It’s heavily 80s inspired and tells the story of a day and a lifetime, focusing on the difficulty of life. Antonoff has said that the cover picture is him dead, the kind of picture someone would have of him on their mantle after he goes. He wore the same costume on tour for the album.
Dream of Mickey Mantle
Bleachers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning
I feel like I'm missing more and more and more every time
I wanna be grateful
I wanna be grateful
I don't think I can talk about this
All the hope I had when I was young, I hope I wasn't wrong
I miss those days so I sing a don't take the money song
That's why I'm up in my room tonight whistling wind out my teeth
'Cause somebody didn't fix them nice (no)
Well, some things just don't turn out right (no)
Kim's Video closed and a war goes on and on
All the hope I had when I was young, I hope I wasn't wrong
That's why I'm out in the street tonight whistling wind out my teeth
'Cause somebody didn't fix them nice (no)
You know, some things just don't turn out right
Rolling thunder had cursed my bedroom
Heard from your mother, she don't recognize you
Now Mickey Mantle left on a Sunday
And all of the neighborhood rushes home to pray
Rolling thunder (yeah) cursed my bedroom (yeah)
We're rushing home to pray (yeah)
Rolling thunder (yeah) cursed my bedroom (yeah)
We're rushing home to pray (yeah)
Rolling thunder (yeah) cursed my bedroom (yeah)
We're rushing home to pray (yeah)
Rolling thunder (yeah) cursed my bedroom (yeah)
We're rushing home to pray (yeah)
Rolling thunder (yeah) cursed my bedroom (yeah)
We're rushing home to pray (yeah)
Rolling thunder (yeah) cursed my bedroom (yeah)
Rolling thunder (yeah) cursed my bedroom (yeah)
Rolling thunder had cursed my bedroom
Heard from your mother, she don't recognize you
Now Mickey Mantle left on a Sunday
And all of the neighborhood rushes home to pray
Woke up, I'm in the in-between honey
Woke up, I'm in the in-between honey
Woke up, I'm in the in-between honey
Woke up, I'm in the in-between honey
One foot out and I know the weight is coming
Because I left it by the bed last night
Open my eyes and I stare and pray for light
Always one foot out when you say goodbye to the one that you love
The lyrics to Bleachers' song "Dream of Mickey Mantle" describes a feeling of being lost in life and the desire to hold onto nostalgia. The opening line "Woke up, I'm in the in-between honey," suggests that the singer is in a limbo state, between the past and present. He feels like he's losing more and more every time, but he wants to be grateful. The lyrics express a sense of hopelessness in the present, but a longing for the past.
The singer then reflects on the hope he had when he was young, hoping he wasn't wrong. He sings a "don't take the money" song, indicating that he doesn't want to sell out and lose himself. He's in his room tonight, whistling the wind out of his teeth, because things didn't turn out right; perhaps he's reminiscing on his past dreams and aspirations, which never materialized. The closing verse speaks about rolling thunder, which cursed his bedroom, and how his mother doesn't recognize him anymore. It's a metaphor for the confusion and despair he feels in his current situation.
The refrain of "Now Mickey Mantle left on a Sunday and all of the neighborhood rushes home to pray" is a reference to the baseball player's death, and how it affected the community. It signifies that even in difficult times, people come together to support each other. The song is a poignant commentary on the human experience and how people cope with loss and disillusionment.
Line by Line Meaning
(Woke up, I'm in the in-between honey)
I feel stuck between two things and don't know what to do
I feel like I'm missing more and more and more every time
I feel like I'm losing things and that life is passing me by
I wanna be grateful
I want to be appreciative of what I have
I don't think I can talk about this
I don't think I can express how I feel
All the hope I had when I was young, I hope I wasn't wrong
I hope my dreams and aspirations from when I was young weren't misguided
I miss those days so I sing a don't take the money song
I miss the simplicity of the past and try to hold onto that
That's why I'm up in my room tonight whistling wind out my teeth
I'm feeling lonely and isolated and trying to distract myself
Well, some things just don't turn out right (no)
Things in life often don't go as planned
Kim's Video closed and a war goes on and on
Things are always changing and difficult events continue to happen
You know, some things just don't turn out right
Life doesn't always go as hoped or planned
Rolling thunder had cursed my bedroom
I feel like I'm surrounded by negativity and problems
Heard from your mother, she don't recognize you
My relationships are suffering or I'm changing too much
Now Mickey Mantle left on a Sunday
A well-regarded figure, Mickey Mantle, died
And all of the neighborhood rushes home to pray
People come together in times of grief and tragedy
One foot out and I know the weight is coming
I know that change is coming and it will be difficult
Because I left it by the bed last night
I'm feeling unprepared or unequipped for what's to come
Open my eyes and I stare and pray for light
I'm hoping for something significant or meaningful to happen
Always one foot out when you say goodbye to the one that you love
When you're in a relationship, there's always the risk of losing someone
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jack Michael Antonoff, Thomas Mark Krell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind