I Will Play My Game Beneath The Spin Light

Album: Deja Entendu (2003)
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  • The time has come for colds, and overcoats
    We're quiet on the ride, we're all just waiting to get home
    Another week away, my greatest fear

    I need the smell of summer, I need its noises in my ears
    If looks could really kill, then my profession would staring
    Please know we do this cause we care and not for the thrill
    Collect calls to home to tell them that I realize
    that everyone who lives will someday die and die alone

    And we won't let you in
    Though we're down and out
    We won't let you in
    I wrote more postcards than hooks
    I read more maps than books
    Feel like every chance to leave is another chance I should have took.

    Every minute is a mile
    I've never felt so hallow
    I'm an old abandoned church with broken pews and empty aisles
    My secrets for a buck
    Watch me as I cut myself wide open on this stage
    Yes, I am paid to spill my guts
    I won't see home till spring

    Oh, I would kill for the Atlanti
    but I am paid to make girls panic while I sing
    And we won't let you in
    Though we're down and out
    We won't let you in
    And we won't let you in
    We don't want what isn't ours
    We won't let you in
    You win.

    And the coastline is quiet
    While we're quietly losing control
    Yes, we're silent but sure we inventened the cure
    that will wash out my memories of her
    "The harpoon is loaded
    The cage is lowered
    The water is red." Like you Writer/s: JESSE LACEY
    Publisher: BMG Rights Management
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 7

  • Ben from CaRe: Hugh's comment -- yep, the title is an analogy of the sports novel, The Moves Make the Man. In the book, the narrator's best friend learns how to play basketball, and by doing so, he also learns how to 'fake' out [other players], and this leads him to discover how telling the truth all the time can actually hurt his loved ones while 'faking it' and telling lies might help in certain situations.

    In his lyrics, Jesse describes feelings of homesickness, but while on tour, the band needs to 'fake it' at times for the audience since that is what they pay for ("I'm paid to make girls panic when I sing"). This internal conflict is analogous to the novel since the truth is he'd much rather be back home but learns to put on a facade for the fans/audience of their shows. And this is why the song is titled as such.
  • James from South Buffalo, NyThis song has a few lines that are taken from/in reference to the Archers Of Loaf song
    "Chumming The Ocean". "The deep is in riot, the coastline is quiet", "And harpoons are loaded, the cage has been lowered. The mask's on, the diver is down, now. And they're chumming the oceans. The signal is sent, I think he's in trouble. The water is red, red, red, red"
  • Wes from Pietermaritzburg, South AfricaThis dude is the best lyricist I know of, and this songs one of my favourite examples thereof, my other favourite being Sic Transit Gloria. "I'm an old abandonded church with broken pews and empty aisles." What an image!
  • Hugh from Florence, ScI don't know if it has anything to do with the song, but the title is taken from a line in a Pulitzer prize winning book called "The Moves Make the Man."
  • Aj from Sheboygan, WiProbably the easiest song to figure out the meaning to, but doesnt make it any less special. Always loved Brand New... always will
  • Alessandra from St.louis, Mowell then. i never knew any of this.... thanks for being obvious, but i guess there are some dumb ppl that need explanations like this! :D
  • Heather from Omaha, Newell no duh
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