3 Meanings
Add Yours
Follow
Share
Q&A

Why Say Anything Nice? Lyrics

Why'd you put your dress shoes on if you didn't come to dance?
Frankly, I'd be on my own if I thought I'd stand a chance
Why'd you take your glasses off if you don't intend to fight?
Frankly, I'd be on my own if I thought I'd last the night

No screaming or fighting, no scratching or biting
We're just shaking hands goodnight
Sullen and silent, emotionally violent
I waited a while and nothing, nothing

Why say anything nice when you can say nothing at all?
Why say anything nice when you can say nothing at all?

Why'd you put your backpack on if you won't just take a hike?
Frankly, I'd be out the door if you hadn't sold my bike

No fencing or sparring, no bruising or scarring
And no 'au revoiring' yet
No communication, just alienation
I've tried to be patient but nothing, nothing

Why say anything nice when you can say nothing at all?
Why say anything nice?

Say anything nice, a simple device
That makes everything beautiful just ordinary
Nice can come at a price, forever imbued with all this boredom
Sacrifice can only suffice when something is beautiful

After all the resentment, all the discontentment
The flowers you sent meant nothing, nothing

Why say anything nice when you can say nothing at all?
Why say anything nice when you can say nothing at all? (Why say anything nice?...)
You can say nothing at all
Woo-hoo-hoo
Nothing at all
Woo-hoo-hoo
You can say nothing at all
Woo-hoo-hoo
Nothing at all
3 Meanings

Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.

Add your thoughts...
Cover art for Why Say Anything Nice? lyrics by Barenaked Ladies

can't believe no one has commented on this song yet...and tyler stewart co-wrote it! How long has it been since he co-wrote something? anyway, this song is amazing!! A play off of the saying one teaches to litte kids "If you can't say nothing nice, don't say nothing at all" he he maked me think the Bambi movie...you know, Thumper says that...okay i'll shut up about that now... All the sayings about if BLANK hadn't happened I'd BLANK right now is playing off the saying again! Does anyone else see that?

Cover art for Why Say Anything Nice? lyrics by Barenaked Ladies

This song is about two people who had a major falling out, and won't talk to each other, despite living together. It speaks about how people can feel very angry, very emotional and violent, yet just not say anything at all, resorting to the silent treatment.

Basically, it's about being passive-aggressive, pretending that the other person doesn't exist. Believe me, I've had this problem before, and this song describes exactly what it feels like.

Cover art for Why Say Anything Nice? lyrics by Barenaked Ladies

I think Occams_Harmony has a point in there.. but with my opinion and with what I notice most of the time..people always talk, even they don;t have nothing right to say, such hypocrites, they just want to criticize and everything..so I want to dedicated tis song to all the people who keep on saying non-sense thing to anyone who they think oes wrong, I'm a Filipino but it's a shame most of us do things like that. Every morning most of them gather around and keep frying on other's lives that has basically nothing to do with theirs.

I use to be like that sometimes, but at least...I'm trying to change.

 
Questions and Answers

Ask specific questions and get answers to unlock more indepth meanings & facts.

Ask a question...