You were trying to be cute
And it didn't work out
You were trying to be charming
And it didn't come off
You were trying to be clever
A big waste of time
You were trying to get rough
But you're waiting in line
CHORUS
You can't make it with the down boys
They don't hear a word you say
You can't make it with the down boys
Just stay out of their way
You were trying to be sharp
But they couldn't wait
You were trying to be eternal
But that didn't rate
You were trying to be smooth
You're rough on the edges
You were trying to be hysterical
They didn't laugh
CHORUS
You were trying to be in
But they left you out
Yo were trying to be in
Two different worlds
You were trying to be in
Oscillation in shame
You were trying to be in
But you're lost in the game
CHORUS
And it didn't work out
You were trying to be charming
And it didn't come off
You were trying to be clever
A big waste of time
You were trying to get rough
But you're waiting in line
You can't make it with the down boys
They don't hear a word you say
You can't make it with the down boys
Just stay out of their way
But they couldn't wait
You were trying to be eternal
But that didn't rate
You were trying to be smooth
You're rough on the edges
You were trying to be hysterical
They didn't laugh
But they left you out
Yo were trying to be in
Two different worlds
You were trying to be in
Oscillation in shame
You were trying to be in
But you're lost in the game
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Perhaps a short story on the second side of Panorama?
Anyone notice that this song precedes "Misfit Kid?" "Down Boys" seems to parallel this song, as the person in this song is pretty much labeled a pretender by the "Down Boys":
You were trying to be sharp But they couldn't wait You were trying to be eternal But that didn't rate You were trying to be smooth You're rough on the edges You were trying to be hysterical They didn't laugh
The next song, "Misfit Kid" is when this person internally realizes and labels how he feels about himself.
In the setting of the remaining songs on this "side" of the album, it sounds like the fictional "person" has finally quit pretending and is confident of himself, yet he is still contacting the girl who "wears those eyes," a shallow-minded woman. In this case, the person lets her know that SHE'LL have to find him (instead of the reverse), although it should be no problem to find him.
The Down Boys are the most popular ones. The person they are singing about wants to fit in with the Down Boys or be a part of their group. But, in no uncertain terms, they will never fit in or be a part of the Down Boys.