Shame
Good Riddance Lyrics
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This is where our lives go
This is where we stay
In a job that really pays
So much like the first step
Maybe just a misstep
Maybe just a phase, just a phase
What am I supposed to do?
What am I supposed to do?
What am I supposed to do?
What am I supposed to do?
Take a Dramamine for nausea
Another pill for the broken bones
And the ringing in my head now
Sounds just like the telephone
So it's over-complicated
A shame so shoved aside
Like the broken years I've waited
And the emptiness inside
What am I supposed to do?
What am I supposed to do?
What am I supposed to do?
What am I supposed to do?
Take one more on the chin
Grow a somewhat thicker skin
Let the scars all fade away
Like the promise of today
And when the sky falls down
I hope you're still around
And everything keeps changing, but I won't be around
The lyrics to Good Riddance's "Shame" speak about the mundanity and emptiness of life, conveyed through vivid imagery and a sense of resignation. In the first verse, the lyrics describe the passage of time and the feeling of being stuck in a job that pays the bills but offers no fulfillment. The use of the metaphor of "minutes running down the drain" is particularly evocative, suggesting that time is being wasted or lost without purpose. The repetition of the question "What am I supposed to do?" emphasizes the singer's sense of helplessness and lack of direction.
The second verse raises the intensity of the lyrics, with the singer describing the physical and emotional pain they are experiencing. The use of the drug Dramamine suggests that the singer is struggling with nausea or perhaps motion sickness, but it could also be interpreted as a metaphor for the idea of needing to numb oneself to get through difficult situations. The ringing in the head is interestingly compared to the sound of a telephone, blurring the lines between internal and external stimuli. The lyrics then shift to a more general sense of shame and brokenness, with the lines "Like the broken years I've waited / And the emptiness inside" suggesting that the singer has been through a lot and feels a sense of loss or lack.
The final verse offers some degree of hope, with the singer suggesting that they will try to tough it out and survive whatever comes their way. While the lyrics still convey a sense of sadness and dismay, the idea of growing "a somewhat thicker skin" and allowing "the scars to fade away" suggests a willingness to keep going and not let the challenges of life defeat them. The final lines are more ambiguous, with the phrase "And everything keeps changing, but I won't be around!" perhaps suggesting a sense of resignation or defeat, or perhaps a harkening back to the idea of time running out quickly and life passing us by.
Line by Line Meaning
Minutes, running down the drain
Time is slipping away and we're losing opportunities
This is where our lives go
The current situation is all we have and it's not great
This is where we stay
We're stuck here and can't escape
In a job that really pays
We're doing something we don't really enjoy but we have to pay the bills
So much like the first step
This current situation feels like we're just starting and don't know where to go
Maybe just a misstep
Maybe we took the wrong turn and ended up here
Maybe just a phase, just a phase
Maybe this is temporary and things will get better soon
What am I supposed to do? [Repeat x3]
We're lost and unsure about what actions to take next
Take a Dramamine for nausea
We need to take something to ease the pain and discomfort
Another pill for the broken bones
We need to take more steps to heal from past traumas
And the ringing in my head now
The aftermath of our mistakes continues to haunt us
Sounds just like the telephone
It's a constant reminder of the past and our current situation
So it's over-complicated
Things have become more difficult than necessary
A shame so shoved aside
We've ignored the problem for too long
Like the broken years I've waited
We've wasted too much time waiting for something that may never come
And the emptiness inside
The void we feel inside us due to unfulfilled dreams and a lack of purpose
Take one more on the chin
We need to keep going, despite the pain and setbacks
Grow a somewhat thicker skin
We need to become more resilient and withstand the hardships we face
Let the scars all fade away
We need to let go of past hurts and move on
Like the promise of today
We need to focus on what we can achieve today, rather than what we couldn't do in the past
And when the sky falls down
When things get even worse
I hope you're still around
I hope we have someone to rely on during tough times
And everything keeps changing, but I won't be around!
We feel like we won't last long in this ever-changing world
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Russ Rankin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind