decision to give up music and get a "real job" or to "keep sailing, with a fear of failing"

    "If I wanted to make a comeback would kids receive me Unemployment, I've been ruined by young hands clapping"

    This2x4Skeletonon July 26, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    One of my top FATA songs, to me i like to think (and its been said by others) that its jus about bein scared but still doin wat u love, 'maybe not b pure but not all that toxic' and 'sailin wif a fear of failin' definitly stik out fer me n the meanin i get from it. Btw if anyone knows the background lyrics during the last bit 'sailin wif a fear of failin', i cant quite make it out, kinda sounds like 'and you cant your sinking' and also the very last lyric i cant make it out, lyrics above say 'with a fear' but to me it sounds like 'i would care' i dunno maybe i jus hav bad ears but i ask u all take another listen!

    caramrodon March 09, 2012   Link

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