Fall Out Boy - Just One Yesterday Lyrics & Meanings

Cover art for Just One Yesterday lyrics by Fall Out Boy

by Vivian1810

12y ago

My favorite song in the entire album because it gives us a rare glimpse into a destructive relationship. It's a song about two people who are very much in love with each other, but they are too similar for their own good.

(I thought of angels Choking on their halos Get them drunk on rose water) - The guy admits that he likes corrupting innocent girls. He's probably done it with every girl he's ever dated.

( See how dirty I can get them Pulling out their fragile teeth And clip their tiny wings) - His goal is to damage them as much as he can, he sounds like a sadist.

(Anything you say can and will be held against you So only say my name It will be held against you) - He's letting her know that her love for him is going to be held against her. He is going to make her regret ever meeting him.

(If heaven’s grief brings hell’s rain Then I’d trade all my tomorrows for just one yesterday) - I honestly think their relationship was spent with both of them always attempting to get the upper hand. They both really did love each other, but when one of them did something wrong, the other always needed to get even. "Heaven's grief" - getting the other to cry brought "hell's rain", meaning that the tears of the other helped soothe the their anger. They both hate each other, but would still give up their entire futures for just one last taste of their past together.

[(I know I’m bad news) For just one yesterday (I saved it all for you) I want to teach you a lesson in the worst kind of way Still I’d trade all my tomorrows for just one yesterday] - She's just like him, Bad news. They fell in love and are each punishing the other because they can't really help it. He wants to get her back for hurting him, but he'd still give up everything for her.

(Letting people down is my thing baby Find yourself a new gig This town ain’t big enough for two of us I don’t have the right name Or the right looks But I have twice the heart) - See, they are both playing the same game. They are both bad people. An unstoppable force and an immovable object, neither can win. Even though he thinks that he's better at this game than she is.

(If I spilled my guts The world would never look at you the same way And I’m here to give you all of my love So I can watch your face as I take it all away) - She's making it clear that he's playing the victim but he's just as guilty as she is. She wants to see him in pain, she wants to crush him.

This is the perfect expression of a dysfunctional relationship between two bad people who fell for the one person who can give them a taste of their own medicine. They are mutually destructive, muder-suicide type stuff going on here. I love the twisted passion behind all of it. Sigh- what a great, great song :)

My favorite song in the entire album because it gives us a rare glimpse into a destructive relationship. It's a song about two people who are very much in love with each other, but they are too similar for their own good.

(I thought of angels
Choking on their halos
Get them drunk on rose water) -  The guy admits that he likes corrupting innocent girls. He's probably done it with every girl he's ever dated.

( See how dirty I can get them
Pulling out their fragile teeth
And clip their tiny wings) - His goal is to damage them as much as he can, he sounds like a sadist.

(Anything you say can and will be held against you
So only say my name
It will be held against you) - He's letting her know that her love for him is going to be held against her. He is going to make her regret ever meeting him.

(If heaven’s grief brings hell’s rain
Then I’d trade all my tomorrows for just one yesterday) - I honestly think their relationship was spent with both of them always attempting to get the upper hand. They both really did love each other, but when one of them did something wrong, the other always needed to get even. "Heaven's grief" - getting the other to cry brought "hell's rain", meaning that the tears of the other helped soothe the  their anger. They both hate each other, but would still give up their entire futures for just one last taste of their past together.

[(I know I’m bad news)
For just one yesterday
(I saved it all for you)
I want to teach you a lesson in the worst kind of way
Still I’d trade all my tomorrows for just one yesterday] - She's just like him, Bad news. They fell in love and are each punishing the other because they can't really help it. He wants to get her back for hurting him, but he'd still give up everything for her.

(Letting people down is my thing baby
Find yourself a new gig
This town ain’t big enough for two of us
I don’t have the right name
Or the right looks
But I have twice the heart) - See, they are both playing the same game. They are both bad people. An unstoppable force and an immovable object, neither can win. Even though he thinks that he's better at this game than she is.

(If I spilled my guts
The world would never look at you the same way
And I’m here to give you all of my love
So I can watch your face as I take it all away) - She's making it clear that he's playing the victim but he's just as guilty as she is. She wants to see him in pain, she wants to crush him.

