Mix Tape
Brand New Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I got a twenty-dollar bill
That says no one's ever seen you without makeup.
You're always made up.
And I'm sick of your tattoos
and the way you always criticize the Smiths.
and Morrissey.

And I know that you're a sucker for anything acoustic.
But when I say let's keep in touch,
I really mean I wish that you'd grow up.
This is the first song for your mix tape.
It's short just like your temper,
But somewhat golden like the afternoons
We used to spend before you got too cool.

I got a twenty-dollar bill
that says no one's ever seen you without makeup.
You're always made up.
And I'm sick of your tattoos
And the way you don't appreciate Brand New
And me.

And I know that you're a sucker for anything acoustic.
But when I say let's keep in touch,
I hope you know I mean I wish that you'd grow up
This is the first song for your mix tape
And it's short just like your temper
But somewhat golden like the afternoons
We used to spend before you got too cool.





Yeah, but I wish you were my shadow (repeat 4x)

Overall Meaning

The opening lyrics of Brand New's song "Mix Tape" seem to be a direct address to a certain person who is always wearing makeup and has a penchant for criticizing the Smiths and Morrissey. The singer is evidently fed up with this person and their tendencies. They express this frustration with a bet, using a twenty-dollar bill to wager that no one has ever seen the person without makeup.


As the song continues, the singer reveals that they have a history with this person, as they recall afternoons spent together that were "somewhat golden." However, they also note that the person has since become "too cool" for such things. The singer expresses a desire to remain in contact by offering a superficial suggestion to "keep in touch," but notes that what they really mean is for the person to grow up.


At the heart of the song seems to be a sense of disillusionment with someone the singer once knew and cared for. The repeated line "I wish you were my shadow" suggests a longing for things to return to the way they were before this person changed.


Overall, "Mix Tape" seems to be about the difficulty of growing apart from someone, and the disappointment that can come with seeing someone you once admired and respected change in ways that don't align with your own values.


Line by Line Meaning

I got a twenty-dollar bill
I propose a bet using a $20 bill


That says no one's ever seen you without makeup.
You always wear makeup and no one has seen you bare-faced


You're always made up.
You consistently wear makeup


And I'm sick of your tattoos
Your tattoos are bothering me


and the way you always criticize the Smiths.
Your constant criticism towards The Smiths and Morrissey is getting on my nerves


And I know that you're a sucker for anything acoustic.
You have a strong liking towards any kind of acoustic music


But when I say let's keep in touch,
When I tell you we should stay in contact


I really mean I wish that you'd grow up.
I actually mean that I hope you mature


This is the first song for your mix tape.
I'm creating a mix tape for you and this is the first song


It's short just like your temper,
The song is brief like your short temper


But somewhat golden like the afternoons
But it's still precious and memorable like the afternoons


We used to spend before you got too cool.
We used to spend together before you started acting arrogant and detached


Yeah, but I wish you were my shadow (repeat 4x)
I desire for you to follow me around like my shadow




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRIAN LANE, GARRETT TIERNEY, JESSE LACEY, VINCENT ACCARDI

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

steroalt

[Verse 1]
I got a twenty dollar bill
That says no one's ever seen you
Without makeup
You're always made up
And I'm sick of your tattoos
And the way you always criticize
The Smiths
And Morrissey
And I know that you're a sucker
For anything acoustic
But when I say let's keep in touch
I really mean I wish that you'd grow up

[Hook]
This is the first song for your mixtape
And it's short, just like your temper
But somewhat golden like the afternoons
We used to spend before you got too cool

[Verse 2]
I got a twenty-dollar bill
That says no one's ever seen you
Without makeup
You're always made up
And I'm sick of your tattoos
And the way you don't appreciate
Brand New
Or me
And I know that you're a sucker
For anything acoustic
But when I say let's keep in touch
I hope you know I mean I wish that you'd grow up

[Hook]
This is the first song for your mixtape
It's short just like your temper
But somewhat golden like the afternoons
We used to spend before you got too cool...

(Yeah, but I wish you were my shadow)



Tabitha Wilson

"And I'm sick of your tattoos and the way you always criticize the smiths and Morrissey and I know that you're a sucker for anything acoustic but when I say let's keep in touch I really mean I wish that you'd grow up....."

"I've got a 20 dollar bill that says no one's ever seen you without makeup.
You're always made up..
And I'm sick of your tattoos and the way you DONT APPRECIATE BRAND NEW OR ME...

And I know that you're a sucker for anything acoustic but when I say let's keep in touch I hope you know I mean I wish you'd grow up....

Somewhat golden like the afternoons we used to spend before you got too cool....



All comments from YouTube:

steroalt

[Verse 1]
I got a twenty dollar bill
That says no one's ever seen you
Without makeup
You're always made up
And I'm sick of your tattoos
And the way you always criticize
The Smiths
And Morrissey
And I know that you're a sucker
For anything acoustic
But when I say let's keep in touch
I really mean I wish that you'd grow up

[Hook]
This is the first song for your mixtape
And it's short, just like your temper
But somewhat golden like the afternoons
We used to spend before you got too cool

[Verse 2]
I got a twenty-dollar bill
That says no one's ever seen you
Without makeup
You're always made up
And I'm sick of your tattoos
And the way you don't appreciate
Brand New
Or me
And I know that you're a sucker
For anything acoustic
But when I say let's keep in touch
I hope you know I mean I wish that you'd grow up

[Hook]
This is the first song for your mixtape
It's short just like your temper
But somewhat golden like the afternoons
We used to spend before you got too cool...

(Yeah, but I wish you were my shadow)

Garry Brown

Man brand new went in a completely different direction after this album...one of my favorite Pop-punk albums

justin Baronofsky

Def my favorite brand new album but the others are also great

ivana jizahnyu

yea they were still tryna find their sound. this is their most famous song though so maybe they shoulda stuck with it. i like almost all their songs tho

RC Codes

yes and no... i mean this album is literally the first songs jesse wrote and recorded... they were finding their sound but i think it just evolved with age. he was always about layering his vocals insane and catchy hooks... that didnt change on deja.

Louie O.Blevins Music

The only pop punk album I like that isn’t Alkaline Trio. I never rlly thought of this album as pop punk ‘till I read your comment but yeah, def is. In fact I can definitely tell, as I have an old band mate who mainly listens to and has played in p.p. bands, that this album influenced the hell outta the p.p. sound I hear nowadays. I had always thought Mxpx was like the quintessential “pop punk sound.” (Had a child with the sister of an original member of “Showbread” who was on Tooth ‘n Nail with mxpx. I hated his music sooo much 😂) I laid in bed after school for like 2 weeks after my first heartbreak at 15 and this album for the most part, had some Third Eye Blind’s 1st album sprinkled in there, was always playing. 🤣 No wonder from 16 to now at 33 my favorite artist is Elliott Smith. lol.

Louie O.Blevins Music

@RC Codes yeah, I’ve listened to most of their records and though this is my favorite album of theirs, because nostalgia always wins, they def progressed thru each album I listened to. I def wouldn’t consider any album after this pop punk but more of whatever bands like Thrice nowadays fall under. Gonna Google it and it’ll probably still be pop punk…lol. So these were the first songs he had ever written, like there was no band he was in before B.W.? If so that’s extremely impressive.

Kelsy Duncan

WHY AM I JUST NOW DISCOVERING THIS BAND.

Céline HS

So sad they're not know yet ! They make such good music !!

Desert grape

I DEFINITELY FEEL YOU,
but hey at least we made it, right?

I've been in love for a few months now. :')

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