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Bad Reputation
Death Cab for Cutie Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I know I got a bad reputation
And it isn't just talk talk talk
If I could only give you everything
You know I haven't got
I couldn't have one conversation
If it wasn't for the lies lies lies
And still I wanna tell you everything
Til I close my eyes

Suddenly I'm on the street
Seven years disappeared
Below my feet
Been breakin down
Do you want me now? Do you want me now?

Suddenly I'm down in Harold Square
Looking in a crowd
Your face is everywhere
Been turning round
Do you want me now? Do you want me now?

Don't try to be an inspiration
You're just wasting your time time time
You know I'm 'bout the best I'll ever be
I see it in your eyes
I know I got a bad reputation
And it isn't just talk talk talk
If I could only give you everything
You know I haven't got
I couldn't have one conversation
If it wasn't for the lies lies lies
And still I wanna tell you everything
Til I close my eyes

Suddenly I'm on the street
Seven years disappeared
Below my feet
Been breakin down
Do you want me now? Do you want me now?

Suddenly I'm in another place
Looking in the crowd
I think I see your face
Been turning round
Do you want me now? Do you want me now?

Do you want me now? Do you want me now? (2x)

Don't you think I've heard the talk
Nobody's gonna tell me who to love
Been breakin' down
Do you want me now? Do you want me now?

Suddenly I'm in Hello Square
Looking in a crowd
Your face is everywhere
Been turning round
Do you want me now? Do you want me now?

Do you want me now? Do you want me now? (2x)

But I'm just breakin' down down down down down
Been breakin' down down down down down (3x)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Death Cab for Cutie's song "Bad Reputation" tell the story of someone who realizes they have a bad reputation and the impact it has on their relationships. The singer is aware that their reputation precedes them, as they sing “I know I got a bad reputation, and it isn't just talk talk talk.” They admit to telling lies, but still want to share everything with the person they’re addressing until they close their eyes.


As the song progresses, the singer becomes more and more desperate, asking repeatedly if the person they’re addressing wants them now. They’ve hit a low point, where everything seems to remind them of that person, as they sing “Suddenly I'm down in Harold Square/Looking in a crowd/Your face is everywhere/Been turning round.” They’re consumed by the idea of whether or not they’re wanted and they’re just breaking down.


Overall, the song tells the story of someone who is struggling with their reputation, the lies they’ve told, and the effect it has on their relationships. They want to be desired and loved but are afraid that their reputation will continue to precede them.


Line by Line Meaning

I know I got a bad reputation
I am aware that people think poorly of me


And it isn't just talk talk talk
The negative beliefs about me are not just hearsay


If I could only give you everything
If only I could give you all that you want or need


You know I haven't got
But I am unable to provide everything you may want or need


I couldn't have one conversation
There isn't a single chat that I've had


If it wasn't for the lies lies lies
Without deception, I cannot have a conversation


And still I wanna tell you everything
Regardless, I want to tell you everything


Til I close my eyes
Until I die


Suddenly I'm on the street
Now I find myself in the middle of the road


Seven years disappeared
Seven years seem to have disappeared in an instant


Below my feet
I am standing on the ground


Been breakin down
I am undergoing an emotional breakdown


Do you want me now? Do you want me now?
Is it only now that you want me?


Suddenly I'm down in Harold Square
Now I am in Harold Square


Looking in a crowd
I am gazing at the people around me


Your face is everywhere
Your face appears everywhere I look


Do you want me now? Do you want me now?
Is now when you desire me?


Don't try to be an inspiration
Please don't attempt to inspire me


You're just wasting your time time time
You would only be wasting your time


You know I'm 'bout the best I'll ever be
I believe I am currently at my best


I see it in your eyes
I can detect it from your eyes


But I'm just breakin' down down down down down
But I am having a complete emotional breakdown


Been breakin' down down down down down (3x)
I've been experiencing a total breakdown




Contributed by Liam K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

RJ Rodriguez

I can't believe how underrated this is!!

Aditya Mishra

I know I got a bad reputation
And it isn't just talk, talk, talk
If I could only give you everything
You know I haven't got

I couldn't have one conversation
If it wasn't for lies, lies, lies
And still I wanna tell you everything
'Til I close my eyes

Suddenly I'm on the street
Seven years disappear below my feet
Been breaking down
Do you want me now
Do you want me now

Suddenly I'm down in Herald Square
Looking in the crowd, your face is everywhere
Been turning round
Do you want me now
Do you want me now

Don't try to be an inspiration
Just wasting your time, time, time
You know about the best I'll ever be
See it in your eyes

I know I've got a bad reputation
And it isn't just talk, talk, talk
If I could only give you everything
You know I haven't got

Suddenly I'm on the street
Seven years disappear below my feet
Been breaking down
Do you want me now
Do you want me now

Suddenly I'm in another place
Looking in the crowd, I think I see your face
Been turning round
Do you want me now
Do you want me now
(down, down down)

Do you want me now
Do you want me now
(down, down down)

Do you want me now
Do you want me now

Don't you think I've heard the talk
Nobody's gonna tell me who to love
Been breaking down
Do you want me now
Do you want me now

Suddenly I'm down on Herald Square
Looking in the crowd, your face is everywhere
Just turning round
Do you want me now
Do you want me now

Been breaking down
Do you want me now
Do you want me now

I'm just breaking down, down, down, down
Been breaking down, down, down, down (line x3)

Fortune Cookie

if i could only give you everything you know i havent got