Sic Transit Gloria...Glory Fades
Brand New Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Keep the noise low
She doesn't wanna blow it
Shaking head to toe
while your left hand does "the show me around"
Quickens your heartbeat
It beats me straight into the ground

You don't recover from a night like this
A victim, still lying in bed, completely motionless
A hand moves in the dark to a zipper
Hear a boy bracing tight against sheets
barely whisper, "This is so messed up"

Upon arrival the guests had all stared
Dripping wet and clearly depressed,
he'd headed straight for the stairs
No longer cool, but a boy in a stitch,
unprepared for a life full of lies and failing relationships

(Up the stairs: the station where
the act becomes the art of growing up)

He keeps his hands low
He doesn't wanna blow it
He's wet from head to toe and
his eyes give her the up and the down
His stomach turns and he thinks of throwing up
But the body on the bed beckons forward
and he starts growing up

The fever, the focus
The reasons that I had to believe you weren't too hard to sell
Die young and save yourself
The tickle, the taste of
It used to be the reason I breathed but now it's choking me up
Die young and save yourself

She hits the lights
This doesn't seem quite fair
Despite everything he learned from his friends,
he doesn't feel so prepared
She's breathing quiet and smooth
He's gasping for air
"This is the first and last time," he says
She fakes a smile and presses her hips into his
He keeps his hands pinned down at his sides
He's holding back from telling her
exactly what it really feels like

He is the lamb, she is the slaughter
She's moving way too fast and all he wanted was to hold her
Nothing that he tells her is really having an effect
He whispers that he loves her,
but she's probably only looking for se-

(Up the stairs: the station where
the act becomes the art of growing up)

So much more than he could ever give
A life free of lies and a meaningful relationship
He keeps his hands pinned down at his sides
He waits for it to end
and for the aching in his guts to subside

The fever, the focus
The reasons that I had to believe you weren't too hard to sell
Die young and save yourself
The tickle, the taste of
It used to be the reason I breathed but now it's choking me up
Die young and save yourself

Up the stairs: the station where
the act becomes the art of growing up

The fever, the focus
The reasons that I had to believe you weren't too hard to sell
Die young and save yourself
The tickle, the taste of
It used to be the reason I breathed but now it's choking me up
Die young and save yourself


"The people, the focus
The reasons that I had to believe you weren't too hard to settle
Die young and save yourself
They take all the taste out




It used to be the reason that we're even, now it's choking me up
Die young and save yourself"]

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Brand New's "Sic Transit Gloria...Glory Fades" describe a sexual encounter between two individuals, one of whom is inexperienced and feeling overwhelmed. The song is a warning against the recklessness of youth and the dangers of getting caught up in fleeting pleasures. The singer is introduced as he nervously enters a party, seeking to fit in and impress those around him. He quickly becomes involved with a girl, but feels outmatched and out of his depth. The chorus reflects on the transience of these youthful experiences and the need to "die young and save yourself" from the pressures and temptations of society.


The song is also notable for its use of classical allusions to tie the seemingly banal storyline to larger historical themes. The title itself is a reference to the Latin phrase “Sic transit gloria mundi," which translates to "Thus passes the glory of the world." This phrase was often used to remind people of the fleeting nature of power and wealth, and the inevitability of death. The lyrics also reference the Stations of the Cross, a religious practice in Catholicism that involves meditating on the path Jesus took to his crucifixion. By bringing in these broader cultural references, the song elevates the narrative and adds a layer of depth to the story.


In addition to its literary and cultural allusions, the song's musical style is also noteworthy. The driving beat and punchy guitar riffs create a sense of urgency and momentum that supports the narrative of the inexperienced protagonist overwhelmed by his surroundings. The band's use of dynamics, with the dynamics ebbing and flowing as the singer's emotions shift, also adds to the drama and intensity of the song. Overall, "Sic Transit Gloria...Glory Fades" is a powerful illustration of Brand New's ability to combine literary sophistication, cultural awareness, and musical intensity into a single cohesive work of art.


Line by Line Meaning

Keep the noise low
Trying to keep things quiet because there's something secret and possibly shameful happening.


She doesn't wanna blow it
The girl involved in this secret activity is afraid of getting caught.


Shaking head to toe
The boy is nervous and scared.


while your left hand does 'the show me around'
The girl is making a sexual gesture towards the boy.


Quickens your heartbeat
The boy is getting excited but also anxious.


It beats me straight into the ground
The boy is feeling overwhelmed by his emotions.


You don't recover from a night like this
This experience is going to stick with the boy for a long time.


A victim, still lying in bed, completely motionless
The boy is so traumatized by what happened that he can't even move.


A hand moves in the dark to a zipper
The boy is trying to get dressed or leave without waking the girl.


Hear a boy bracing tight against sheets
The boy is trying to keep his emotions in check.


barely whisper, 'This is so messed up'
The boy is realizing that what he just did was wrong.


Upon arrival the guests had all stared
Everyone knew what was going on.


Dripping wet and clearly depressed,
The boy is soaked from walking in the rain and feeling down.


he'd headed straight for the stairs
The boy is trying to escape from the situation.


No longer cool, but a boy in a stitch,
The boy realizes that he's not as cool as he thought he was.


unprepared for a life full of lies and failing relationships
The boy is starting to see that his behavior is self-destructive.


He keeps his hands low
The boy is trying not to draw attention to himself.


He doesn't wanna blow it
The boy is afraid of getting caught or messing up.


