As We Go Up, We Go Down

I think this song is about... Guided by Voices. And the vicissitudes of fame.

Guided by Voices became very hip after their breakthrough album, Bee Thousand -- a "hipster shibboleth," to borrow a phrase from Michael Azerrad. In this song, Pollard seems to lament his lack of foresight: he'd thought that he wanted to be a rock star, but he's quickly realizing that, even at his relatively modest level of success, the position requires significant lifestyle compromises ("See the truth... is just a lie").

He gives a few examples of these compromises up front. He has to deal with way more people now, which can be draining on a number of levels ("I can't socialize, I'll be institutionalized"). He also seems to feel that he has to put on a brash, confident face that doesn't fit his personality at all ("I can't terrorize, I see terror in your eyes"). In a tired monotone, he delivers a probably-futile-but-undoubtedly-cathartic plea: "Leave my fucking life alone."

Amazing song.

when you first get into a relationship everything is bliss and then as time goes on you realize exactly who they really are.these experiences are sometimes scary and hard to deal with.as so with life it can all be a big lie.

'truth' is a hard word to define...it's different to anybody else. You can't really trust anybody who uses that word in it's absolute context

Sounds like a rebellion song. And I mean that in the best possible way: Bob Pollard is an incredible songwriter and lyricist.

A lot of the songs on Bee Thousand and Alien Lanes remind me of various psychiatric diagnoses. This song, to me, sounds like it is about a guy who is on a manic high. The mania makes him see things differently, more clearly - hence he sees what he thought was the truth as a lie. He doesn't want to end up in the hospital again so he speaks in monotone, pretending he isn't in a manic state, he avoids socializing etc. "Watch Me Jumpstart* is another example of a manic episode. Either that or these songs are about the effects of amphetamines - drug induced manic episode.

A lot of the songs on Bee Thousand and Alien Lanes remind me of various psychiatric diagnoses. This song, to me, sounds like it is about a guy who is on a manic high. The mania makes him see things differently, more clearly - hence he sees what he thought was the truth as a lie. He doesn't want to end up in the hospital again so he speaks in monotone, pretending he isn't in a manic state, he avoids socializing etc. "Watch Me Jumpstart* is another example of a manic episode. Either that or these songs are about the effects of amphetamines - drug induced manic episode.

"I speak in monotone, leave my fucking life alone," has to be one of the greatest lines ever written.