Current members of Blue October include Justin Furstenfeld (lead vocals), Ryan Delahoussaye (violin/viola, mandolin, keyboards, and vocals), Jeremy Furstenfeld (drums, percussion), Matt Noveskey (bass guitar) and Will Knaak (guitar).
Popularized by their platinum-certified album Foiled (2006), which features the hit singles “Hate Me” and “Into the Ocean,” the group has continued to evolve… shifting from a far more pensive sound to one that is more optimistic and reflective of lead singer/songwriter/guitarist Justin Furstenfeld’s transformation—which will also be the focus of his soon-to-be-released documentary film, I Want It.
Once known for their stormy dynamic and self-destructive tendencies, Blue October couldn’t be more distinct from the band it once was, which is why their latest studio album, I Hope You’re Happy, looks to push the envelope even further with a whole new approach. Justin Furstenfeld is quoted as saying "I think Blue October should never be limited to the instruments we have in the band. I’m always about bringing in whoever can play what’s best for the song in. I’m also a huge fan of Peter Gabriel, and if you were to him all you can have is a guitarist a bassist and a drummer, he’d go “what?!” That’s how I feel. We took all the tools we had gotten from working all these kinds of people over the twenty-year span and made a really good album and we’re super proud of it. It’s nice and colorful and positive and universally themed. It’s something you can really sink your teeth into and not get sick of. You can always discover little new secrets about it along the way."
Their latest album, I Hope You're Happy, was released on August 17, 2018 on the band's own Up/Down Records label and was produced by Justin Furstenfeld and engineer Eric Holtz.
Previous band members have included Liz Mulally, Brant Coulter, Dwayne Casey, Piper Dagnino, Julian Mandrake, CB Hudson and Matthew Ostrander.
Blue October has an official site www.blueoctober.com/.
For the British band, please see Blue October UK
The Answer
Blue October Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm laughing with a broken face
I stumble across my self esteem
But to picture the pleasure is making me want my space
Understandâ?¦
That God wrapped you like a bow
But in my headâ?¦.
From basement to ceiling, control.
If what you're seeing is an open book
That's great cause I'm an open book
But I'm real shy
There's a part of me seeking and desperately needing
To open up
That's strange cause I'm an open book
A confused boy
I'm an automatic steeple for depressed and lonely people
My heart while in its cage is used to give and not receive a thing
But the only funny thing is that I don't know how to give myself advice
I've got this dramatic thing
I've got a tattoo of a ring that lies
Around my wedding finger and that's where I want to state this clain
â??That I've got to learn to live and dream
Before I go and get myself in loveâ??
In love
There's Zoloft, Welbutrin, there's Paxil that's proven
No side effects
But the rest left unnamed cause they worked like a charm on me
But when your savings is drying
You can't stop from crying
You've got to suck it up
You're not her buttercup
You're not her favorite book
The opening line of the song is quite striking. The phrase "if I can't crawl inside of you" is an expression of vulnerability, while the line "I'm laughing with a broken face" suggests that the singer is trying to hide his pain, but unsuccessfully. The singer appears to be struggling with his self-esteem by admitting "I stumble across my self-esteem". The juxtaposition of "pleasure" and "wanting space" reveals a sense of confusion in the singer's emotions.
When the song says "God wrapped you like a bow," it could be interpreted as saying that the singer sees the person they are singing to as a gift. However, the following line, "there's some shelves that need cleaning" suggests dissatisfaction or annoyance with certain aspects of that person. The line "that's great cause I'm an open book, but I'm real shy" is somewhat contradictory and reveals a sense of vulnerability, possibly suggesting that the singer has difficulty opening up to people.
The chorus shifts the focus to the singer's inner feelings. It begins with the line "there's a part of me seeking and desperately needing to open up" which outlines the internal struggle to communicate better, while the following lines "I'm an automatic steeple for depressed and lonely people" suggests the singer sees himself as a person people turn to for help. The phrase "my heart while in its cage is used to give and not receive a thing" is a powerful metaphor for feeling isolated and unable to connect with others.
Line by Line Meaning
If I can't crawl inside of you
If I can't get close to you and really know you.
I'm laughing with a broken face
I'm putting on a brave face, but inside I'm broken and hurting.
I stumble across my self esteem
I struggle with feeling good about myself.
But to picture the pleasure is making me want my space
But thinking about intimacy makes me want to withdraw and be alone.
Understand... That God wrapped you like a bow
You are beautiful and precious, like a gift from God.
But in my head.... There's some shelves that need cleaning
I have some emotional baggage that I need to work through.
From basement to ceiling, control.
I need to take control of my thoughts and emotions and work through my issues.
If what you're seeing is an open book
If you think I am an open and honest person.
