Athlete is an indie rock band which formed in 1999 in Deptford, London, Eng… Read Full Bio ↴Athlete is an indie rock band which formed in 1999 in Deptford, London, England. The band consists of Joel Pott (vocals, guitar), Carey Willets (bass, vocals), Tim Wanstall (keyboards), and Steve Roberts (drums). Johnny Pilcher of the English indietronica band Weevil has joined them as second guitarist for their live shows.

Their sound is a mix of indie rock and electronic music, most recently integrating organic sounds into their music. Friends since the age of fourteen, Athlete have wide-ranging influences that include Grandaddy and Flaming Lips.

This Is What I Sound Like
Athlete Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Do you know what we're fighting for?
Well, let's fight, let us fight
Do you know what we're asking for?
'Cause I don't sometimes

I just want to kick off at something
Go to town and then make a scene
We're not sure what we're fighting for

But we'll fight

And I just want to give you
Something that I haven't got
I'm a walking advertisement
Of both light and dark

I'm not making any sense
I'm not making any sense
I mess up but don't forget that

This is what I sound like
This is what I sound like
Just to remind myself
That this is what I sound like

I was lost in a hotel bar
I was lost, I was lost
Is someone out there just laughing at us?
'Cause it seems that way

We'll stop at nothing to get what we want
Too young to realize we're all the same
I was lost in a hotel bar
I was lost

And I just want to give you
Something that I haven't got
I'm a walking advertisement
Of both light and dark

Oh, I'm not making any sense
I'm not making any sense
I mess up but don't forget

Oh, I'm not making any sense
I'm not making any sense
I mess up but don't forget that

This is what I sound like
This is what I sound like

Just to remind myself
That this is what I sound like

Overall Meaning

In Athlete's song This Is Beautiful, the lyrics are open to interpretation, but it can be interpreted as a call to arms for those who feel lost and unsure of their place or purpose. The opening lines ask if we know what we're fighting for, and then the singer expresses a desire to fight anyway, even if they don't know the answer themselves. The lyrics highlight a sense of frustration and a feeling of being stuck, and the desire to break free from that feeling.

The chorus expresses a sense of vulnerability and a need to connect with someone else. The singer wants to give something to the person they're speaking to, something they don't yet have themselves. The lyrics "I'm a walking advertisement of both light and dark" suggests that the singer has experienced both the good and bad sides of life, and is still trying to make sense of it all. The repetition of "I'm not making any sense" could indicate a struggle to articulate their thoughts and feelings.

The verse that talks about being lost in a hotel bar is perhaps the most poignant part of the song, as it captures a sense of aimlessness and despair. The line "Too young to realize we're all the same" suggests that the singer is still trying to figure out who they are and how they fit into the world. The final chorus is a reminder to the singer themselves of what they sound like, perhaps as a way of grounding themselves and finding some sense of identity and purpose.

Line by Line Meaning

Do you know what we're fighting for?
Do we have a clear understanding and purpose for our fight?

Well, let's fight, let us fight
Regardless of our uncertainty, we will fight and persevere

Do you know what we're asking for?
Do we really understand what it is that we want to achieve?

'Cause I don't sometimes
Admission of uncertainty and confusion about the purpose of the fight

I just want to kick off at something
I have bottled up emotions that I want to release through physical means

Go to town and then make a scene
Create a spectacle through my actions to draw attention to my cause

We're not sure what we're fighting for
There is a lack of clarity about the motivation behind our struggle

But we'll fight
Despite the confusion, we are committed to fighting for what we believe in

And I just want to give you
I aspire to offer you

Something that I haven't got
Something valuable that I do not possess

I'm a walking advertisement
I embody both positive and negative aspects of myself

Of both light and dark
Both the good and bad aspects of my personality

I'm not making any sense
I may not be communicating my thoughts clearly

I mess up but don't forget that
I make mistakes, but let's not ignore the positive aspects of who I am

This is what I sound like
This is a representation of my voice and identity

Just to remind myself
To maintain a sense of self-awareness

That this is what I sound like
To not forget my personal identity amidst external influences

I was lost in a hotel bar
I felt confused and misguided in a place of transience

I was lost, I was lost
Reinforcement of feeling disoriented and unsure of one's place in the world

Is someone out there just laughing at us?
Do others view our struggle as a joke?

'Cause it seems that way
Perceived external ridicule and lack of respect

We'll stop at nothing to get what we want
We are determined to reach our goals

Too young to realize we're all the same
Perhaps naively, we fail to recognize the value of empathy and mutual understanding

And I just want to give you
I want to offer you something meaningful

Something that I haven't got
Something valuable that I myself am lacking

I'm a walking advertisement
I embody both positive and negative aspects of myself

Of both light and dark
Both the good and bad aspects of my personality

Oh, I'm not making any sense
I may be struggling to convey my thoughts coherently

I'm not making any sense
I may be struggling to convey my thoughts coherently

I mess up but don't forget
I make mistakes, but let's not overlook the positives about myself

Oh, I'm not making any sense
I may be struggling to convey my thoughts coherently

I'm not making any sense
I may be struggling to convey my thoughts coherently

I mess up but don't forget that
Even though I may make mistakes, I still have value and worth

This is what I sound like
This is a representation of my voice and identity

Just to remind myself
To maintain a sense of self-awareness

That this is what I sound like
To not forget my personal identity amidst external influences

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: CAREY WILLETTS, JOEL POTT, STEVEN ROBERTS, TIMOTHY WANSTALL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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