You try to keep your composure
I'm only having a laugh
The latest attempt at closure
Failed after 25 drafts

But I can still retain this
I can still collect
You're cashing in on misery
And calling in all your debts

Stop trying to keep your composure
I'm only having a laugh
The latest attempt at closure
Failed after 25 drafts

But I still can still retain this
I can still retain this
I can still retain this

Stop trying to keep your composure
Stop trying to keep your composure
Stop trying to keep your composure
Stop trying to keep your composure

And it comes as no surprise you never let go...

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Lyrics submitted by christsizeshoes

Commemorative 9/11 T-shirt song meanings

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+2
General Comment
mike vennart said it isn't even about 9/11. "I was sold a t-shirt by the singer of the Cardiacs. On the label it read 'For ages 9-11', and when he sold it to me he said "oh, here's one of our commemorative 9/11 teeshirts," so I got thinking about what sort of person would wear a 9/11 teeshirt. Someone who's not really looking to the future."

mike vennart said it isn't even about 9/11. "I was sold a t-shirt by the singer of the Cardiacs. On the label it read 'For ages 9-11', and when he sold it to me he said "oh, here's one of our commemorative 9/11 teeshirts," so I got thinking about what sort of person would wear a 9/11 teeshirt. Someone who's not really looking to the future."

Reason:

thecharmoffensiveon July 01, 2009 Link
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@thecharmoffensive
+1
General Comment
It's not a matter of mocking the victims of 9/11, it's more a matter of being able to continue living your lives after the tragedy. Yes, it's a tragedy, but your life should move on. That's not to say you won't think about the fact your loved ones are gone, but you should be able to accept it. Nucleozoid, your comment is just ignorant.

It's not a matter of mocking the victims of 9/11, it's more a matter of being able to continue living your lives after the tragedy. Yes, it's a tragedy, but your life should move on. That's not to say you won't think about the fact your loved ones are gone, but you should be able to accept it. Nucleozoid, your comment is just ignorant.

Reason:

dark1217on October 18, 2008 Link
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@dark1217

That's true, but it's a little more than that.

I think this song is a reaction to the fact that people in our society feel obligated to feign sadness whenever 9/11 is mentioned. Nobody is making light of the tragedy, but it's been years. It shouldn't be necessary to pretend to still be sad to fit in with society when most of us have moved on by now.

The "cashing in on misery" part also leads me to believe that they are commenting on politicians (and others) that have used 9/11 fear mongering to get reelected and/or push their own agendas. And maybe even in the most obvious literal sense, people that have profited by selling 9/11 T-shirts and memorabilia. I think these are the people that he's "having a laugh" about.

Thoughtatworkon June 21, 2009
0
General Comment
That missing part is "calling in all your debts". Great work on this. Do me a solid and do Savant next. =)

That missing part is "calling in all your debts". Great work on this. Do me a solid and do Savant next. =)

Reason:

pmasseyon August 26, 2007 Link
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@pmassey
0
General Comment
I dig this song. The entire Frames album is so rad I can't stand it. The meaning of this is fairly obvious I think.

I dig this song. The entire Frames album is so rad I can't stand it. The meaning of this is fairly obvious I think.

Reason:

soundless_spaceon September 10, 2007 Link
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@soundless_space
0
General Comment
I think this is about our inability to let go of certain events, specifically OR as an example, 9/11, and our ambition to exploit and cling to such things long since their effect has waned. We only remember them because society does, and not because of any personal emotion. I think this also might relate to the resultant war in Iraq - the government "cashing in on a misery", exploiting a sad situation to its own ends. Nice song though. The heavy part near the end always really hits me :) .

I think this is about our inability to let go of certain events, specifically OR as an example, 9/11, and our ambition to exploit and cling to such things long since their effect has waned. We only remember them because society does, and not because of any personal emotion. I think this also might relate to the resultant war in Iraq - the government "cashing in on a misery", exploiting a sad situation to its own ends. Nice song though. The heavy part near the end always really hits me :) .

Reason:

Arkyopterixon November 06, 2007 Link
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@Arkyopterix
0
General Comment
Songs written from the perspective of "someone who would wear a commemorative 9/11 tshirt"- that's from Vennart. The way I see it, it's from the perspective of someone who is sick of all the hypocricy and breast- beating about 9/11- someone who can't see the irony in the situation. "Stop trying to keep your composure/I'm only having a laugh" The speaker realises the ridiculousness of the current situation, and is generally disillusioned with society's take on the issue. In the end, all he can retain is the irony and humour in the situation, and "it comes as no surprise" that "you never let go"

Songs written from the perspective of "someone who would wear a commemorative 9/11 tshirt"- that's from Vennart. The way I see it, it's from the perspective of someone who is sick of all the hypocricy and breast- beating about 9/11- someone who can't see the irony in the situation. "Stop trying to keep your composure/I'm only having a laugh" The speaker realises the ridiculousness of the current situation, and is generally disillusioned with society's take on the issue. In the end, all he can retain is the irony and humour in the situation, and "it comes as no surprise" that "you never let go"

Reason:

Ugmoticon May 09, 2008 Link
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@Ugmotic
0
General Comment
I can definitely relate to this song. I've seen "9-11" t shirts for sale on the boardwalk in S. Jersey quite a few times. And the first time I saw it, I had to laugh at how ridiculous a notion it was. Of course, someone like Nucleozoid was in earshot and decided to make a big deal about my reaction. It's a horrible event, there's no doubt about that in any sane person's mind.. but when people use it to their advantage, ie selling those shirts or using it as a political springboard (Rudolph Guiliani, I am looking at you), that's "cashing in on misery" as far as I'm concearned. All this song does is point that out.

I can definitely relate to this song. I've seen "9-11" t shirts for sale on the boardwalk in S. Jersey quite a few times. And the first time I saw it, I had to laugh at how ridiculous a notion it was. Of course, someone like Nucleozoid was in earshot and decided to make a big deal about my reaction. It's a horrible event, there's no doubt about that in any sane person's mind.. but when people use it to their advantage, ie selling those shirts or using it as a political springboard (Rudolph Guiliani, I am looking at you), that's "cashing in on misery" as far as I'm concearned. All this song does is point that out.

Reason:

SrMisteriosoxon October 31, 2009 Link
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@SrMisteriosox
0
My Opinion
I agree with everything Mike Vennart says, and I'm an American myself. 9/11 is the past, we took note of security issues, now we should look upon the future. Lately, advertising in the US has been selling coins for $29.99 that contain metal from the ground zero site. I know it's a bit odd to say this, but if a new tragedy were to occur, the commemorative 9/11 t-shirts and coins with metal from ground zero would drop and we would focus and cash in on the new tragedy. Nobody cares. They'll profit from anything. "Cashing in on misery." It's disappointing.

I agree with everything Mike Vennart says, and I'm an American myself. 9/11 is the past, we took note of security issues, now we should look upon the future. Lately, advertising in the US has been selling coins for $29.99 that contain metal from the ground zero site. I know it's a bit odd to say this, but if a new tragedy were to occur, the commemorative 9/11 t-shirts and coins with metal from ground zero would drop and we would focus and cash in on the new tragedy. Nobody cares. They'll profit from anything. "Cashing in on misery." It's disappointing.

Reason:

Ethanoddon March 01, 2011 Link
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@Ethanodd
0
General Comment
Just something to note; the song does in fact fluctuate between 9/8 and 11/8 near the end =)

Just something to note; the song does in fact fluctuate between 9/8 and 11/8 near the end =)

Reason:

Giveuptheghoston July 11, 2011 Link
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@Giveuptheghost
-3
General Comment
'll never let go, nor should any intelligent person in the west. The lyricist is a fool to think we should - as it will happen again when it is forgotten. I live less than 30 miles from the site of the attack and have friends that died in this horrible fucking tragedy. If I were to see anyone laughing at anything that has to do with the events of 9-11, believe me, I won't "keep my composure" - I will immediately cave your fucking face in. Too bad an excellent band like Oceansize (Effloresce rocks) had to produce such an idiotic and insulting song.

'll never let go, nor should any intelligent person in the west. The lyricist is a fool to think we should - as it will happen again when it is forgotten. I live less than 30 miles from the site of the attack and have friends that died in this horrible fucking tragedy. If I were to see anyone laughing at anything that has to do with the events of 9-11, believe me, I won't "keep my composure" - I will immediately cave your fucking face in. Too bad an excellent band like Oceansize (Effloresce rocks) had to produce such an idiotic and insulting song.

Reason:

Nucleozoidon August 27, 2008 Link
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@Nucleozoid

I went to ground zero and all I got was this lousy T-shirt.

/rant
Go blame your government, those are your real "terrorists". Your government is laughing at you in your face and using 9/11 to take away your freedom and to go to war with "terrorists" (read : Robbing other countries' oil).

Lutzeroon December 18, 2010

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Commemorative 9/11 T-shirt

Oceansize

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