This is the perfect expression of a dysfunctional relationship between two bad people who fell for the one person who can give them a taste of their own medicine. They are mutually destructive, muder-suicide type stuff going on here. I love the twisted passion behind all of it.
Sigh- what a great, great song :)

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by asumi11619 9y ago

@Vivian1810 OMG what a beautiful definition! This song is like the most confusing song about love ever!

by Lovely97

12y ago

My take on this song is that this guy and girl were in a relationship, but he was purely just using her. He ended up hurting her really bad, and she now wants to get back at him by giving him a taste of his own medicine. She wants to see him go through everything he put her through. I think most of the song is from the girl's point of view.

"I thought of angels Choking on their halos Get them drunk on rose water See how dirty I can get them Pulling out their fragile teeth And clip their tiny wings" -----this is how the guy has approached all his relationships (the angels are the women he's been with)

"I want to teach you a lesson in the worst kind of way ------she wants to break his heart by making him fall for her, then doing to him what he did to her...teaching him a lesson by putting him through it himself

Still I’d trade all my tomorrows for just one yesterday ------she is still hurting and wishes things could've worked between them

(I know I’m bad news) For just one yesterday" ------she knows what she's doing isn't good

"Letting people down is my thing baby Find yourself a new gig This town ain’t big enough for two of us" ------the guy speaking, saying he knows what she's trying to do and that they can't both play this game

" I don’t have the right name Or the right looks But I have twice the heart" -------I believe this is from the girl's point of view, she is saying she knows she doesn't fit the part and isn't like the other girls that would try to break a guys heart, but she has so much reason behind her intentions that she's going to succeed one way or another

"If I spilled my guts The world would never look at you the same way And I’m here to give you all of my love So I can watch your face as I take it all away" -------she knows he's treated her like crap and she isn't going to let him get off the hook this time....

so much meaning to this song, it's my favorite right now

My Interpretation

My take on this song is that this guy and girl were in a relationship, but he was purely just using her. He ended up hurting her really bad, and she now wants to get back at him by giving him a taste of his own medicine. She wants to see him go through everything he put her through. I think most of the song is from the girl's point of view.

"I thought of angels
 Choking on their halos
 Get them drunk on rose water
 See how dirty I can get them
 Pulling out their fragile teeth
 And clip their tiny wings"
-----this is how the guy has approached all his relationships (the angels are the women he's been with)

"I want to teach you a lesson in the worst kind of way
------she wants to break his heart by making him fall for her, then doing to him what he did to her...teaching him a lesson by putting him through it himself

Still I’d trade all my tomorrows for just one yesterday
------she is still hurting and wishes things could've worked between them

(I know I’m bad news)
 For just one yesterday"
------she knows what she's doing isn't good

"Letting people down is my thing baby
 Find yourself a new gig
 This town ain’t big enough for two of us"
------the guy speaking, saying he knows what she's trying to do and that they can't both play this game

" I don’t have the right name
 Or the right looks
 But I have twice the heart"
-------I believe this is from the girl's point of view, she is saying she knows she doesn't fit the part and isn't like the other girls that would try to break a guys heart, but she has so much reason behind her intentions that she's going to succeed one way or another

"If I spilled my guts
 The world would never look at you the same way
 And I’m here to give you all of my love
 So I can watch your face as I take it all away"
-------she knows he's treated her like crap and she isn't going to let him get off the hook this time....

so much meaning to this song, it's my favorite right now

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by FrTHMMRS21 12y ago

Thank you for that insite, I've been depressed lately and in turn havent really been able to think past the "trade all my tomarrows for just one yesterday" part. I was just thinking "yesterday" was happy and my "tomarrows" all look pretty dark. Anyways thanks for helping me see the rest of the song. I think youre absolutely right, and I'm thrilled that the boys are catching the girl side in this song.

by travistee

12y ago

I think that he wronged this girl the past and he knows he hurt her and he also knows that she can do better than him, but he'd give anything to go back in the past just so that he could have her again. He remembers how good they were together and seems to regret what he's done to her, and wants to make it up to her. She on the other hand, remembers this hurt he inflicted upon her and tells him that if she would tell people how he hurt her, then he would be ruined, because everyone would be disgusted at the things he's done. She wants to take advantage of the situation: that he wants her once again, but she doesn't intend on going back to the way they were. She's been over him for a while now. This time, she wishes to make him fall for her all over again, just so she could leave him and hurt him the way he hurt her. That's just my interpretation, I could be totally wrong haha.

