Crumble

Is it "held a picture yesterday" instead of "built"?

I dunno, I could be wrong, but that's what I hear

Yay, first comment.

Seems to me like Mascis is addressing the passing of time in relation to himself--it appears too non-confrontational in most of the lines to give the impression that he's addressing a person/lover (despite the repetition of "my love"--maybe a metaphor for the good times of his life?). It feels instead like a message about mid-life crisis, or something similar. I'm only seventeen, but I can see where he's coming from, with aging and everything that comes with it. In any case, the lyrics are bittersweet and very melancholic (the kind I like), and J's riffs and soloing are incredible, and the rhythm section backs him up admirably. Beyond is a great record--arguably one of their best (certainly the best rock album of the year, with music sucking nowadays). It's certainly the best comeback album I've ever heard (yes, better than Back In Black). Amazing band.

I'd like to hear what everyone else thinks.

These lyrics seem very wrong; maybe I will stop being lazy and transcribe some correct ones soon. Either way, kick ass song.

I think Joe Mattress has the most accurate interpretation. The song is wanting to go back to a happy place in your life, before all the change. "I've got nothing where I've been", "will you bring me THERE again." he wants to go back to the place he was before. "built a picture yesterday", "built a picture of a moment, my love". Remembering old times when things were better, now he doesn't know if he will "crumble or fly" and it scares him to the point of desperation to return to "where he's been".

I think it's about a girl that led him on but was always in the friend zone even when she was single

2 years later I have a new perspective on these lyrics. I think the song is about feeling presured to pretend to be someone you're not just to satisfy other people(in this case a girl). "I got lost inside a lie", " I'm not real and you know why". Then he asks himself if this fasad he built, ("built a picture yesterday") will "crumble or fly". At the end of the song it seems as if his act has crumbled

"But I don't ever belong* (real lyric) And I'm sweating trying to stall Til I think I heard a call But you're just laughing along"

After learning to play this song on guitar , I noticed numerous incorrect lyrics...some small but nevertheless can change the meaning of the song.

Verse 1 " I got nothing, where I been? will you bring me there again? no one ever understands you won't change to help us?"

*there's definitely another word after help. it could be "us" or"this" or "it" which would make sense, but i hear a TH sound like "both" or "oath". I can't figure this one out.

Verse 2 "I got lost inside a lie every smile you made it die I'm not there and you know why and I run to get some more"

Verse 3 "Can I be there all the time? Can i stop to wonder why? will I crumble, will I fly? and I've got to make it"

Verse 4 "will I be in time to see? will it run all over me? can i fake out just to me? you know i can't take it on"

Chorus "held a picture yesterday held a picture of the moment that I want??? My love (x3)" *i'm pretty sure there's more after "moment" to finish that line. it isn't very clear but I think it's "held a picture of the moment that I want...my love(x3)"

Verse 5 "You have time for me again but you flatten me instead try to be the things you said like i almost had it"

Verse 6 "But I don't have it at all and I'm sweating trying to stall till i think i heard a call i look,you're just laughing on"

*I listened to quite a few live versions of this song and it seems as though J Mascis himself can't even recall the lyrics. he bounces between using verse 1 and 2 and once i awhile some other line,the chorus part he sometimes says "our love"