The First Of The Century

i love how this song builds up and builds up as it gets to the end......i'm not exactly sure what its about...seems like maybe someone tired of their life being the same ol thing day after day and finally going to "get out" as they say at the end....not quite sure...but i love this song

wow. love this song.

i think it's about breaking through. being so tired of the same day to day activites that mean nothing and bring nothing to your life that you just go out and chase the truth. chase happiness.

something like that.

so the second to last stanza it should be "But just hold your tongue" not "But just hold your sun"

even though it seems like too long ago now, i honestly cant shake the feeling that this is a shot at adam lazzera and taking back sunday, especially the stanza

And over and over and over again, The same failed solutions to all the same problems.Scream, why! why! I can't understand Why the things that I do never go as I planned. And the vultures begin Their slow circling. The dogs lick their teeth, Bright, white, and gleaming.

it seems like its talking how taking back sunday couldnt get along or agree on anything and how he could tell the band was dying because the vultures began. that also seems like its taking a shot at taking back sunday now, saying that theyre dead. and then the stanza before it

Desire gave way to a false sense of hope, And we fell for the lie that it's what we all chose. And I yelled to my friends, "you'll all be okay!" But they didn't believe me, they still don't today. They never do anything they haven't before. In the same solemn room with no lock on the door.

this sounds like John didn't know why he ever started the band taking back sunday. and the "we fell for the lie that it's what we all chose" definately talks about taking back sunday because when ever adam lazzera what his songs mean he always says its what you choose it to be about.

overall this seems like a continuation of their song "a slow descent" and it seems like John's just sad and frustrated how taking back sunday fell apart.

it seemsespecially like that when John says "And I yelled to my friends, "you'll all be okay!" But they didn't believe me, they still don't today." That just seems like he's saying that he tried to fix things within the band taking back sunday but they didnt listen to him. then the next part of that line makes it seems like John is saying that he still doesn't get along with the members of Taking Back Sunday today because of what happened.

Then as the song ends John says "but just hold your tongue" which is probably telling Adam Lazzara to shut up

Then John says take your best shot, probably telling Adam to give him everything he's got, just to mock him. Then John says we're getting out, as in he's leaving the band and they're never going to "find us again" saying that he'll never play in a band with them again

this seems like a response to TBS's Twenty-Twenty Surgery that ripped John

this song was spectacular live. john puts his whole heart into this song.

Now, I hate to not focus on what I think this song "means," considering that is what this site is about, but I feel the need to comment on the song in general.

I really enjoy the beginning, but to the contrary of what everyone else has said: I hate it as soon as it builds up. The rhythm is terrible and it fucks up the flow. The album as a whole is terrible, minus very few songs ("Buttoned Down" and "Soon We'll Be Living in the Future") and this song is the "perfect" way to end such a disappointing album.

I dislike how all of the songs sound nothing like old Straylight Run and the fact that Michelle sings so often makes me angry. I liked it better when she only sang on two songs (or subtle back up on others) and not sound like she's singing at the mall.

I hope everyone bashes me for this comment.

Now, I hate to not focus on what I think this song "means," considering that is what this site is about, but I feel the need to comment on the song in general.

I really enjoy the beginning, but to the contrary of what everyone else has said: I hate it as soon as it builds up. The rhythm is terrible and it fucks up the flow. The album as a whole is terrible, minus very few songs ("Buttoned Down" and "Soon We'll Be Living in the Future") and this song is the "perfect" way to end such a disappointing album.

I dislike how all of the songs sound nothing like old Straylight Run and the fact that Michelle sings so often makes me angry. I liked it better when she only sang on two songs (or subtle back up on others) and not sound like she's singing at the mall.

I hope everyone bashes me for this comment.

i agree with okradiohead... i hate all the songs where michelle is the main singer except for i'd be lying. all of those songs where she sings just have really weird beats and she sings weird notes. i think shes a pretty good singer, just the songs she sings in the album stink

I agree. It is a perfect ending to the album. Although I didn't find the album disappointing. I enjoy that they sound nothing like the "old" straylight run. if they just kept putting at the same crap it'd get really boring really quickly (ie taking back sunday) As for Michelle, she has a good voice and i love the strange-ness of the songs she sings. (but then again, i'm a musician so i'm really into that sort of thing.)

as for this song now, i agree with this glass house. you're pretty awesome at the interpretations. i'm so glad they have this song out, i really identify at this point in my life and isn't that what we all want in the end?