My Interpretation

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by darm100 12y ago

I agree for a lot of it. The one thing that I have to add is that I at first thought of this as them talking to their fans and to today's popular music instead of any real woman or lover. Similar to how Eminem talks about hip hop in "25 to Life". The past few years I know FOB has not been as "popular" as they were mid 2000 and for some, who you said you listened to defined you to a point, and so not many would say FOB. I don't know, just my take.

by AnotherNeWorld

11y ago

This is a somewhat darker interpretation, but to me this song sounds like it is about World War II.

"I thought of angels, choking on their halos" This sounds like what Hitler and the Nazis were saying, and the Jews are considered God's chosen people, hence why they are called angels.

"Anything you say can and will be held against you, So only say my name, it will be held against you" This may be about how when the Nazi Party gains control, the people have to follow him or they will be jailed. Also, saying "my name will be held against you" is talking about how Germany will not be able to shake the shadow of Hitler for years to come and the Nazis will pay for their loyalty down the road.

"If heaven's grief brings hell's reign" (I think this is the correct homophone, not sure) "then I'd trade all my tomorrows for just one yesterday" This could be about how Europeans living under the Nazi occupation would desperately miss the times before the war, when they didn't have to worry for their lives.

Now, the second stanza really makes me think of WWII! This would be describing what is going on in Russia at this time.

"Letting people down is my thing, baby Find yourself a new gig, this town ain't big enough for two of us" This may be talking about how Stalin forces Trotsky to leave the country so that he can be sole ruler.

"I don't have the right name Or the right looks, but I have twice the heart" This would be talking about how Lenin has died, and even though he is gone, Stalin will try to rule and continue his legacy.

The chorus again could be talking about how the people would come to regret supporting Stalin as the country suffered through starvation and worse, and they miss the old days when they new peace.

Again, I know this sounds pretty crazy, this is just my interpretation! Probably not what FOB intended but it has some parallels.

My Interpretation

This is a somewhat darker interpretation, but to me this song sounds like it is about World War II.

"I thought of angels, choking on their halos"
This sounds like what Hitler and the Nazis were saying, and the Jews are considered God's chosen people, hence why they are called angels.

"Anything you say can and will be held against you, 
So only say my name, it will be held against you"
This may be about how when the Nazi Party gains control, the people have to follow him or they will be jailed. Also, saying "my name will be held against you" is talking about how Germany will not be able to shake the shadow of Hitler for years to come and the Nazis will pay for their loyalty down the road.

"If heaven's grief brings hell's reign" (I think this is the correct homophone, not sure)
"then I'd trade all my tomorrows for just one yesterday"
This could be about how Europeans living under the Nazi occupation would desperately miss the times before the war, when they didn't have to worry for their lives.

Now, the second stanza really makes me think of WWII! This would be describing what is going on in Russia at this time.

"Letting people down is my thing, baby
Find yourself a new gig, this town ain't big enough for two of us"
This may be talking about how Stalin forces Trotsky to leave the country so that he can be sole ruler.

"I don't have the right name
Or the right looks, but I have twice the heart"
This would be talking about how Lenin has died, and even though he is gone, Stalin will try to rule and continue his legacy.

The chorus again could be talking about how the people would come to regret supporting Stalin as the country suffered through starvation and worse, and they miss the old days when they new peace.

Again, I know this sounds pretty crazy, this is just my interpretation! Probably not what FOB intended but it has some parallels.

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by Fairycat101

12y ago

Anyone else get the 'Me & Bobby' McGee reference?

