Tag Archives: lyrics

Heartache Songs 3 – Fun. “Out on the Town”

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Heartache Songs 1

Heartache Songs 2

Heartache Songs 3

Nate Ruess, who broke your heart?

With no irony, no declarations of guilty pleasures, I admit am a shameless sincere full-on fan of the epic rock band Fun.. Among my very favorite bands, especially current music. And what a singer.

I prefer this live version of the bonus song from the seminal album Some Nights (of which the eponymous song “Some Nights” is of course brilliant, among many others…). I’ve listened to many of those songs on repeat again and again, and this one in particular like no other.

If you pay attention you will see Mr. Ruess’s songwriting contains some consistent themes, and again I ask the question: Dude, who broke your poor heart?

Now, these lyrics don’t necessarily apply to what I’ve specifically done, y’know making a scene and all, but I’ve been pretty damn close. I can relate to the feelings a bit. Most of all, I relate to the part about knowing I can be more clever and strong and mostly clever.

That’s it. End of the series, no more heartache music from me. I’m over it, and I’ll spare you Bright Eyes. Lucky you.

Still, hope you give this a listen and if you’ve been there I hope it’s a small comfort:

I set all my regrets on fire
Cause I know I’ll never take the time
To unpack my missteps and call all of our friends
I figured they would take your side

I make the bed, just not that well
Your name comes up a lot
When I talk to my mom
Oh, I think she can tell

I was out on the town
So I came to your window last night
I tried not to throw stones
But I wanted to come inside
Now I’m causing a scene
Thinking you need a reason to smile
Oh no, what have I done?
There’s no one to keep me warm

So maybe I should put up a fight
I’ll call them back and borrow a box knife
So I can learn to live with all the stupid shit
I’ve been doing since ’99

And I know I could be more clever
And I know I could be more strong
But I’m waiting for the day
You’ll come back and say
“Hey, maybe I should change my mind”

I drink a lot
I’m not sure if that’s new
But these days when I wake up
From a night I forgot
I just wish that it never came true

I was out on the town
So I came to your window last night
I tried not to throw stones
But I wanted to come inside
Now I’m causing a scene
Thinking you need a reason to smile
Oh no, what have I done?
There’s no one to keep me warm

And I know I could be more clever
And I know I could be more strong
And I know I could be more clever
And I know I could be more CLEVER

I knew there’d come a day
When all was said and done
(And I know I could be more clever)
Everything I was
Is everything but gone
(And I know I could be more strong)
All my big mistakes
Are bouncing off your wall
(And I know I could be more clever)
The bottles never break
The sun will never comes
(And I know I could be more clever)
So come on let me in
I will be the sun
(And I know I could be more CLEVER)
I will wake you up
I am who I was
(And I know I could be more strong)
So beat up your heart, oh beat up your heart, oh beat up your heart
(And I know I could be more CLEVER
And I know I could be more)

I was out on the town
So I came to your window last night
I tried not to throw stones
But I wanted to come inside
Now I’m causing a scene
Thinking you need a reason to smile
Oh no, what have I done?
There’s no one to keep me warm

Heartache Songs 2 – Passion Pit “It’s Not My Fault I’m Happy”

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The second of my short series on heartache songs — the first of which being “The Mess” by the Naked and Famous.

More indietronica, more good jogging songs.

I’d always liked Passion Pit, famed for me from the 2009 “Sleepyhead” from those commercials. And I’d argue that they consistently improved with their second studio album Gossamer in 2012. “Love is Greed” from the album being a poignant song of such themes as well.

But this song “It’s Not My Fault I’m Happy” really spoke to me. And so catchy~

The lyrics speak of unfairness, judgment, how if you knew and saw you’d have said it was the final straw. It’s not right to be the only one who sees us fight. Those bastards deserve to pay! It’s not fair that I’m the only one who seems to care…

Without going into details, let’s just say I can relate.

