Spoon – The Underdog

Picture yourself in a living room
Your pipe and slippers set out for you
I know you think that it ain't too far
But I
I hear a call of a lifetime ring
Felt the need to get up for it
Oh, you cut out the middleman
Get free from the middleman

You got no time for the messenger
Got no regard for the thing that you don't understand
You got no fear of the underdog
That's why you will not survive

I wanna forget how conviction fits
But can I get out from under it?
Can I cut it out of me? Oh, oh, oh
It can't all be wedding cake
It can't all be boiled away
I try but I can't let go of it
Can't let go of it

Uh-huh, 'cause you don't talk to the water boy
And there's so much you could learn but you don't wanna know
You will not back up an inch ever
That's why you will not survive

The thing that I tell you now
It may not go over well
Oh, and it may not be photo-op
In the way that I spell it out

But you won't hear from the messenger
Don't wanna know 'bout something that you don't understand
You got no fear of the underdog
That's why you will not survive, right!


Lyrics submitted by fgevilmonkey, edited by ttenchantr, thefixerupper

"The Underdog" as written by Britt Daniel

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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The Underdog song meanings
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31 Comments

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  • +4
    Song MeaningAVC: "The Underdog" is one of the more surprising songs on this record. It actually sounds almost like a Van Morrison song.

    BD: Yes! You're the first person to say it. It always seemed like a Van Morrison song to me, and I've said it in a couple of interviews, but no one's picked up on it yet. When I wrote the song, I had the chorus and few ideas, sort of the strummy feel of it, and it seemed like a Van Morrison song to me and then later a Paul Simon song, so I always pictured there being horns on there. It was one of those difficult ones to figure out how we were going to put it together. Then I heard this song by Ray Davies on the Thanksgiving Day EP that had him playing with the Jools Holland Orchestra, and there are horns on that song that make it sound like it's a celebration, and I decided "That's the sound I want for 'Underdog,' Pitting this pretty pissed-off lyric against this horn part that sounds like a fiesta."

    AVC: When you say, "You got no fear of the underdog / That's why you will not survive," are you the underdog, or are you the one in fear of the underdog?

    BD: I'm not the underdog, but–Well actually, I guess I've been the underdog. To me, it always felt like I was talking to "the big guy," you know, the big guy in the government, and trying to tell him about some things he didn't seem to be aware of. I just think that's a pretty arrogant group of liars we've got up there, and they don't really consider the abilities of their opponents.

    from avclub.com/articles/britt-daniel-of-spoon,14127/
    ontoreon August 21, 2013   Link
  • +1
    General CommentThis song was in Cloverfield in the party scene. And now that I hear the lyrics, it makes it kinda chilling and foretelling....

    "You got no time for the messenger,
    got no regard for the thing that you don't understand,
    you got no fear of the underdog,
    that's why you will not survive!"
    mitsukai_zeroon June 12, 2008   Link
    • 2 Replies
  • 0
    General CommentIt means do NOT think you are indestructible & can never lose........look out for those you think you are superior to & those whom you would step on. What a great song & I am the first poster.
    terri kayeon May 21, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General CommentAnd I am the second poster too.......it could also be more specific, another in a long line of jabs by Spoon to the establishment. Music industry as it is set up, they basically said screw you & your stupid rules, we'll get by on our real talent & real personalities & everyone will love us to death. They were absolutely right.
    terri kayeon May 24, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThis song pumps me up! So much that is applicable to life or even to sports. Don't forget about me, the underdog - you might not hear me on the radio but I am one of the best songs (so far) of 2007.
    kyassassinon July 13, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General CommentGosh, I LOVE this song! It's so energizing.

    I see it as about big business people. They make loads of money and just think they are the greatest, but a lot of people like this tend to forget about what's important in life, they might miss, "the call of a lifetime ring".

    The artist knows that despite financial success, they lose in the real areas of life. "there's so much you could learn but you don't want to know", and that is their loss.

    Don't ever forget about the underdog!
    agent_megon July 15, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General CommentSchweet tune.

    I agree that the underdog is about Spoon (the underdog / messenger). Life/career/competition can't just be about making money and living the good life (even though that is appealing), because you need the conviction inside you to have meaningful success.

    Spoon knows that their style and content are not record-company friendly (it may not be photo-op) but he is confident in himself, the underdog, and that the short-cut taking message recipient (record co?) will not survive anyway.
    mingle-ahon August 19, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General CommentSuper song
    Absynthe_Mindedon September 16, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General CommentA mainstream record industry that eats its own by cheating its artists and suing its customers will not survive!
    wraton October 14, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Commentforgot to add.. the mainstream is the record industry is the middleman that will be cut out!
    wraton October 14, 2007   Link

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