Steady, As She Goes

I agree with those who have talked about this being about giving in to social pressure. It strikes me that the point is that, like in "You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You're Told)," going steady can't be real love. Not because of long term commitment being incompatible with love (it is indispensible, in fact), but because this is a fundamentally selfish thing that the man has done in the song. He has been drawn to (false) love because he's finally found the limits of single life via his friends (who have presumably settled down themselves). Problem is, he is trying to have all the self-indulgence of single life with all the benefits of going steady. And he has done it all at society's prodding. Thus, he will always "feel as though [he] tripped and fell" because he has desires that cannot be fulfilled, but he makes it his only purpose to fulfill them, even when his very "blood is depleted to the point of stable glue" (great imagery!).

In the end, the "protagonist" is not such a bad guy: he is just as selfish as anyone else. He has tried to do his agreed upon part in society (which is justice, if anything), but has made the mistake of not examining the hollowness of what society is trying to sell him. He is not, and will not, be happy, but he deceives himself into thinking he is and ends by "send[ing] it to the crowd that's gathered round." That is, he is passing on the same lie that society first told him, and which has by now eaten away at his very life.

Whatever Jack does is amazing...all I have to say

about a guy who can't settle down and stick with a girl, and if he tries it doesnt feel right anyways?

Wow. I remember hearing this song for the first time on the radio and I just loved the opening bass riff. Aw man, it was pretty much just orgasmic. Then I heard their voices. Holy crap, I was pretty sure that I was in love with this band. I think their voices and talents blend together so well -- I'm glad that Jack is branching out.

Anyways, this song -- I think it's about a guy who loves the single life (who doesn't?), but society never fails to pressure you into getting married and having kids, and that's pretty much what's happening here. He sees his friends in a new light and realizes that, "Hey, maybe I should settle down...?" But that's followed by the fact that if he settles down, he's never going to truly be happy that way. I kinda see it as saying that society is pressuring us into doing things that we're uncomfortable with or just not ready for yet (but maybe I'm crazy...?).

Either way, think what you will -- this is an amazing song. I can't wait for the album -- which comes out on May 15/16. :) Cheers guys!

"When you have completed what you thought you had to do And your blood's depleted to the point of stable glue"- Good stuff!

Doesnt everybody have a fear of commitment?

I agree, this is good but overhyped.

I don't think it's about a fear of commitment in general, but making the wrong commitments.

I think the song is about how so many people get married for all the wrong reasons, namely the pressure from family and friends to get married, have kids, settle down, buy a house, etc. and how this person realizes where this road leads down and knows that it will not give them happiness, but rather a sense of disappointment. Thus, you need to look at what are the reasons behind making a commitment, and the singer is remarking how unfortunate it is that many people make such decisions for all the wrong reasons.

But that's just me.

It's a catchy song. I think it's pretty much about how a guy realizes the life that he has been living is bland and boring, and though he thought he wanted normalcy and the picturesque quiet life with family and all, he now sees that it's not what he wants and everything he has he has "settled" for

I have to agree in what DeathAngle and ABG said. Sounds perfect anyway. ^_^

" Find yourself a girl, and settle down Live a simple life in a quiet town"

This is what the people are telling him.

"Well here we go again, you've found yourself a friend, that knows you well But no matter what you do, you'll always feel as though you tripped and fell"

Hmm...Wierd part of the song, not too sure I understand it. "You found yourself a friend that knows you well" This could be the person they could ask to marry like their friends are telling them....But he knows it's not right, cause he's only doing it for the pressure.

"Settle for a girl and buckle down Send it to the crowd that's gathered round"

So he found a girl, now he's going to ask her to marry him and brag it to his friends that were pressuring him in the first place. Just doing it for the show.

"Steady as she goes Are you steady now?"

A question he might ask himself. So, he's married now. Yay. Skippee....Right? Or is he having second thoughts, like it wasn't the right thing to do? Just wasn't ready. Got ahead of himself.

-shrug- I dunno. Just throwin my own idea out there.

Clever song, good band. Like the new work from Jack White.

The first thing one needs for a successful marriage, as many long-time marrieds have said, is a friend. That's priority one. If you've got a friend on top of searing passion, well, then you've got yourself an amazing combination.

I feel that the subject of the song is indeed feeling the pressures of society, as many here have stated. The bit that gets me is that there must be disappointment, or he isn't committing for the right reasons, etc. He's obviously to a point at his life where he's done with the single bit and now he wants to see how the other half lives.

However, friends, as they often do, want to make sure that the decision-making process isn't flawed. They seem okay with his leap into matrimony, but not quite convinced that he's doing it for himself or society (another fine point that someone mentioned.)

I think the particular line "no matter what you do, you'll always feel as if you tripped and fell" is a metaphor for the infatuation itself, and not necessarily a bad thing. After all, we "fall" in love. Some of us even "trip on it" as well. Countless songs have played with the myriad semantics we use to describe courtship.

But this song has a hidden cynicism -- coming from the single friends, not the marrieds. Once he's "completed what he thought he had to do" (gotten into the married life, settled down, made the commitment) -- "and your blood's depleted to the point of stable glue" (perhaps the most telling line of the song) then everything changes.

For me, this is the hands-down most indicative lyric of the entire song. We see blood as life, virility and dynamism. We even use extreme action words for it. Rushing, pumping, flowing, racing, etc. Regulated by our heart, it's one of the most powerful forces of life.

And here ... it's become stable glue.

Psychologically, the single believes that marriage can only work if that 'blood' becomes 'glue'. If everything that is dynamic, spontaneous and passionate becomes well-worn, routine, and predictable. It's the debate of the ages. Can the passion last throughout marriage?

As a resolution to all his woes, he's deciding to be pragmatic about it. It can't hurt. He's not denying himself the new life nor is he rushing into it. He's evaluating the pros and the cons and deciding to dip a toe before going swimming.

Again, just my $0.02. But that's what this site's about, so ... muse on!

His friends advise him:

"Find yourself a girl, and settle down Live a simple life in a quiet town"

He did, but now it's:

"Steady as she goes (steady as she goes) Steady as she goes (steady as she goes) So steady as she goes"

He must remain composed as she goes on and on yapping and bossing him around. (I guess that would be the typical male point of view.)

OR

"Steady as she goes (steady as she goes) Steady as she goes (steady as she goes) So steady as she goes"

He's must keep it cool and not give in and go after her, thus risking the marriage his friends are convincing him to pursue. (If he is afraid of the commitment.)

"Well here we go again, you've found yourself a friend that knows you well But no matter what you do, you'll always feel as though you tripped and fell"

He becomes friends with a girl, but as always, ends up falling for her.

"When you have completed what you thought you had to do And your blood's depleted to the point of stable glue Then you'll get along"

Obviously, the pair can get along only when one of them yields in favor of the other, in this case HE's the one complying.