Song Comparison

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by angelrenegade 9y ago

@Fairycat101 yes yes that's my fav line in that song

by designforgood

11y ago

I love this song and also the Idea of this song. My take to this song is about the friendship between Patrick and Pete and the rest of the band. Patrick left the band for almost 4 years before that Pete was leading the band in the media, interviews, and also in controlling the crowd, while Patrick had some issues with self confidence interacting with others as we all know him as a shy type of person and very polite.When he became more mature, Patrick realize that he needed to be credited more than Pete because he is the star of the band. Tried to take control but Pete wont let down for him before. We all know Pete was controlling the band before and also in lyrics, but Patrick then wanted now to sing his words somehow. He left the band, and created his own songs, as he said in the spotlight o nostalgia - lyrics like" they might try to tell you how to live it right, but dont forget it's your right to do whatever you like" "you can be your own spotlight" He wanted to take control and he does have the right because he is the singer the vocalist, the star and should have been credited and receive more attention than Pete. So he left the fob. But he chose to go back into FOB - "I'll trade all my tomorrows - - (his own future doing solo- as his own spotlight )"for just one yesterday" - getting back to FOB. The line - "I want to teach you a lesson in a worst kind of way" - probably for Pete, the rest of fall out boy, their fans, (Patrick also said in the interview that he left FOB because of fans who turned out as haters during their foliex something album) - he was like saying I can leave fall out boy, I'll teach you a lesson, I can be my own spotlight, I dont need you Pete like a boss, i can put my own lyrics, I can make my own songs, and I will take all the credit for my crafts. -- and Pete learned that he cant run a show without Patrick, yes somehow he was like nothing during their hiatus while Patrick was still able to be like a star with his own songs. -- but regardless - he said "still I'll trade all my tomorrows for just one yesterday" -- STILL Patrick will trade his own future as a solo artist - regardless of the fact that he could still able to run shows, to live, with his own songs without FOB -- but he was willing to trade it to get back again as frontman/VOCALIST of FOB. -- The line "find yourself a new gig, this town aint big for the two of us" Patrick was like saying this for Pete or the rest of FOB, like I will have my own gig, and find your own gig- I could think that he was like saying for Pete, like find yourself a new gig without me, I will seperate from you. See how kind Patrick is, he dont have the right looks or name but he have twice the heart, he still love Pete, his band, FOB, and fans. so he reunited with FOB.

I love this song and also the Idea of this song. My take to this song is about the friendship between Patrick and Pete and the rest of the band. Patrick left the band for almost 4 years before that Pete was leading the band in the media, interviews, and also in controlling the crowd, while Patrick had some issues with self confidence interacting with others as we all know him as a shy type of person and very polite.When he became more mature, Patrick realize that he needed to be credited more than Pete because he is the star of the band. Tried to take control but Pete wont let down for him before. We all know Pete was controlling the band before and also in lyrics, but Patrick then wanted now to sing his words somehow. He left the band, and created his own songs, as he said in the spotlight o nostalgia - lyrics like" they might try to tell you how to live it right, but dont forget it's your right to do whatever you like" "you can be your own spotlight" He wanted to take control and he does have the right because he is the singer the vocalist, the star and should have been credited and receive more attention than Pete.  So he left the fob. But he chose to go back into FOB - "I'll trade all my tomorrows - - (his own future doing solo- as his own spotlight )"for just one yesterday" - getting back to FOB. The line - "I want to teach you a lesson in a worst kind of way" - probably for Pete, the rest of fall out boy, their fans, (Patrick also said in the interview that he left FOB because of fans who turned out as haters during their foliex something album) - he was like saying I can leave fall out boy, I'll teach you a lesson, I can be my own spotlight, I dont need you Pete like a boss, i can put my own lyrics, I can make my own songs, and I will take all the credit for my crafts. -- and Pete learned that he cant run a show without Patrick, yes somehow he was like nothing during their hiatus while Patrick was still able to be like a star with his own songs. -- but regardless - he said "still I'll trade all my tomorrows for just one yesterday" -- STILL Patrick will trade his own future as a solo artist - regardless of the fact that he could still able to run shows, to live, with his own songs without FOB -- but he was willing to trade it to get back again as frontman/VOCALIST of FOB. --
The line "find yourself a new gig, this town aint big for the two of us" Patrick was like saying this for Pete or the rest of FOB, like I will have my own gig, and find your own gig-  I could think that he was like saying for Pete, like find yourself a new gig without me, I will seperate from you. See how kind Patrick is, he dont have the right looks or name but he have twice the heart, he still love Pete, his band, FOB, and fans. so he reunited with FOB.

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by YLewc

12y ago

I think this song is about Pete's relationship with his ex wife. I think this is like his venting song about what went on.

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by SamH270

11y ago

What does "If heaven’s grief brings hell’s rain Then I’d trade all my tomorrows for just one yesterday" mean?
I understand what the song is about, but what does that specific line mean?

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by BrokenHearted1 11y ago

I think the line "if heavens grief bringing hells rain" is about a girl being hurt and retaliating similarly. Kinda like the old "hell hath no fury like a woman scorned" thing. He is not looking forward to what she has in store for him (tomorrow) .

by BrokenHearted1

11y ago

I think its from the guys point of view. He is probably narcissistic or a mind game player and he likes to use/abuse girls just bc he can. It makes him feel powerful. He is bad and wants to make anyone good be bad like he is.

From the lines abt the "town not being big enough for two", it seems maybe he has met his match finally. Someone who is just like him.