Sorry I couldn’t be there, I was tied to a rocking chair
I was beat down to a pulp rocking back and forth somewhere
If you knew, if you saw, you’d have said it was the final straw
That my life was bound and tethered on a porch by the shore

But there is no no no no
easy way to tell them so, the things you know
And run run run run
Run they say, they think they know exactly so

It’s not right, it’s not right
How am I the only one who sees us fight?
What are we? Who are they?
Who says those bastards don’t deserve to pay?
Well it’s enough, it’s just enough ’cause we don’t stand a chance
So long you stay around, you’re just another song and dance
It’s not fair, it’s not fair, it’s not fair, it’s not fair
Still I’m the only one who seems to care

It’s funny that being funny makes you feel like up and running
When your past lingers like rain clouds, casting shadows below
I could live with so many burns, I take all your hope and yearning
But there’s no one I want to take me for that petty little rose

I used to glow glow glow glow
Once I had a love to show, a love they know
They’re slow slow slow slow
So slow that they never know where I go

It’s not right, it’s not right
How am I the only one who sees us fight?
What are we? Who are they?
Who says those bastards don’t deserve to pay?
Well it’s enough, it’s just enough ’cause we don’t stand a chance
So long you stay around, you’re just another song and dance
It’s not fair, it’s not fair, it’s not fair, it’s not fair
Still I’m the only one who seems to care

I know that it’s only something
I’m just working with what I’ve been given
It’s not my fault, I’m happy
Don’t call me crazy, I’m happy

It’s not right, it’s not right
How am I the only one who sees us fight?
What are we? Who are they?
Who says those bastards don’t deserve to pay?
Well it’s enough, it’s just enough ’cause we don’t stand a chance
So long you stay around, you’re just another song and dance
It’s not fair, it’s not fair, it’s not fair, it’s not fair
Still I’m the only one who seems to care

Heartache Songs 1 – The Naked and Famous “The Mess”

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Time for new content, time to share music!

So. In my more emotional states, music has indeed been a great comfort to me. I’ve decided to share some of the music that comforts me when those dramatic feelings of heartache creep around the edges of existene~

I shall be focusing on contemporary music, although classic rock favorites and 90s childhood nostalgia can be very comforting as well.

(No disrespect meant, for example, to the Velvet Underground’s “Pale Blue Eyes”…)

First up, “The Mess” from the Naked and Famous:

I’ve been a fan of the New Zealand indietronica set the Naked and Famous ever since I came across the song “Young Blood”, from their first album Passive Me, Aggressive You in 2008. I particularly enjoyed the lyrics to “Girls Like You”.

Don’t you know they make songs about girls like you…

 

Suffice to say, I was excited last year when the latest album In Rolling Waves was released. But I had no idea it would blow me away that much.

A brilliant, most perfect album. I challenge anyone to suggest better music out right now.

Especially this song. “The Mess”. And what messes we find ourselves in. The falling down, the learning to get up again. The something that’s never enough. The male and female voice interplay. This song says it all like no other.

One time I jogged for several hours listening to this song again and again on repeat. I don’t do that kind of thing very often, but it was a very intense day.

Please have a listen, and check out the lyrics

-There’s nothing here but the distance
-There’s nothing here but the mess
-If you’d have shut up you’d have heard it
-You could have put it to rest
-I am swelling and eager
-I am the raging sea
-I have had it up to here now
-I’m so tired of your needs

And how does it feel to be on the fault line?
And how do we heal now we’re on the decline?
‘Cause it’s a hell of a long way to fall just to learn to get up
And I’m not gonna forgive you for all of the things that you’ve done

-There’s nothing here but indifference
-There’s nothing here but the stress
-These walls are stained with your moments
-Something you wanna confess
-You’re at the point of attachment
-And all the things you believe
There’s nothing left in this place
But a reason to leave

And how does it feel to be on the fault line?
And how do we heal now we’re on the decline?
‘Cause it’s a hell of a long way to fall just to learn to get up
And I’m not gonna forgive you for all of the things that you’ve done
And how does it feel to be on the fault line?
And how do we heal now we’re on the decline?
‘Cause it’s a hell of a long way to fall just to learn to get up

And I just can’t forgive you
I just can’t forgive you
I know that you feel it
And I know you believe that it’s true
So help me to prove it
And all that it means to get through
‘Cause it’s a hell of a long way to fall just to learn to get up
Because this love, this love, this love was never enough