Absofacto is the solo moniker of Jonathan Visger, who is also the lead voca… Read Full Bio ↴Absofacto is the solo moniker of Jonathan Visger, who is also the lead vocalist and songwriter for Hollow & Akimbo and Mason Proper.

To date, Absofacto has released several EPs (North South Pt. I, Trilobite Trash, and Tagalong), one album comprised of 10 singles (Sinking Islands), and a few new singles. He also collaborated with instrumental hip hop duo 10k Cities on a 7" named Kiko, released by Dovecote Records.

Absofacto (website)
Absofacto on Bandcamp

backfire
Absofacto Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

made a big plan, huh
are you a mouse or a man?
sounds like it backfired, sounds like it backfired
who are you fooling?
could it be you?
when you tried to get over
but it got over you again
over you again

dotting your t's and crossing your i's
hate to tell you, but it's a poor disguise
tossing your soul over the wall
sounds like it backfired
sounds like it backfired

made a big plan huh
are you a mouse or a man?
sounds like it backfired, sounds like it backfired
who are you fooling?
no one at all
when you tried to get over

but it got over you again
over you again

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Absofacto's song "Backfire" seem to be about the consequences of trying to make a big plan and failing. The first verse asks whether the person is a mouse or a man, which suggests that they may have been cowardly or unprepared in their attempt to execute their plan. The chorus repeats the phrase "sounds like it backfired" and asks who the person is fooling. The second verse talks about how the person tried to disguise their attempts with careful planning ("dotting your t's and crossing your i's"), but ultimately failed ("tossing your soul over the wall"). The chorus is repeated again, emphasizing the idea that the person has failed in their attempt to make a big plan.

The song seems to be exploring themes of failure, disappointment, and self-deception. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the idea that the person's plan has truly backfired and they are fooling no one but themselves. The use of animal metaphors ("mouse or a man") and references to careful planning ("dotting your t's and crossing your i's") add to the sense that the person thought they were prepared, but ultimately were not. The phrase "over you again" in the chorus suggests that this may not be the first time the person has failed in this way.

Line by Line Meaning

made a big plan, huh
You put together a significant plan, right?

are you a mouse or a man?
Are you a coward or a courageous individual?

sounds like it backfired, sounds like it backfired
It appears that your plan didn't succeed as expected and it failed miserably.

who are you fooling?
Who are you trying to deceive or mislead?

could it be you?
Is it possible that you're the one who's being fooled?

when you tried to get over
When you attempted to overcome a particular obstacle or situation,

but it got over you again
However, it ended up dominating you once more.

dotting your t's and crossing your i's
You're being meticulous and exacting, paying attention to every detail.

hate to tell you, but it's a poor disguise
Unfortunately, your efforts to conceal your true intentions are unsuccessful and apparent to others.

tossing your soul over the wall
You're abandoning your principles or values without concern or hesitation.

sounds like it backfired
It appears that your decision didn't turn out the way you hoped, and it failed miserably.