Pseudo-Bread
Boris Lyrics


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Mornin' and dizzy
Shaken and awaken
Not such a good start
my head not very clear
Starvin' and lookin'
Kicken' at these empty boxes
Where's my cereal? No room for cherry-pickin'.
Crampin' reason
Floodin' guesses
Here's the pseudo-bread
Puttin' it on a chipped plate
I've eaten the side I can see
What's inside? Not yet
I line of glasses, you're made to buy them.
Who made you buy them? With these designs that everyone knows.
Shut the fuck up, I already knew that!
(the water in the glass goes silent)
Shut the fuck up, I already knew that!
(The water in the glass spills out.)
You think you see, well what do you see?
It's me that I see now
"Generally" is doubtin'
"Basically" is betrayed
"Better than nothing" is not fun
I've eaten the side I can't see




What's inside? Insane butter
La la la, betrayed it.

Overall Meaning

The song Pseudo-Bread by Boris highlights the confusion and frustration with mundane and seemingly meaningless tasks in day-to-day life. The opening lines portray a disoriented state of mind, possibly due to a hangover or lack of sleep. The singer’s hunger and desperation to find something to eat are showcased in the line “Starvin’ and lookin’, kickin’ at these empty boxes. Where’s my cereal? No room for cherry-pickin’.” Here, the individual is shown trying to find something to eat, reaching the point where they are even kicking at empty cereal boxes in desperation.


The metaphor of “Pseudo-bread” is introduced, representing the mundane and insignificant items that people come across in their daily lives. The line “Here’s the pseudo-bread. Puttin’ it on a chipped plate” depicts the singer accepting and settling for the mediocre options in life. They have eaten the side they can see, which means they have accepted what they already know, but they are still unsure of what lies within. The song critiques the marketing tactics used by companies to sell everyday items and asks the listener to look beyond the surface and question why they buy these things, as seen in the line “Who made you buy them? With these designs that everyone knows.”


The chorus of the song repeats the line “Shut the fuck up, I already knew that!” emphasizing the frustration and annoyance the singer is feeling towards the mundane nature of life. The song ends with the line “La la la, betrayed it”, signifying that in the end, the singer’s expectations were let down, and they were left unsatisfied.


Line by Line Meaning

Mornin' and dizzy
I woke up feeling disoriented and light-headed.


Shaken and awaken
My body feels jolted awake.


Not such a good start
This is not an ideal beginning to my day.


my head not very clear
I am having trouble thinking straight.


Starvin' and lookin'
I am famished and searching for food.


Kicken' at these empty boxes
I am frustrated by the lack of options.


Where's my cereal? No room for cherry-pickin'.
I cannot find my preferred breakfast option and there are no other choices.


Crampin' reason
My thinking is impaired.


Floodin' guesses
My thoughts are unfocused and unorganized.


Here's the pseudo-bread
This is a fake, unsatisfying substitute for real bread.


Puttin' it on a chipped plate
I am serving this subpar option on a flawed dish.


I've eaten the side I can see
I have explored my current options as much as possible.


What's inside? Not yet
I am still uncertain about what other possibilities exist.


I line of glasses, you're made to buy them.
The consumer is enticed by a curated line of glassware.


Who made you buy them? With these designs that everyone knows.
The consumer is being persuaded into making a purchase based on established, recognizable patterns.


Shut the fuck up, I already knew that!
The artist is frustrated by being spoken to as if they did not already possess the information in question.


(the water in the glass goes silent)
There is an abrupt end to an unfinished conversation.


(The water in the glass spills out.)
An action is completed purely for dramatic effect.


You think you see, well what do you see?
The singer is challenging someone's perception of reality.


It's me that I see now
The artist has become self-aware and self-assured.


"Generally" is doubtin'
The usage of generalizations is unreliable.


"Basically" is betrayed
Simplicity is not always an indicator of truthfulness.


"Better than nothing" is not fun
Accepting a lackluster alternative is unsatisfying.


I've eaten the side I can't see
The artist has exhausted what they thought were their remaining options.


What's inside? Insane butter
A hidden alternative turns out to be even more unsatisfying than expected.


La la la, betrayed it.
The singer is resigned to their disappointment.




Contributed by Anthony H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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