I know you love how I make it all go away
all the joy, all the pain, all thoughts in your brain
For the price of your soul, I will hold your heart in my talons
For three summers straight you've been my sweet eye candy
and no one will ever, ever, take you away from me

I saw, I smelled what he did to you, girl
and to be frank, the thought makes my innards curl
How he preyed on your ripe insecurities
The thorn in your side is alive, and it's killing me
Obscure records entombed in his room with mechanical lust
diapered, desolate middle-aged doom
On your knees in his downtrodden shit-eating grin of a room
If only you'd meet me here soon

If only you'd start breathing, I'd court you exclusively
With my shovel, I'm pounding earth 'til suddenly I see

You awake from the dirt and the grime
stretch your fractured, pretzel spine
out to take your revenge for the crime
filled with fire and finally mine.

Paraded you around like a second place prize,
hair done up, black holes painted on your eyes
Held a book burning in your back yard
while your parents observed from their window, slightly scarred
And I've watched with my shovel in hand
I have in faith in you, child
From his nightmares I've plucked a plan
where that prick, to the world, is revealed as a wicked man
This is a prayer from your biggest fan

If only you could see me, we'd dance like a heart attack
With a wail you let them know you're furious, you're back

You awake from the dirt and the grime
stretch your fractured, pretzel spine
out to take your revenge for the crime
filled with fire and finally mine

You awake from the grave that he dug
pulsing, boiling, angry blood
Well aware that I'm falling in love
Filled with fire, I'm drinking gasoline to make it go faster
Gasoline will make it grow much faster
Gasoline to make it go faster
Gasoline will make it grow much faster

Faster (faster)
Faster (faster)
Faster (faster)
Faster (faster)
Faster (faster)
Faster (faster)
Faster (faster)
Faster

Overall Meaning

In "Skinny Mean Man," Say Anything's lead singer Max Bemis takes on the role of a sinister character who preys on vulnerable individuals. The lyrics describe the manipulative power this character has over someone, emphasizing how completely they are able to control every aspect of their life. Bemis' use of the phrase "For the price of your soul, I will hold your heart in my talons" is particularly chilling, painting a picture of a man who is willing to exploit others at any cost. The second verse takes a more visceral turn, as Bemis describes the physical and emotional abuse the victim has suffered at the hands of this "skinny mean man." The singer is clearly disgusted by the abuser, referring to him as a "prick" and expressing his desire to see him punished.

Midway through the song, the tone shifts as the singer offers a glimmer of hope. In this moment, he speaks directly to the victim, telling her that if she were to awaken and take action, he would be there to stand by her side. The final verse sees the victim "awaken" and take control, rising up against her abuser with a newfound sense of strength and confidence. Throughout the song, Say Anything grapples with complex themes of power, control, and how we can rise above the people who seek to hurt us.

Line by Line Meaning

I know you love how I make it all go away
You are attracted to how I can make your troubles disappear

all the joy, all the pain, all thoughts in your brain
I can make all of your emotions and thoughts vanish

For the price of your soul, I will hold your heart in my talons
You must give up everything for me to have complete control over you

For three summers straight you've been my sweet eye candy
You have been my object of desire for a long time now

and no one will ever, ever, take you away from me
I will never let anyone else have you

I saw, I smelled what he did to you, girl
I witnessed the abuse you endured

and to be frank, the thought makes my innards curl
The thought of what he did to you makes me sick to my stomach

How he preyed on your ripe insecurities
He took advantage of your vulnerabilities

The thorn in your side is alive, and it's killing me
The pain you feel is affecting me deeply

Obscure records entombed in his room with mechanical lust
He has disturbing and perverse interests

diapered, desolate middle-aged doom
He is pathetic, alone, and destined for failure

On your knees in his downtrodden shit-eating grin of a room
You suffered in his disgusting and humiliating presence

If only you'd meet me here soon
I wish you would come to me and escape that hell

If only you'd start breathing, I'd court you exclusively
If you were free from him, I would pursue a romantic relationship with you

With my shovel, I'm pounding earth 'til suddenly I see
I am digging a grave for him to exact revenge

You awake from the dirt and the grime
You rise from the grave and come back to life

stretch your fractured, pretzel spine
You reclaim your strength and stand tall

out to take your revenge for the crime
You seek justice for the harm he caused you

filled with fire and finally mine.
You are now filled with passion and are mine to love

Paraded you around like a second place prize,
He treated you as a mere object and not a person

hair done up, black holes painted on your eyes
He forced you to conform to his twisted image of beauty

Held a book burning in your back yard
He committed an act of censorship and ignorance

while your parents observed from their window, slightly scarred
Your loved ones were aware of the harm he caused but couldn't stop him

And I've watched with my shovel in hand
I have been monitoring his actions and plotting my revenge

I have in faith in you, child
I believe in your strength and resilience

From his nightmares I've plucked a plan
I have used his fears to develop a strategy for revenge

where that prick, to the world, is revealed as a wicked man
My plan will expose him as the villain he truly is

This is a prayer from your biggest fan
My love and devotion to you is unwavering

If only you could see me, we'd dance like a heart attack
If only you were with me, we would have an intense and exhilarating connection

With a wail you let them know you're furious, you're back
You make your presence known and assert your strength

You awake from the grave that he dug
You rise up and escape the trap he set for you

pulsing, boiling, angry blood
You are filled with rage and determination

Well aware that I'm falling in love
You sense my growing feelings for you

Filled with fire, I'm drinking gasoline to make it go faster
My passion for you fuels me and makes me reckless

Gasoline will make it grow much faster
My love for you is explosive and intense

Faster (faster)
I want to move forward quickly

Faster (faster)
I am driven by my passion

Faster (faster)
I can't wait to be with you

Faster (faster)
My love for you is growing faster

Faster (faster)
We should act on our connection soon

Faster (faster)
Our love is exciting and intense

Faster (faster)
I am impatient to be with you

Faster
Our love should progress quickly

just now