In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
This here is on some truthful shit
It seems like everything I do, you're used to it
And I hate hearing stories 'bout who you been with
That's when I gotta hide what I'm feeling inside
So you still think I'm confident, and damn
Is this gonna last?
You're up on a pedestal, are we moving too fast?
Feel like I'm in crazy competition with the past
That's why I gotta ask
Is anything I'm doin' brand new? (Brand new)
Brand new (brand new), brand new (brand new)
Is anything I'm doin' brand new? (Brand new)
Brand new (brand new), brand new, brand new, oh
Girl (ayy, ayy, ayy)
This here is something personal
I highly doubt this feeling is reversible
Knowledge is pain and that is why it hurts to know
That you attempt to hide and put mistakes aside
So I don't ever question you, and damn
I can't even find the perfect brush
So I can paint what's going through my mind
Racing 'gainst myself, but I'm a couple steps behind
That's why I gotta ask
Is anything I'm doin' brand new? (Brand new)
Brand new (brand new), brand new (brand new)
Is anything I'm doin' brand new? (Brand new)
Brand new (brand new), brand new, brand new, oh
Girl (ayy, ayy, ayy)
Is anything I'm doing brand new?
New, new, new, new, new
Or is everything I'm doing too late?
Late, late, late, late
Did he take your clothes off just like this?
Did he give you loving just like this?
Did you spend the night in his bed on the very first date?
Tell me baby, am I too late?
(Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa)
(Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa)
(Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa)
(Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa)
Is anything I'm doin' brand new? (Brand new)
Brand new (brand new), brand new (brand new)
Show me if this is brand new (brand new)
(Is anything I'm doin' brand new?) New (brand new) oh
Yeah, yeah, yeah
It seems like everything I do, you're used to it
And I hate hearing stories 'bout who you been with
That's when I gotta hide what I'm feeling inside
So you still think I'm confident, and damn
Is this gonna last?
You're up on a pedestal, are we moving too fast?
Feel like I'm in crazy competition with the past
That's why I gotta ask
Is anything I'm doin' brand new? (Brand new)
Brand new (brand new), brand new (brand new)
Is anything I'm doin' brand new? (Brand new)
Brand new (brand new), brand new, brand new, oh
Girl (ayy, ayy, ayy)
This here is something personal
I highly doubt this feeling is reversible
Knowledge is pain and that is why it hurts to know
That you attempt to hide and put mistakes aside
So I don't ever question you, and damn
I can't even find the perfect brush
So I can paint what's going through my mind
Racing 'gainst myself, but I'm a couple steps behind
That's why I gotta ask
Is anything I'm doin' brand new? (Brand new)
Brand new (brand new), brand new (brand new)
Is anything I'm doin' brand new? (Brand new)
Brand new (brand new), brand new, brand new, oh
Girl (ayy, ayy, ayy)
Is anything I'm doing brand new?
New, new, new, new, new
Or is everything I'm doing too late?
Late, late, late, late
Did he take your clothes off just like this?
Did he give you loving just like this?
Did you spend the night in his bed on the very first date?
Tell me baby, am I too late?
(Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa)
(Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa)
(Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa)
(Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa)
Is anything I'm doin' brand new? (Brand new)
Brand new (brand new), brand new (brand new)
Show me if this is brand new (brand new)
(Is anything I'm doin' brand new?) New (brand new) oh
Yeah, yeah, yeah
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Sorry fellas but im gonna have to disagree.. What I get out of this song is a guy who's relationship has gone sour. The love him and his girl once had is no longer there. They still love eachother, but its not the same anymore. He may be in competition with other guys, but its only because he is no longer bringing anything new to the table. So he sees his girl out with other guys and its all because he is no longer fun and entertaining. The competition he has is with himself and the boyfriend he used to be. Everything he does now is the same old, and he is starting to realize he must do something new to keep the one he loves..
Just what I think.. "I cant even find, the perfect brush so I can paint whats going through my mind.."
I looooveee this song. It's about a guy who's sick of his girl talking about what she had before with other guys. He feels like he can't measure up to all the people she's been with in the past cuz even though everything he does might be new to him, it's all familiar to her. Good song, but I hate that I relate to it so much.
A beautiful song. Imma girl...and damn, I relate to it very much (from Drake's point of view).
I don't usually look up/read into rap or hip hop lyrics, but this is different. The lyrics are really simple but do a really good job at putting together a complicated situation.
I feel like it's about a guy who is dating a girl.. and she hasn't really done anything to cause him to be jealous other than talk about her past. It drives him crazy because he feels like he can't really compare because everything he's doing has already been done.
The girl has probably been in a lot of relationships and knows the whole deal really well. He feels like "he is in crazy competition with the past" and there's nothing he can really do. He doesn't want to crumble and ask her about it, because then she won't see him as confident anymore.
It's a terrible situation to be in. I am a girl in that situation, my boyfriend has had these past long serious relationships, and I feel like they are brought up all the time. I wonder all the time if anything I'm doing it actually brand new to him. I feel like he's just going through the motions of dating someone and is used to it all.
it's about not feeling like u can measure up sexually..it's really a catchy nd sexy song..
what twinicity1130 said!
I disagree with all of you. I think that the songs about a man in a new relationship and the girl keeps talking about what all of her past boyfriends have done for her.["You're up on a pedestal/are we moving too fast?/Feels like I'm in crazy competition with the past"] It makes the guy feel like crap because he keeps trying to do nice things for her, but she just says that someone else already did that for her in the past. He feels like second best.
My favorite line is "Damn, I can't even find/The perfect brush so I can paint what's going through my mind" I love that part. :]
yeah i agree with you the most.
completly agree with xphallusx !! im glad this song is heree i looove it! not for the right reasons but still doo
the only part im a little skeptical about is the "Youre up on a pedestal" part`
help?
I think he's saying he feels like he can't measure up to the past people that have been in that girls life. And he has such strong feelings for her, but he's busting his butt trying to compare with what she's experienced.
Lil' Wayne remix part: This here is on some remix shit. Everything I seem to do; they're leakin' it. and I hate hearin' stories of who I'm sleepin' with. That's why I gotta hide who I got in the ride, so She still think I'm confident, damn, How long will this last? My life is on a pedestal: Am I movin' too fast? Feel like I'm in crazy competition with my past, that's Why I gotta ask, Is anything I'm doin' brand new? Remix, baby: If he can do good, then I can do better. Don't blame me, any man would if he knew better. Mmhm, I don't want to hear about him anymore. But I know you've heard this all before... Drake: Is anything I'm doing brand new? Show me this is brand new. Damn, girl.