I think the line "if heavens grief bringing hells rain" is about a girl being hurt and retaliating similarly. Kinda like the old "hell hath no fury like a woman scorned" thing. But idk really.

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by mazigirl88

11y ago

The impression of this song is that's about a girl's strong words to a man who has wronged her....... {I thought of angels Choking on their halos Get them drunk on rose water See how dirty I can get them Pulling out their fragile teeth And clip their tiny wings} .........I think is referring to the of the people around this man who think that he is a god, aka his angels, the girl in question want to go out with these people who protect his name and watch them trip up and arm her with useful information against this man......therefore clipping them, they cannot protect him anymore.

Anything you say can and will be held against you So only say my name It will be held against you........this appears to me that a lot has gone on between the them and she remembers it all and any information she get's back only fuels very thing she already has against him....so in turn the fact this guy even mentions her is another offence good, bad or indifferent.

If heaven’s grief brings hell’s rain .....if there is a chance that this guys misfortune meets her anger or if her anger makes him have misfortune,

Then I’d trade all my tomorrows for just one yesterday (I know I’m bad news) For just one yesterday (I saved it all for you) I want to teach you a lesson in the worst kind of way Still I’d trade all my tomorrows for just one yesterday (I know I’m bad news) For just one yesterday (I saved it all for you) For just one yesterday....This girl is in real pain, she wants justice over the way she has been treated and made feel.....tomorrow only brings her the same thoughts and feeling so she would happily give up all of her tomorrows to go back and redeem herself by teaching him a lesson.

Letting people down is my thing baby Find yourself a new gig This town ain’t big enough for two of us I don’t have the right name Or the right looks But I have twice the heart...........Letting people down sound to me like she is throwing his own words back, she wasn't good enough, she didn't have the merit for this guy in question but she did have love for him and that what hurts. The town isn't big enough for the two of them as she cannot escape the hurt he has brought her and she wants him gone.

If I spilled my guts The world would never look at you the same way And I’m here to give you all of my love So I can watch your face as I take it all away.....If she was to open up, let it all out what happened between them two, people would side with her due to the weight of her hurt. I think she want to show him she cannot be fooled anymore but just for the sake of justice and redemption she want him to believe she still cares only to suck him in to reject him in same she was.

It a great song, well written.

My Opinion

The impression of this song is that's about a girl's strong words to a man who has wronged her.......
{I thought of angels
Choking on their halos
Get them drunk on rose water
See how dirty I can get them
Pulling out their fragile teeth
And clip their tiny wings} .........I think is referring to the of the people around this man who think that he is a god, aka his angels, the girl in question want to go out with these people who protect his name and watch them trip up and arm her with useful information against this man......therefore clipping them, they cannot protect him anymore.

Anything you say can and will be held against you
So only say my name
It will be held against you........this appears to me that a lot has gone on between the them and she remembers it all and any information she get's back only fuels very thing she already has against him....so in turn the fact this guy even mentions her is another offence good, bad or indifferent.

If heaven’s grief brings hell’s rain .....if there is a chance that this guys misfortune meets her anger or if her anger makes him have misfortune,

Then I’d trade all my tomorrows for just one yesterday
(I know I’m bad news)
For just one yesterday
(I saved it all for you)
I want to teach you a lesson in the worst kind of way
Still I’d trade all my tomorrows for just one yesterday
(I know I’m bad news)
For just one yesterday
(I saved it all for you)
For just one yesterday....This girl is in real pain, she wants justice over the way she has been treated and made feel.....tomorrow only brings her the same thoughts and feeling so she would happily give up all of her tomorrows to go back and redeem herself by teaching him a lesson.

Letting people down is my thing baby
Find yourself a new gig
This town ain’t big enough for two of us
I don’t have the right name
Or the right looks
But I have twice the heart...........Letting people down sound to me like she is throwing his own words back, she wasn't good enough, she didn't have the merit for this guy in question but she did have love for him and that what hurts. The town isn't big enough for the two of them as she cannot escape the hurt he has brought her and she wants him gone.

If I spilled my guts
The world would never look at you the same way
And I’m here to give you all of my love
So I can watch your face as I take it all away.....If she was to open up, let it all out what happened between them two, people would side with her due to the weight of her hurt. I think she want to show him she cannot be fooled anymore but just for the sake of justice and redemption she want him to believe she still cares only to suck him in to reject him in same she was.

It a great song, well written.

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