This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Tied down against the tracks
Screamin' in silent black and white
You trust us
We are such villains
We will tell ourselves anything we want to hear
If we are willin'
To listen is to learn
And too much is what we deserve
And how come when we say that we do, we don't
Can pray to anybody you want, we won't
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
But if were the ones to blame then the fruit
It shouldn't taste so good
We were used
To think we got nothing to lose
We're losin' everything but the truth
'Cause walkin' straight into a road block, bendin'
Left, it ended
Your point of view is chosen by the serpent's rules
With all its do's and don'ts
The future's an empty promise
I'm concerned and so tired of waitin'
But we could sell it wooden horses full of nightmares
And when they open
This all might be composed
There's no goin' back to the good old days
It's just a favoring and some new light
Archaism is a dusty road leadin' us back to nowhere
If we're the ones to blame then the fruit
It shouldn't taste so good
We were used
To think we got nothing to lose
We're losin' everything but the truth
'Cause walkin' straight into a road block, endin'
Left, it bended
Your point of view is chosen by the serpent's rules
Oh oh oh oh
How come when we say we do, we don't
How come when we say we will, we won't
How come when we say we do, we don't
How come when we say we will, we won't
Screamin' in silent black and white
You trust us
We are such villains
We will tell ourselves anything we want to hear
If we are willin'
To listen is to learn
And too much is what we deserve
And how come when we say that we do, we don't
Can pray to anybody you want, we won't
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
But if were the ones to blame then the fruit
It shouldn't taste so good
We were used
To think we got nothing to lose
We're losin' everything but the truth
'Cause walkin' straight into a road block, bendin'
Left, it ended
Your point of view is chosen by the serpent's rules
With all its do's and don'ts
The future's an empty promise
I'm concerned and so tired of waitin'
But we could sell it wooden horses full of nightmares
And when they open
This all might be composed
There's no goin' back to the good old days
It's just a favoring and some new light
Archaism is a dusty road leadin' us back to nowhere
If we're the ones to blame then the fruit
It shouldn't taste so good
We were used
To think we got nothing to lose
We're losin' everything but the truth
'Cause walkin' straight into a road block, endin'
Left, it bended
Your point of view is chosen by the serpent's rules
Oh oh oh oh
How come when we say we do, we don't
How come when we say we will, we won't
How come when we say we do, we don't
How come when we say we will, we won't
Lyrics submitted by acidmaniac
They Do, They Don't Lyrics as written by Jack Hody Johnson
Lyrics © Bubble Toes Publishing, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
wow.....this was a tough one! I think what Jack is trying to say is that our world is "tied down" by evil. He is saying that we have lost all sense of truth since the day eve ate the apple. He's not necessarily blamming us......"But if were the ones to blame than the fruit shouldn't taste so good"......meaning that we were guided into the evil that we have become. All in all i think he is saying that nobody really knows what the future holds and, until then, we will never again know REAL truth.
The sound of the beginning is what initially turned me on to this song, but then I listened to the lyrics.
The first paragraph says "Why'd you trust us?" -talking to God about the original sin. In a way, he is defending humans saying that we shouldn't be blamed for sinning because God was the one who made the forbidden fruit "taste so good".
The chorus gets me though, I'll admit. Perhaps he is reversing his argument and saying that despite our good intentions, we are selfish and sinful...and that it's not God's fault.
In the end, the future has no hope to being like it was in the very beginning of time, so we should stop trying to be something we're not...because in the end we say we will...and we won't.
Phew. Tell me what you think.
"It's just a phase, bring in some new life" maybe here he is saying that he welcomes progressive Christianity or he demands new ideas of religion.
I take back the fruits. It's clear now he was referring to the apple or fruit of (knowledge/wisdom of good and evil).
He starts off stating that we are human and have sin, never had a chance nor wanted to be good (screaming in silent, etc.) We tell ourselves bad things are o.k. and believe that we will be fine if we do them for the purpose of our own gain. To listen is to learn, then too much is what we deserve = the rules of life are in the Bible (God told us) and it's our fault that we are disobeying it (not listening) and so we deserve this corrupt society/broken world we are living in. We are not trustful and do not do as we say. The devil tricked us into eating the fruit by lying and offering superficial rewards. In doing so, we no longer can distinguish what is good and what is evil, what is real and what is superficial. (truth - helping others, making the world a better place,loving, doing good things) People who rely on superficial things (greed, money, appearances, power) and do not see the big picture (God, what is really important) are being tricked by the devil (serpent's ruse). With all of God's rules and disobedient us, our future may never get better. Our future may be doomed. Our world may get put back together, but it will not be the same as it was. Our current way of living is not meant to be forever, a new way of living needs to come about. Our old traditions and the way we are/were will not get us anywhere.
wow.....this was a tough one! I think what Jack is trying to say is that our world is "tied down" by evil. He is saying that we have lost all sense of truth since the day eve ate the apple. He's not necessarily blamming us......"But if were the ones to blame than the fruit shouldn't taste so good"......meaning that we were guided into the evil that we have become. All in all i think he is saying that nobody really knows what the future holds and, until then, we will never again know REAL truth.
I think this song questions all the ones who question the present government and the cynics who have to disagree with every little thing that goes on in the world. Their point of view is from the "serpent's ruse."
Annie Kaitlyn... i believe you're right. I have an interpretation for the end:
"With all its do's and don'ts The future is an empty promise Unconcerned and so tired of waiting We could sell it wooden horses full of nightmares and when they open This all might recompose"
You can follow all these do's and don't's but eternity is any empty promise that we can not be ensured of. People can talk all they want about heaven and hell, but when the time comes it may n ot be what it seems..... idk... this one's tough.
This song is about religion. It's a continued thought from his other song, It's All Understood, which was about relative truths and religion... about believing and/or following the group mentality/ group think of religion.
Here, he's less optimistic and is actually critical (in contrast to the aforementioned song). The "tracks" are the roads which are very limited (like rail road tracks). black and white is the assumption there is no gray in morality according to religion. We are such villains are the religious leaders. He continues to hint at religion with use of words like "pray." He's talking about how what religious ppl say and do aren't always the same. He strongly criticizes relgion saying the current state of it is a "point of view" that "was chosen by the serpent's ruse."
Do's and don'ts are the rules of religion. The future of a life of religion becomes an empty promise. (ie. no afterlife, etc). Archaism refers to the nature of religion to assume the ideas established long ago are absolute still today. But he disagrees with Archaic principles saying its a road that leads nowhere (significant).
"the fruit" refers to the "fruits" as described in the bible (i.e. the fruits of God's spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, long-suffering, faithfulness, kindness, and self control.)
Generally speaking, he's criticizing the old ways of Western religious thought. He offers no solution and made no comment on progressive Christianity.
I agree with a lot of what Jadein had to say about this song. With all of the references to religion in previous songs and also his "Imagine" cover- I think it is safe to say he is critical of popular religion.
i love that this songs makes a references to adam and eve and also the trojan horse thing. it's pretty damn creative