Post #5 – Metaphoric Criticism
For this analysis, I will be taking a look at one of Fall Out Boy’s older songs – I’m Like a Lawyer with the Way I’m Always Trying to Get You Off. This is one of their earlier songs in which the song title didn’t necessarily have to have any connections with lyrics, but this time, I feel that there is a correlation since the song is essentially about a relationship doomed from the beginning but hey, ‘let’s go for it anyway’.
[Verse 1]
Last year’s wishes are this year’s apologies
Every last time I come home
I take my last chance to burn a bridge or two
I only keep myself this sick in the head
‘Cause I know how the words get you (off)
[Pre-Chorus]
We’re the new face of failure
Prettier and younger but not any better off
Bulletproof loneliness at best, at best
[Chorus]
Me and you, setting in a honeymoon
If I woke up next to you, if I woke up next to you
Me and you, setting in a honeymoon
If I woke up next to you, if I woke up next to you
[Verse 2]
Collect the bad habits that you couldn’t bear to keep
Out of the woods but I love
The tree I used to lay beneath, kissed teeth stained red
From a sour bottle baby girl with eyes the size of baby worlds
[Pre-Chorus]
We’re the new face of failure
Prettier and younger but not any better off
Bulletproof loneliness at best, at best
[Chorus]
Me and you, setting in a honeymoon
If I woke up next to you, if I woke up next to you
Me and you, setting in a honeymoon
If I woke up next to you, if I woke up next to you
Me and you, setting in a honeymoon
If I woke up next to you, if I woke up next to you
Me and you, setting in a honeymoon
If I woke up next to you, if I woke up next to you
[Bridge]
The best way to make it through
With hearts and wrists intact
Is to realize two out of three ain’t bad, ain’t bad
[Chorus]
Me and you, setting in a honeymoon
If I woke up next to you, if I woke up next to you
Me and you (honeymoon)
Setting in a honeymoon
Me and you, setting in a honeymoon
If I woke up next to you, if I woke up next to you
Me and you, setting in a honeymoon
If I woke up next to you
Honeymoon
Since Fall Out Boy songs are practically metaphors in musical form anyways, this song is riddled with them:
Last year’s wishes are this year’s apologies / every last time I come home
No matter what [he] desires, it always turns into regrets and not a day that goes by in which there isn’t one
I take my last chance to burn a bridge or two
any time he has an opportunity to repair a relationship, he destroys all connections so he doesn’t have to deal with it
We’re the new face of failure / Prettier and younger but not any better off
although we’re younger and attractive, the odds are still stack against us and failure just wears a better face
Bulletproof the loneliness at best, at best
having loneliness that’s impenetrable and nothing can faze it – not even a bullet
Collect the bad habits that you couldn’t bear to keep / out of the woods but I love
when someone hates something about themselves but you adore it
Kissed teeth stained red
red stain of lipstick on the teeth..from kissing
The best way to make it through / With hearts and wrists intact / Is to realize two out of three ain’t bad, ain’t bad
in order to triumph in through love/life is that leaving the situation with at least 2 out of the 3 – two wrists and 1 heart – is not a bad compromise/bargain.
Since this is a somewhat bleak song to being with, a lot the metaphors mentioned above are all tenors concerning love, sacrifice, and despair; the voice of the song loves this girl, and knows that there’s going to be some sacrifice along the way in order for their love to come true, but as he contemplates life with and without her, there’s more than likely going to be more regrets and lonely times ahead of him. The ‘bridge’ he has to burn, the ‘bulletproof’ version of loneliness, and the ‘face’ of failure are the vehicles that represent the degree of which he stands (metaphorically).
All in all, this song illustrates how ‘predestined’ people are set up to fail and despite having a prettier or nicer presentation, the future does not care. Also being a parallel account, to love someone is almost destined to fail since a broken heart (or a failed relationship) is inevitable – regardless of how beautiful it may look – so cut your losses and take it home. Everything is rigged against favorable odds.
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