Build me up don’t get me down,
weather the storm.
Well, life goes on.
Feelings ebb and flow by hour.
You’re up in the clouds,
and then you sink like a stone.

So do you fill yourself with pills
to deaden your ills?
Or are you only one love short of happiness?
And in a picture on the wall
no glimmer of yourself at all.
You’ve let yourself fall away.

Build me up, don’t mop my brow,
weather the storm,
because life goes on.
Missed my only hope right now.
It’s all I can do
not to sink like a stone.

So do you fill yourself with pills
to deaden your ills?
Or are you only one love short of happiness?
And in a picture on the wall
no glimmer of yourself at all.
You’ve left yourself far away.

So do you fill yourself with pills
to cure you of your ills?
Or are you only one love short of the happy days to come?
And in a picture on the wall
can’t see your face at all.
So untie yourself,
because that’s all you’ve got to do.
And I can grab those wings
and I can take up flying
won’t be no crying.
Up in the air, looking back down.
And let me tell you if I talk about gloom
I don’t get out of feeling down.
It strips you of yourself
and splits you from the self that you know.


Lyrics submitted by shaymanrock

Life Goes On song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

3 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    I believe this song is a lot about The Sundays becoming disillusioned (or perhaps they weren't illusioned at all) with the Music biz. It didn't make Static & Silence, but was probably recorded in those album sessions. As the title suggest, it could be about them moving on from their band.

    Or not. Music is subjective after all.

    RobiWanon May 05, 2013   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Album art
Holiday
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday". I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Album art
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Album art
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version. Great version of a great song,
Album art
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.