He's wet from head to toe and
The boy is still soaked from being outside in the rain.


his eyes give her the up and the down
The boy is checking out the girl, but he's not really into it.


His stomach turns and he thinks of throwing up
The boy is feeling sick and disgusted with himself.


But the body on the bed beckons forward
Despite his misgivings, the boy is unable to resist the girl's advances.


and he starts growing up
The boy is starting to realize that he needs to take responsibility for his actions.


The fever, the focus
The intense emotions and singular purpose that drove the boy's behavior.


The reasons that I had to believe you weren't too hard to sell
The boy was easily convinced to go along with the girl's advances.


Die young and save yourself
The boy is starting to see that his recklessness could have serious consequences.


The tickle, the taste of
The initial attraction and thrill of the experience.


It used to be the reason I breathed but now it's choking me up
The boy is realizing that his behavior is suffocating him.


She hits the lights
The girl turns off the lights to make things more intimate and secretive.


This doesn't seem quite fair
The boy is realizing that he's in over his head.


Despite everything he learned from his friends,
The boy is starting to realize that his friends might not have had the best advice for him.


he doesn't feel so prepared
The boy is unprepared for what's happening.


She's breathing quiet and smooth
The girl is calm and collected.


He's gasping for air
The boy is struggling to control his emotions.


'This is the first and last time,' he says
The boy is realizing that he can't keep living like this.


She fakes a smile and presses her hips into his
The girl is enjoying the attention and trying to keep the boy engaged.


He keeps his hands pinned down at his sides
The boy is trying not to touch the girl or give her any signs of affection.


He's holding back from telling her
The boy can't express his true feelings to the girl.


exactly what it really feels like
The boy is too confused and ashamed to explain how he really feels.


He is the lamb, she is the slaughter
The girl is in control of the situation and the boy feels powerless.


She's moving way too fast and all he wanted was to hold her
The girl is being too aggressive and the boy just wanted a more innocent connection.


Nothing that he tells her is really having an effect
The boy's attempts to communicate his feelings are falling on deaf ears.


He whispers that he loves her,
The boy is expressing his feelings, but he knows it won't work.


but she's probably only looking for se-
The girl is only interested in a casual sexual encounter.


So much more than he could ever give
The boy knows that he needs to offer more than just his body.


A life free of lies and a meaningful relationship
The boy is starting to realize that honesty and commitment are important.


He waits for it to end
The boy just wants the experience to be over.


and for the aching in his guts to subside
The boy feels sick to his stomach and wants the feeling to go away.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JESSE LACEY, VINCENT ACCARDI

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@Anunna_Art

LYRICS:
Keep the noise low
She doesn't wanna blow it
Shaking head to toe
While your left hand does the show me around
Quickens your heartbeat
Beats me straight into the ground
You don't recover from a night like this
A victim, still lying in bed, completely motionless
A hand moves in the dark to a zipper
Hear a boy bracing tight against sheets
Barely whisper, "This is so messed up"
Upon arrival the guests had all stared
Dripping wet and clearly depressed
He'd headed straight for the stairs
No longer cool, but a boy in a stitch
Unprepared for a life full of lies and failing relationships
He keeps his hands low
He doesn't wanna blow it
He's wet from head to toe and
His eyes give her the up and the down
His stomach turns and he thinks of throwing up
But the body on the bed beckons forward and he starts growing up
The fever, the focus
The reasons that I had to believe you
Weren't too hard to sell
Die young and save yourself
The tickle, the taste of
It used to be the reason I breathed
But now it's choking me up
Die young and save yourself
She hits the lights, this doesn't seem quite fair
Despite everything he learned from his friends
He doesn't feel so prepared
She's breathing quiet and smooth
He's gasping for air
"This is the first and last time, " he says
She fakes a smile and presses her hips into his
He keeps his hands pinned down at his sides
He's holding back from telling her exactly what it really feels like
He is the lamb, she is the slaughter
She's moving way too fast and all he wanted was to hold her
Nothing that he tells her is really having an effect
He whispers that he loves her but she's probably only looking for s-
So much more than he could ever give
A life free of lies and a meaningful relationship
He keeps his hands pinned down at his sides
He waits for it to end and for the aching in his guts to subside
The fever, the focus
The reasons that I had to believe you
Weren't too hard to sell
Die young and save yourself
The tickle, the taste of
It used to be the reason I breathed
But now it's choking me up
Die young and save yourself
Up the stairs, the station where
The act becomes the art of growing up
The fever, the focus
The reasons that I had to believe you
Weren't too hard to sell
Die young and save yourself
The tickle, the taste of
It used to be the reason I breathed
But now it's choking me up
Die young and save yourself



All comments from YouTube:

@davidhenderson4680

This is sort of like a class reunion. How are your 30’s going everyone?

@armandduarte4193

Employed. Going on vacation to Maui this month. Nearly off drugs 6 years. I wish you all nothing but success.

@teenyverse7707

have all the money and success.... but, I miss hanging out with friends with squat to do.

@saracaceresx

still feeling young somehow

@karabartley

I miss being a depressed teenager more often than I'd like to admit. The music was better then.

@randymarsh8807

28, slowly getting there, still rockin on my 2000's emo dudes

333 More Replies...

@youmaryatsix

I think a sign of fantastic musicians is when you can listen to their songs 10 years later and it doesn't sound dated, you only feel nostalgic. I love Brand New so, so much

@ronpaul4320

Do you like old Brand New or new Brand New

@PlatinumHustle

Hell yeah

@valerie8889

Been 9 years since your comment. Still listening

More Comments

More Versions