I had a tension
I had a ten
It was a better honey
So I did it again
Thought my intentions
Were better tried
Put mind over matter.
I lost my edge on things
When I lost my head
Hey that's what they say
Don't you know
They ain't never gonna help you anyway.

And it's a get together to tear it apart
Gave my middle finger a brand new start
I got a greeting I can't say what it's all about
But my middle finger's gonna carry it out.

I got attention
I had a pen
I made history honey
And got, "please do it again"
But there is no chance I'm gonna do it again.
If you missed it the first time
Then it's 9 to 10 that you will again.
And we're back at the end all over again
And then what can I say
What can I do to you?
And they say hey that's what they say.
Don't you know they ain't never gonna
But I feel OK.

And it's a get together to tear it apart
Gave my middle finger a brand new start
I got a greeting I can't say what it's all about
But my middle finger's gonna carry it out.

Overall Meaning

The Hives's song "A Get Together to Tear It Apart" is a song that seems to center around the idea of becoming successful and famous, but losing oneself in the process. The lyrics seem to suggest that the singer had a lot of potential and talent, but they got caught up in their own ego and ended up losing sight of what was truly important. The first verse talks about a situation where the singer thought that his intentions were good, but he lost his way and lost his edge on things. The second verse seems to suggest that the singer became successful by putting up his middle finger to the world and doing what he wanted. However, he realizes that he has lost himself in the process and that he doesn't want to repeat the same mistakes again.

The chorus, "And it's a get together to tear it apart/Gave my middle finger a brand new start/I got a greeting I can't say what it's all about/But my middle finger's gonna carry it out," seems to be about rebelling against society's expectations and doing things one's own way. The greeting that the singer can't say suggests that there is something going on that he doesn't want to be part of, but he's going to use his middle finger to express his displeasure.

Overall, the song seems to be a commentary on the dangers of fame and success and how they can change a person. The singer has become isolated and disillusioned, and he's now questioning whether the cost of his fame was worth it.

Line by Line Meaning

I had a tension
I was feeling anxious or stressed out.

I had a ten
I had a perfect score, but it wasn't enough for me.

It was a better honey
The object of my desire was more attractive or enticing than before.

So I did it again
I repeated the same action or behavior, even though I knew it wasn't the best decision.

Thought my intentions
I believed my motives or reasons were good or pure.

Were better tried
I wanted to see if my intentions would work out better if I put more effort into them.

Put mind over matter.
I tried to focus on my thoughts and feelings more than the physical aspects of the situation.

I lost my edge on things
I lost my competitive or strategic advantage in a certain area.

When I lost my head
I let my emotions get the best of me and made a mistake.

Hey that's what they say
Other people might give advice or opinions, but ultimately it's up to me to make my own decisions.

Don't you know
I already know that, but it's not always easy to follow.

They ain't never gonna help you anyway.
Other people might not be willing or able to give me the support or assistance I need, so I have to rely on myself.

And it's a get together to tear it apart
This gathering or event is meant to be a destructive or negative experience.

Gave my middle finger a brand new start
I decided to express my defiance or rebellion more boldly or aggressively.

I got a greeting I can't say what it's all about
Someone acknowledged me or communicated with me in a way that was unclear or ambiguous.

But my middle finger's gonna carry it out.
I'm going to respond to this greeting with an offensive or provocative gesture.

I got attention
I received recognition or admiration from others.

I had a pen
I had the power or ability to write or create something.

I made history honey
I accomplished something significant or memorable.

And got, "please do it again"
People praised my achievement and want me to repeat it.

But there is no chance I'm gonna do it again.
I'm not interested in repeating the same success or adhering to others' expectations.

If you missed it the first time
If you didn't appreciate or notice my past accomplishments,

Then it's 9 to 10 that you will again.
It's likely that I'll achieve something noteworthy again in the future.

And we're back at the end all over again
I feel like I've come full circle and returned to the same situation or mindset I had before.

And then what can I say
I'm not sure how to respond or react at this point.

What can I do to you?
I don't want to harm or offend you, but I also don't want to be controlled by you.

And they say hey that's what they say.
People might have their own opinions or rumors about me, but I don't have to believe them.

But I feel OK.
Despite all the confusion and uncertainty, I'm still content with my choices and my life.

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