Rookie
Boy Sets Fire Lyrics


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I never thought this could be me
I guess you never do
Until it's happening to you
Like all the fun turns into shame
And all the 'could have beens'
Rearrange
So little time so many crimes
Guilt like a chain chokes my will away
Redemption never seemed so cruel
And all my gods never seemed so weak

Wake up engage
Now derailed and enraged
It used to be so easy
Get up I'm game
Now sick and I'm tame
Counting cost with loss

Where is the hope they gave
Don't think I can't hear you laugh
I used to be a lot like you but now I'm only me
I used to be a lot like you but now I'm only me
I'm only me

Drinks to pills to shots
Fun turns into shock
A habit and a pawn
For every hand goes round
The pain gets so damned loud
The hammer hits and I'm down, and I'm down, and I'm down, and I'm down

Trust no one
Hey why should I
They give me the poison dressed like life
Cheated smacked up and diseased
Cry to sleep and fight to eat
Used to be a pro at this
Now I've broken my own wrist




Rotten teeth and life unsung
You'll forget me when I'm gone

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Boy Sets Fire's song "Rookie" comment on the personal struggles that come with addiction and its aftermath. The song describes a person who never expected to be in the position they are in - someone whose "fun turns into shame" and whose potential is replaced by guilt and regret. The character in the song is desperate for redemption but finds it to be a cruel and elusive concept, and begins to feel abandoned by the people they once trusted for help. The lyrics emphasize the sense of loss and loneliness that comes with addiction as well as the challenges of recovery.


The song also touches on the themes of hopelessness and cynicism in rehab or treatment. The singer feels betrayed by others' false promises of hope, expressing that they "don't believe" in anyone anymore. Additionally, the song portrays the harsh reality of addiction - the bodily harm it causes (e.g. "broken wrist", "rotten teeth") and the social isolation that often comes with it ("you'll forget me when I'm gone"). Overall, the song effectively communicates the distressing emotions that often accompany addiction and the difficulty of overcoming it.


Line by Line Meaning

I never thought this could be me
I never expected to be in this situation


I guess you never do
I didn't anticipate it and neither do you


Until it's happening to you
Until it's happening to you, you won't understand


Like all the fun turns into shame
All the happy moments turned into guilt


And all the 'could have beens'
All the opportunities I missed


Rearrange
Everything changed


So little time so many crimes
So many regrets, so little time


Guilt like a chain chokes my will away
Feeling guilty is overwhelming and holds me back


Redemption never seemed so cruel
Getting better feels like a punishment


And all my gods never seemed so weak
Things I believed in no longer give me strength


Wake up engage
I must wake up and face reality


Now derailed and enraged
Frustrated and resentful of my situation


It used to be so easy
Things were simpler before


Get up I'm game
I used to be ready to take on the world


Now sick and I'm tame
Now weak and lacking in energy


Counting cost with loss
Taking stock of what I've lost


Where is the hope they gave
I'm not feeling the hope they promised


Don't think I can't hear you laugh
I can hear the people who mock me


I used to be a lot like you but now I'm only me
I used to be like everyone else, now I am unique as myself


Drinks to pills to shots
From drinking to pills and then to taking shots


Fun turns into shock
Everything fun turns shocking


A habit and a pawn
I am caught in the cycle and being used


For every hand goes round
The same pattern repeats


The pain gets so damned loud
The pain is excruciating


The hammer hits and I'm down, and I'm down, and I'm down, and I'm down
I am repeatedly knocked down by life


Trust no one
I can't trust anyone


Hey why should I
There's no reason for me to trust anyone


They give me the poison dressed like life
People try to harm me with things that seem like good intentions


Cheated smacked up and diseased
Betrayed, beaten and ill


Cry to sleep and fight to eat
Crying all night and struggling to find food


Used to be a pro at this
I was good at dealing with pain and struggle


Now I've broken my own wrist
I have caused my own injury or hurt


Rotten teeth and life unsung
My teeth are decaying and my life is meaningless


You'll forget me when I'm gone
People will easily forget about me




Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@MetalArcade

Who's listening to this masterpiece in 2020? I remember seeing these guys in 2004

@tommiefunk2099

Not gonna lie. I heard of these guys when this song was the theme to Legends of Wrestling.

@ryanjordan7113

I am fucking loving this shit? Roadfools misic

@kai_plays_khomus

Saw them twice, in 2003 and 2005. Good days.

@francoissemecurbe7915

I liké it.

@ryant4549

Saw them in 2001. Rise Against and Thursday opened. Still bumping it in 2020

31 More Replies...

@guyincognito6582

Legends of Wrestling and 1080 Avalance. Good old PS2/GameCube days. <3

@Eprizm

1080° Avalanche. If you're still here in 2023 you're a legend.

@brianclark17

Been a fan for 19 years! This song means more to me today at 40, than it did when I was 21!

@ianmedford4855

Best addiction song ever. Ever.

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