Good Good Things

Haha here I am on a dead thread with comments older than me but here we go.

I don’t feel that this song is meant to describe a very nice relationship you should aspire to have. Rather a superficial one.

So come on down and walk with me, and tell me I'm your man I only want to know a couple of things about you

Again the speaker is depicted as just interested in being called someone’s “man” he specifically just wants that romantic identifier. He only wants to know a couple of things about the girl, he isn’t interested truly in who she is, just this dynamic of being her man and being in a relationship. It’s superficial.

Where were you when I was in so much trouble with myself? And do you still believe in me like I believe?

He sees this girl as an answer to his problems, maybe problems about self esteem? Almost blaming. He seems self-conscious that she doesn’t “believe” in him and will leave him.

I've been thinking good, good things about you Cool and warm, good, good things about you If you've been thinking good, good things about me

This part seems sweet on its own, but with the rest of the lyrics I don’t read it that way. “Good, good things” is pretty vague, “good” and “things” I feel it only stresses the superficiality of this romance. We have this motif of “cool” and “warm” throughout the song, a contrast. Some kinda conflict in the relationship or within the speaker. First verse, “Cooling my blood, warming my heart” hmmm odd image. Maybe it means this relationship is emotionally fulfilling in some way, he thinks this is what he wants and it’s making him happy, but it’s “cooling [his] blood,” I can only think of reptiles and how “cold-blooded” is used. This relationship is also just making him emotionally callous, probably because it’s not real. He’s thinking “cool and warm” things about the girl, he’s conflicted with her and how he feels about her. and! We get an “If” in the start of the third line. “If you’ve been thinking, good, good things about me” what is this if attached to? The lines above. The speaker is only thinking all of these good things about the girl if she also is. He seems so dependent on feeling attraction and care for her only if she also is. Hmmmmmmmm.

On my own, I know where you go

So when the speaker is alone, not with his girlfriend, he is saying he knows where she goes, as if where she goes is some sort of secret. Maybe when he’s not with his girl she’s cheating on him, but he knowsss. It could be real unfaithfulness or just what he’s thinking, but there’s jealousy and turbulence.

Living the lie, in your eyes

They’re living a lie of this superficial romance, and it’s emphasized how it’s in the girls eyes. Yknow staring into someone’s eyes all romantic, but this romantic environment they’re in is one of a lie.

Let's see if I can get it right with you this time around I'm not afraid of losing you, my little girl But do you still believe in me like I believe?

So we wants to get it right this time around, meaning they’ve broken up before. The “let’s see” is so flippant, when if you truly cared for somebody you’d be so dedicated to doing it right! He even says, “I’m not afraid of losing you” he’s trying to display himself as not super interested in keeping her and getting her back. key word, “display.” The speaker, and probably his girlfriend too, are in this weird performance of caring and uncaring all based on the other’s level of care. It just feels spiteful. It’s an act of this uncaring macho man. “Little girl” is kinda weird too. I think it adds to this image of who the speaker is trying to act like, and addressing his girlfriend as a “little girl” only emphasizes this dynamic he wants. But then he goes back to this insecurity, because he needs reassurance from her that she still believes in him. It’s ironic!

I’d say this song isn’t meant to be romantic, it’s just showing a superficial relationship that only acts, mainly, to make the speaker feel better about himself. He wants to be her man, he wants to be in a relationship, he wants to be all strong and tough enough that he doesn’t care about his girlfriend, he wants her to be the little girl in comparison to him. He wants this relationship because he’s deeply insecure in himself. He’s just performing.

I don’t think this song is from the perspective of Bill Stevenson, it’s clearly very self-aware and intentional in its irony. But yes I don’t read it as romantic. It’s still a classic and I think the song’s absolutely wonderful, and I don’t think it not being romantic should take away any real enjoyment or be in conflict with the awesomeness of the song.

[Edit: spacing]

Various points in my life can be summed up by Descendents songs. This one in particular is so representative of the best kinds of relationships (thanks David:)).

Another badd ass descendents song i dont think thers one i dont like! theyre freakin awesome i 100% recommend this bandto any one and everyone if you dont like it i'll le you punch me in the faceand i wouldnt say that enless i was nearly 99.9% sure you'll love it just as i do -BRi

i love this song, it has such a special feel to it. milo's vocals are really awesome,

this song is just incredible. nothing else i can say about it. it's a pretty simple song, but there's so much emotion in it and milo's vocals are perfect.