3 Meanings
Add Yours
Follow
Share
Q&A
A Bigger Point of Pride Lyrics
While the years are still on my side,
My back is strong, my eyes are wide.
I want the work I do to be a bigger point of pride.
Grow up, get a job, and cut that hair.
Run off, join the army for all they care,
Or bring a blanket; it gets awfully cold
When you can't afford the heat and you're sleepin' alone.
Love living life from couch to couch;
Thought myself content living hand to mouth.
But when everything you own fits in a single bag,
No matter how light the load, it tends to drag.
While the years are still on my side,
My back is strong, my eyes are wide.
I want the work I do to be a bigger point of pride.
Momma said there'd be days like this
But she's been too late too much this year.
(Momma said, Momma said)
Waking up when I was going to sleep before;
Bars are closing, I'm already out the door.
No semblance of stability
On old runner's legs in doubt.
I still even have the ability
To run this race without
My sacrifice... Recognize...
While the years are still on my side,
My back is strong, my eyes are wide.
I want the work I do to be a bigger point of pride.
While the years are still on my side,
My back is strong, my eyes are wide.
I want the work I do to be a bigger point of pride.
I make junk mail for The Man
Soon I'll be inking up your hands
While you toss away my work
Machines whir and I make plans
I make junk mail for The Man
I've been inking up your hands
While your sacrifice goes unrecognized...
[Instrumental Break w/ group "oohs" & "aahs"]
While the years are still on my side,
My back is strong, my eyes are wide.
I want the work I do to be a bigger point of pride.
While the years are still on my side,
My back is strong, my eyes are wide.
I want the work I do to be a bigger point of pride.
I want the work I do to be a bigger point of pride.
I want the work I do to be a bigger point of pride.
My back is strong, my eyes are wide.
I want the work I do to be a bigger point of pride.
Run off, join the army for all they care,
Or bring a blanket; it gets awfully cold
When you can't afford the heat and you're sleepin' alone.
Thought myself content living hand to mouth.
But when everything you own fits in a single bag,
No matter how light the load, it tends to drag.
My back is strong, my eyes are wide.
I want the work I do to be a bigger point of pride.
But she's been too late too much this year.
(Momma said, Momma said)
Waking up when I was going to sleep before;
Bars are closing, I'm already out the door.
No semblance of stability
On old runner's legs in doubt.
I still even have the ability
To run this race without
My sacrifice... Recognize...
My back is strong, my eyes are wide.
I want the work I do to be a bigger point of pride.
My back is strong, my eyes are wide.
I want the work I do to be a bigger point of pride.
Soon I'll be inking up your hands
While you toss away my work
Machines whir and I make plans
I make junk mail for The Man
I've been inking up your hands
While your sacrifice goes unrecognized...
My back is strong, my eyes are wide.
I want the work I do to be a bigger point of pride.
My back is strong, my eyes are wide.
I want the work I do to be a bigger point of pride.
I want the work I do to be a bigger point of pride.
I want the work I do to be a bigger point of pride.
Song Info
Submitted by
thisiskacey On Sep 13, 2010
More You, Me, and Everyone We Know
Livin' Th' Dream
Do It Again (You're Not Making Me Want to Touch You)
Carolina Heat
I Can Get Back Up Now (Feat. Max Bemis)
Some Things Don't Wash Out
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
This is probably one of their weaker songs in my mind (but still excellent), but I'm wondering if "ink on your hands" is an allusion to "What Ink Can Really Do." Ben has always said he chooses words carefully... interesting.
I think "By myself" is right, but it does sound weird there.
Ben really is a lyrical genius, and I mean that with all of the weight and sincerity it deserves. He has the ability to build a phrase that at once conveys two or three or more completely separate ideas and emotional responses, and better yet, he has the passion and vocal ability to deliver it in such a way that no one else could come close to his level of performance. Normally you'd expect a person who's been through as much shit as he has to be cynical and closed off, but here we have a man who can compress...
Ben really is a lyrical genius, and I mean that with all of the weight and sincerity it deserves. He has the ability to build a phrase that at once conveys two or three or more completely separate ideas and emotional responses, and better yet, he has the passion and vocal ability to deliver it in such a way that no one else could come close to his level of performance. Normally you'd expect a person who's been through as much shit as he has to be cynical and closed off, but here we have a man who can compress one of the most life-altering and traumatic experiences of his life into four short lines. He bares his soul in every show he plays. I admire the hell out of him.
yeah i thought it was "by myself," too. so i think you're right. :)
my friend nicole and i have been picking this album apart, and i realized today that in the previous line, the background vocals clearly say "couch to couch," but ben doesn't put a "ch" sound at the end the second time... It's more of an "st" kind of sound, and there's no "b" between that and "myself"...
my friend nicole and i have been picking this album apart, and i realized today that in the previous line, the background vocals clearly say "couch to couch," but ben doesn't put a "ch" sound at the end the second time... It's more of an "st" kind of sound, and there's no "b" between that and "myself"...
long story short, i think ben's interntionally layering the phrases to make the second one hard to decipher (maybe to sneak something in that he needs to get out without being too obvious...
long story short, i think ben's interntionally layering the phrases to make the second one hard to decipher (maybe to sneak something in that he needs to get out without being too obvious about it? he's tricky!), and i've got "love living life from couch to couch/???? on myself; content living hand to mouth"
???? = starts with a hard C, followed by an "ah" or "ou" vowel sound, and ending with "st". not sure what comes between those steps. :[
aahh, i see what you're saying. i'm not completely sold on the idea of it being that complicated, but it's a really interesting theory. ill keep listening to see if i can figure anything out, though.
aahh, i see what you're saying. i'm not completely sold on the idea of it being that complicated, but it's a really interesting theory. ill keep listening to see if i can figure anything out, though.
it could just be that he's launching into the next word early, but i KNOW he doesn't finish a 2nd "couch". lol i have listened to that section of the song so many times that i'm starting to risk insanity! :P
it could just be that he's launching into the next word early, but i KNOW he doesn't finish a 2nd "couch". lol i have listened to that section of the song so many times that i'm starting to risk insanity! :P
One of my favorites from the new album. Fantastic message about not being complacent and making something of yourself while you're still young and in your prime.
I think the ink bridge is possibly referring to a menial job (working in a print shop, making junk mail for the man), and the ink feeling you get on your hands from newspapers. The machines are churning and he's planning his "escape". Meanwhile, his sacrifice (of the gift) goes unrecognized...he's just another cog in the machine.