That's great cause I'm an open book
That's good, because I try to be transparent and truthful.
But I'm real shy
But I struggle with being vulnerable and expressing myself.
There's a part of me seeking and desperately needing to open up
There is a part of me that wants to connect with others and share my feelings and thoughts.
That's strange cause I'm an open book, A confused boy
It's ironic that I want to connect, because I feel lost and unsure of myself.
I'm an automatic steeple for depressed and lonely people
People come to me for help and support when they are feeling down or isolated.
My heart while in its cage is used to give and not receive a thing
I tend to focus on others and give my love and attention freely, but struggle to receive it in return.
But the only funny thing is that I don't know how to give myself advice
Despite being able to help others, I struggle with knowing how to help myself.
I've got this dramatic thing
I tend to make a big deal out of things and be overly emotional.
I've got a tattoo of a ring that lies around my wedding finger
I have a symbol of commitment, but am still struggling with figuring out what that means for me.
And that's where I want to state this claim - That I've got to learn to live and dream before I go and get myself in love
I want to figure out who I am and what I want before getting into a serious relationship.
There's Zoloft, Welbutrin, there's Paxil that's proven, No side effects
There are medications that can help with depression and anxiety, and don't have negative side effects.
But the rest left unnamed cause they worked like a charm on me
But I have found other medications that work well for me, even if they aren't as well-known.
But when your savings is drying, You can't stop from crying
But when you are struggling financially, it's hard to keep your emotions in check.
You've got to suck it up, You're not her buttercup, You're not her favorite book
You have to be strong and independent, because you can't rely on others to support you all the time.
Lyrics © Freibank Musikverlags und vermarktungs GmbH, BMG Rights Management
Written by: JUSTIN S FURSTENFELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Akmal Akmal
If I can't crawl inside of you,
I'm laughing with a broken face
I stumble across my self esteem.
But to picture the pleasure is making me want my space.
Understand...
that God wrapped you like a bow.
But in my head...
There's some shelves that need cleaning,
from basement to ceiling, control.
If what you're seeing is an open book,
that's great 'cause I'm an open book.
But I'm real shy.
There's a part of me seeking and desperately needing to open up.
That's strange 'cause I'm an open book, a confused boy.
I'm an automatic steeple for depressed and lonely people.
My heart while in its cage,
give and not receive a thing,
But the only funny thing is that I don't know how to give myself advice.
I've got this post dramatic thing
I've got this tattoo of a ring that lies
around my wedding finger and that'ss where I want to state this claim.
That I've got to learn to live and dream
before I go and get myself in love.
In love.
Before, before, before I go and get myself in love
There's Zoloft, Welbutrin, there's Paxil that's proven, no side effects.
But the rest left unnamed 'cause they worked like a charm on me.
But when your saving is drying,
you can't stop from crying
you've got to suck it up.
You're not her buttercup,
you're not her favorite book.
And I am an automatic steeple for depressed and lonely people.
My heart while in its cage,
give and not receive a thing,
But the only funny thing is that I don't know how to give myself advice.
I've got this post dramatic thing
I've got this tattoo of a ring that lies
around my wedding finger and thats where I want to state this claim.
That I've got to learn to live and dream
before I go and get myself in love.
In love.
Before, before, before I go and get myself in love
L. Deaquino
Years later and it’s still one of my favorite songs. 2020🤍
Harley and son gaming
I know it sounds silly,but this band,his words,are what helped me through some of the most tormenting times in my life...being 30yrs old and for the first time in my life deciding to live without the medication and face my issues without it's mind numbing "help". He has a sad soul...most of us who love his words and relate to them all share that sad soul. I Love every one of us.
KFG
Your 37? now hows life been?
Travis Lee
Me too. This music really help me through the pain of getting off meds that did nothing Other than mess me up. Good luck to you
Marcus_Allen Siebeneck
This got me through some shit that only a select few are unlucky to know. And when my insurance dropped me i had no other choice but to stop taking my medication immediately. That made a tough time tougher. I about took my life. Music and good friends saved me from myself and this song hits hard.
Carl Kamysek
@Travis Lee hi
Travis Lee
@Carl Kamysek howdy
Headwreck 33
If you're reading this.. you're loved. I read some of your comments and I think, "I wish I could talk to these people and hear their stories and share mine and maybe we can heal together with music being the catalyst that hardens us and makes us grow stronger, together."
MDCJoker
Took a year, but just wanted to let you know your comment was very touching! I myself suffer from needing music to escape, it's good to see people caring for others. Bless your heart my friend!
A. Armijo
Music is my love. Today starts a very new day for me...
And I'm not sure what the days ahead actually look like.... I'm heading into the unknown.... But damn... It's time....