The Great Houdini
New Found Glory Lyrics
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And nowhere to go
I think I'm taking this trip alone
Thirty seconds till I pass
The questions you will never ask
Your regrets will haunt you
You know I never had to
But I'm saving myself
From you
And did you notice anything?
The changes made
And now it's safe to say
You will never change your ways
I went to your house
But you weren't home
I'm sure you conveniently shut off your phone
I don't think that I'll ever be
The person that you want of me
When all that I can think about
It's you I have to figure out
But I'm saving myself
From you
Did you notice anything?
The changes made
Now it's safe to say
You will never change your ways
You would give up anything
To prove your point
There's nothing left to say
You will never change your ways
(Rip it up)
I'm saving myself
From you
Yeah, I'm saving myself
From you
All dressed up
And nowhere to go
I think I'm taking this trip alone
Did you notice anything?
The changes made
Now it's safe to say
You will never change your ways
You would give up anything
To prove your point
There's nothing left to say
You will never change your ways
The lyrics to New Found Glory's "The Great Houdini" are about a person who has had enough of a relationship where they have tried to change and please the other person, but it seems impossible. The singer of the song is making the decision to leave the relationship alone, realizing that they will never meet the other person's expectations. They express their frustration at the other person's lack of acknowledgement of any changes made by them and their unwillingness to change. The song is all about the internal struggle the singer is going through and their realization that they need to save themselves from the toxic relationship.
The chorus of the song is particularly powerful, with the repetition of "Did you notice anything?" The singer is desperate for the other person to notice the effort they are putting in and the changes they have made to try and please them. The line "you would give up anything to prove your point" is accusatory and shows how the other person is selfish and unwilling to compromise. The song ends with the singer reiterating that they are saving themselves from the other person, showing how the relationship was draining and not worth the effort.
Line by Line Meaning
All dressed up
I put on my best appearance for you
And nowhere to go
But there is no destination for us
I think I'm taking this trip alone
I am going on this journey without you
Thirty seconds till I pass
Our time together is running out
The questions you will never ask
You will never seek to truly know me
Your regrets will haunt you
You will look back with remorse
You know I never had to
I didn't have to stay with you
But I'm saving myself
I am rescuing myself
From you
From your influence over me
And did you notice anything?
Did you observe any differences?
The changes made
The modifications I made
And now it's safe to say
It is certain that
You will never change your ways
You will never alter your behavior
I went to your house
I attempted to see you
But you weren't home
But you weren't available
I'm sure you conveniently shut off your phone
You purposely cut off communication with me
I don't think that I'll ever be
I do not believe I will ever become
The person that you want of me
The individual you desire me to be
When all that I can think about
Even when I am focused on
It's you I have to figure out
I must resolve the enigma that is you
You would give up anything
You would surrender everything
To prove your point
To validate your arguments
There's nothing left to say
There are no more words to exchange
I'm saving myself
I am preserving myself
From you
From your impact on me
Yeah, I'm saving myself
Indeed, I am rescuing myself
Did you notice anything?
Were you perceptive of anything?
The changes made
The adjustments completed
Now it's safe to say
Now it is certain
You will never change your ways
You will never modify your conduct
You would give up anything
You would relinquish everything
To prove your point
To establish your argument
There's nothing left to say
No more communication is necessary
You will never change your ways
You will never revise your behavior
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHAD EVERETT GILBERT, CYRUS WILLIAM BOLOOKI, IAN R. GRUSHKA, JORDAN I. PUNDIK, STEPHEN LEE KLEIN
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