Green attended Emerson College briefly in 1998 before leaving to concentrate on his music, going on to co-found the anti folk group The Moldy Peaches with Kimya Dawson. In 2004 The Moldy Peaches went on hiatus and both Green and Dawson embarked on solo careers.
Green released several albums on Rough Trade Records. Among his better known songs are "Jessica" (about singer Jessica Simpson), "Novotel", "Friends of Mine", "Dance with Me", "Carolina" and "Emily", and, in Britain, his cover of The Libertines track "What a Waster".
Prior to Jacket Full of Danger in 2006, all of Green's albums had been released on the 22nd of the month. His latest album was released on March 18, 2008 and is titled Sixes & Sevens. Titles include "Morning After Midnight", "Twee Twee Dee", and "Drowning Head First", the latter a duet between Green and his girlfriend.
In January 2008, The Moldy Peaches began having a resurgence in popularity, due to their music being included in the hit indie film Juno.
Boss Inside
Adam Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've already sped through a year
I've already tried all the campus bars at night
And even cried alone at the diner
Somewhere there's a prince and he likes to strike me down
I know I'm not the reason
I'm just the one he found
And all these other cowards, they're not hard to boss around
You just get them in your arms and you hold them till they drown
I walked back to the cottage with no hand around my wrist
When I heard the sound of vodka bottles breaking
I went out to the clearing, he was standing with a fist
But I couldn't see the face that he was making
He said make me some dinner
I said "I thought you'd never ask"
He was standing in my kitchen I was filling up his glass
He finally started screaming and pointing to the bed
He wanted me to kill him but I took his life instead
Ugly moments strung together and the poor guy
Couldn't even find his temper
And he could no longer make me cry
I guess the boss inside of him died
The song "Boss Inside" by Adam Green appears to be about a person who is searching for love or companionship in all the wrong places. The singer seems to be lost, having "already sped through a year" with nothing to show for it. They have tried all the usual hangouts and even "cried alone at the diner." The lyrics suggest that the person is looking for someone to rescue them or take control of their life, and they believe they have found that person in someone who is described as a "prince," but who also likes to "strike [them] down."
It seems as though the singer finds themselves in a toxic relationship where this "prince" tries to boss them around while being unable to control their own behavior. They describe the other people in their life, as "cowards" who are easy to boss around- suggesting that the singer may have a history of being taken advantage of by others. The violence and aggression in the relationship are foreshadowed by the sound of "vodka bottles breaking," and the fact that the "prince" is described as standing with a "fist."
Ultimately, it seems like the singer takes matters into their own hands, killing the "prince" who they describe as having a "boss inside" that has now died. It's a dark and intense story, but it seems to suggest that sometimes, taking control of your life requires making difficult decisions.
Line by Line Meaning
How do you find the guy around here
I'm trying to find someone in this area and I'm not sure where he is.
I've already sped through a year
I feel like time is going by really quickly and I haven't accomplished much.
I've already tried all the campus bars at night
I've gone to all the bars on campus looking for this person, but haven't found him.
And even cried alone at the diner
I've been so frustrated and sad that I even cried by myself at a diner.
Somewhere there's a prince and he likes to strike me down
There's someone out there who seems to be better than me and is constantly trying to bring me down.
I know I'm not the reason
I understand that this person's behavior is not my fault.
I'm just the one he found
But unfortunately, I seem to be the person he's targeting.
And all these other cowards, they're not hard to boss around
This person is able to control and intimidate other weak people easily.
You just get them in your arms and you hold them till they drown
By getting close to these weak individuals and then manipulating them, this person can easily control them until they give up.
I walked back to the cottage with no hand around my wrist
One time, I was able to leave without being physically restrained.
When I heard the sound of vodka bottles breaking
But even though I thought I was safe, I heard something that made me nervous.
I went out to the clearing, he was standing with a fist
When I went outside to investigate, I saw that this person was angry and aggressive.
But I couldn't see the face that he was making
I couldn't tell what this person was thinking or feeling because I couldn't see their face.
He said make me some dinner
This person demanded that I make them food.
I said "I thought you'd never ask"
I responded with a sarcastic comment because I didn't want to do what this person was asking.
He was standing in my kitchen I was filling up his glass
This person was in my personal space, and I had to attend to their needs.
He finally started screaming and pointing to the bed
This person started shouting and directing me towards the bed.
He wanted me to kill him but I took his life instead
This person was asking for something extreme and I ended up making a different decision.
Ugly moments strung together and the poor guy
These events were all upsetting and unfortunate, especially for this person.
Couldn't even find his temper
This person was so overwhelmed that they were unable to control their emotions.
And he could no longer make me cry
But after everything that happened, I'm no longer affected emotionally by this person's actions or words.
I guess the boss inside of him died
Perhaps this person's controlling behavior no longer works because he's lost his power or confidence.
Contributed by Eli P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
str8outtacostco
How do you find a guy around here?
I've already sped through a year
I've already tried all the campus bars at night
even cried alone at the diner
somewhere there's a prince and he likes to strike me down
I know I'm not the reason
I'm just the one he found
and all these other cowards, they're not hard to boss around
just get them in your arms
and you hold them 'til they drown
I walked back to the cottage with no hand around my wrist
and I heard the sound of vodka bottles breaking
I went out to the clearing, he was standing with a fist
but I couldn't see the face that he was making
he said make me some dinner
I said I thought you'd never ask
he was standing in my kitchen
I was filling up his glass
he finally started screaming
and pointed to the bed
he wanted me to kill him
but I took his life instead
ugly moments
strung together
and the poor guy couldn't even find his temper
and he could no longer make me cry
I guess the boss inside of him died
I guess the boss inside of him died
I guess the boss inside of him died
Cuds
such a great voice.
Priya Makwana
What an amazing voice...I say this as a musician myself, primarily a vocalist and originally trained for over 7 years as a classical (opera) singer. Wow.
Mag Erbiti {lluvia}
great song, great vide, great voice. can't say anything else, really....
Kieran Dacey
love it I want to play 2nd lead picking over this!
Selon Fischer
its my favorite song from the album...love it :)
cheeselovingtree
It's about a girl who seeks men who will abuse her and push her around ("somewhere there's a prince and he likes to strike me down")- she equates this with what a real man is ("how do you find a guy around here") but any abusive men she's found always seem to break down (They lack the "Boss inside") The partner she is with at the end of the song breaks down ("I guess the boss inside of him died") and she leaves, because he needs her more than she needs him ("I took his life instead")
Seven Angels
Wow, this is so beautiful.
punky88
nice lyrics, so touching...I love your house
shyko95
Just a metaphor. You take from it what you want. I think the guy is his dad, and "Adam" (narrator) took over his role in the family: When his dad had an epiphany of how he treated his son over the years (badly), he felt so sorry he wanted "Adam" to commit revenge, instead though, "Adam" became the "man" in the family and belittled his dad's titile, hence the silent woman as the "mum".
thaees
yeah!! i love adam green he is awesome and i think we'd be best friends if we met