Nobody's Fault But My Own

The lyrics above are from an early live version of the song, played 3 months before the album came out. The final version is as follows on the LP (Mutations):

Treated you like a rusty blade, a throwaway from an open grave Cut you loose from a chain gang who let you go And on the day you said it's true, some love holds, some gets used Tried to tell you I never knew it could be so sweet Who could ever be so cruel? Blame the devil for the things you do? It's such a selfish way to lose, the way you lose these wasted blues, these wasted blues Tell me that it's nobody's fault, nobody's fault but my own Tell me that it's nobody's fault, nobody's fault but my own Tell me that it's nobody's fault, nobody's fault but my own Tell me that it's nobody's fault, nobody's fault but my own

When the moon is a counterfeit, better find the one that fits Better find the one that lights the way for you When the road is full of nails, garbage pails and darkened jails And the tongues are full of heartless tales that drain on you Who would ever notice you? You fade into a shaded room It's such a selfish way to lose, the way you lose these wasted blues, these wasted blues Tell me that it's nobody's fault, nobody's fault but my own Tell me that it's nobody's fault, nobody's fault but my own Tell me that it's nobody's fault, nobody's fault but my own Tell me that it's nobody's fault, nobody's fault but my own

Tell me that it's nobody's fault, nobody's fault but my own Tell me that it's nobody's fault, nobody's fault but my own

Its about someone who blames everyone else for the things that go bad in her life.

All Beck wants is to hear her take responsibility and own up to her mistakes.

'It's such a selfish way to lose' referring to blaming everyone else.

Great song. Reminds me a bit of "The End" by The Doors.

'when the road is full of nails, garbage pails and darkened gaols' what an utterly brilliant lyric... i've never heard a line that so sums up the hardship and hopelessness and sinister nature of depression.

I have to say that I think this is one of the greatest breakup songs of all time....

I always thought he meant the line "tell me that it's nobody's fault.." to be sort of ironic because he's saying it like a command or request-- he wants someone else to tell HIM it's HIS fault. It almost strikes me as masochistic or maybe just an expression of existential horror, like, "Wow, there was no predetermined outcome to this relationship, my (or our) own actions ruined it when we could've saved it." And that is truly more frightening than if some sort of deterministic fate (blame the devil) had intervened to screw it up (So from that angle he may be sort of "saying it for both of them" I suppose).

"When the moon is a counterfeit... better find the one that lights the way for you," that line in particular has always stuck with me. As other posters have mentioned, it really captures that sense of crushing depression that can follow a tough break-up of a relationship. But also I like that it speaks to isolation in general as it relates to finding true companionship. How do you find "the one that lights the way for you" with all these hazards everywhere (connection to another Mutations song: "holding hands with an impotent dream, in a brothel of fake energy")?? And him choosing to make something as fundamental as the moon "counterfeit" is conveying how, particularly with romantic relationships, you can be totally misled and way way off course, with blinders on-- being with the wrong person (a counterfeit moon) for too long or not being with the right one (the real moon) for some silly reason.

Just .. great! IT's so sad there aren't more comments about BECK songs. : (

beck has always been good and still is. he's AWSOME in all ways. gotta love the guy. wonderful song though!!!

peace

it's really just a song about loneliness, depression, and desolation. and yet, such beautiful music. clearly a precursor to SEA CHANGE.

pumkinhed hit the nail on the head. Just a lonely guy with a guitar (and a sitar). The song gives me chills...Everyone experiences these feelings and when one does, its so easy to relate to this song.

i wouldn't say mutations was my favorite beck cd, but this song makes it totally worth it. by far the best song on the cd.