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.
We don't need any more mountains
Because the trail builders
Failed to give us passage there
So we can't reach the sky
We don't need any more failure
There is human tragedy
That's written everywhere
And we are all too young to die
Like a mystery that's here to stay
Some people never go away
'cause they've got something to say
Don't sell me short!
You've been wrong too long
Don't brush me off
Just because I don't belong
Like it or not I'm all you've got,
Dispose when I'm shot
Just don't sell me short,
I might not be who you thought
We don't need any more fables
Because the writers have passed
And left us lessonless
And we must find our own way
We don't need any more privilege
There is vivid desperation
That is powerless
That no surplus can repay
Like the fix of rapture in a trance
Oh, fates are sealed by circumstance
So you've got to take a chance
Don't sell me short!
You've been wrong too long
Don't brush me off
Just because I don't belong
Pass me on by, ignore my cry,
Forget me when I die
Just don't sell me short,
Not while I'm still alive
Everybody's talking about heaven on earth,
I'm still trying to figure out
Just what I'm worth
I'm full of emotion
And stuff you can't contain
And you just want to
Flush me down the drain
But you can't make me go away
Because the trail builders
Failed to give us passage there
So we can't reach the sky
We don't need any more failure
There is human tragedy
That's written everywhere
And we are all too young to die
Like a mystery that's here to stay
Some people never go away
'cause they've got something to say
Don't sell me short!
You've been wrong too long
Don't brush me off
Just because I don't belong
Like it or not I'm all you've got,
Dispose when I'm shot
Just don't sell me short,
I might not be who you thought
We don't need any more fables
Because the writers have passed
And left us lessonless
And we must find our own way
We don't need any more privilege
There is vivid desperation
That is powerless
That no surplus can repay
Like the fix of rapture in a trance
Oh, fates are sealed by circumstance
So you've got to take a chance
Don't sell me short!
You've been wrong too long
Don't brush me off
Just because I don't belong
Pass me on by, ignore my cry,
Forget me when I die
Just don't sell me short,
Not while I'm still alive
Everybody's talking about heaven on earth,
I'm still trying to figure out
Just what I'm worth
I'm full of emotion
And stuff you can't contain
And you just want to
Flush me down the drain
But you can't make me go away
Lyrics submitted by Kpizzle, edited by Mellow_Harsher
Don't Sell Me Short Lyrics as written by Greg Graffin
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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"We don't need any more fables... priviledge... mountains... etc"
These are all metaphors for conservative values.
"Don't sell me short, you've been wrong too long. Don't brush me off just because I don't belong"
This is a man pleaing with the public to stop ignoring progressive voices (such as bad religion). Conservative values aren't helping anymore, so people should give progressives a chance.
bingo. fables= organized religion, privilege= the rich. not really sure what "mountains" equal though. maybe their combined presence?
this song is so good! i saw bad religion at warped yesterday! they are awesome live!
This song is good. This is one of the only songs off that album i like. I've seen them live a couple of times, just awesome.
What it means to me is someone is being underestimated as they give the same advice Bad Religion does, and that they really aren't who everyone thinks they are. "..Don't sell me short / I might not be who you thought.."
Give everyone the time to express themselves, and give them the respect they deserver as humans.
This song is by far my all time favorite. Bad Religion in my opinion is one of the best punk bands out there. I just love this song becuz its exactly how I feel about the world today and all the people in it who are too quick to judge and dont give ppl a chance to express the way the feel about certain issues GREAT FUKING SONG!
People really do judge people much too quickly based on looks and clothing, without really getting to know what the person is really about. Everyone deserves a chance to express themselves.
The New America is so underrated. By being so optimistic and strong in the lyrics, Bad Religion put out their most different album since Into The Unknown
haha. I love how people hate things because of principal rather than quality. In a way, isn't that what this song is about? You despised the albums because you didn't want a big label associated with Bad Religion. Because Atlantic wasn't supposed to be in the scene and society you built around yourself maybe? Don't sell that stuff short just because it's different, it still has a lot of power and deserves to be accepted. But yeah, Brett was very needed in the band to give the songs more diversity.
Oh, and Into the Unknown didn't suck. It was not Punk. So as "Punk" music it sucked, but as music it wasn't all too bad.
Text is great. Unfortunately punk is too monotonous for me. But this is great.