Say It Ain't So
Deftones Lyrics


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Alright, it feels good...
Somebody's hiding his sad on my icebox
Somebody's cold one, is givin' me chills
Plus and the cold in my eyes...oh yeah!
It feels good...
Flip on the tele'
Wrestle with Jimmy
Something is bubbling behind my back
The bottle is ready, to blow

Say it ain't so
Your drug is a heartbreaker
Say it ain't so
My love is a lifetaker

Yeah - I can't confront you I never could do
That which might hurt you to try and be cool
When I say
This way is a waterslide away from me
That takes your further every day...
Uhh, so be cool - Yeah!

Say it ain't so
Your drug is a heartbreaker
Say it ain't so
My love is a lifetaker

Dear Daddy, I write you in spite of years of silence
You've cleaned up, found Jesus, things are good or so I hear
This bottle of Steven's awakens ancient feelings
Like father, stepfather the son is drowning in the flood!




Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Ohhhhh!
Your sorry!

Overall Meaning

The Deftones' song Say It Ain't So is a poignant portrayal of a young man's struggle with addiction and the pain he causes to those around him. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song, describing the singer's sense of isolation and the coldness he feels both inside and out. The reference to "somebody's hiding his sad on my icebox" suggests that the singer is unable to express his own sadness and is instead taking on the emotional burden of others.


The song then takes a more confrontational turn as the singer shifts his attention to the object of his affection's addiction. "Your drug is a heartbreaker, my love is a lifetaker" is a devastating indictment of the destructive power of addiction and its toll on relationships. The singer's inability to "confront" the person he loves is a common theme in addiction, as loved ones often struggle with how to approach and support someone struggling with substance abuse.


The final verse of the song is a letter to the singer's father, who has become religious and turned his life around. The "bottle of Steven's" (likely a reference to the musician and recovering addict Steven Tyler) reawakens old traumas, as the singer compares his father to a stepfather and describes feeling drowned in a flood. The overall sense of despair and longing in the song is palpable, and the final "Your sorry!" suggests that the singer is yearning for some sense of reconciliation or redemption.


Line by Line Meaning

Alright, it feels good...
I'm feeling good at the moment.


Somebody's hiding his sad on my icebox
Someone is hiding their sadness from me.


Somebody's cold one, is givin' me chills
Someone's cold drink is giving me chills.


Plus and the cold in my eyes...oh yeah!
I can feel the coldness in my eyes.


It feels good...
I'm still feeling good.


Flip on the tele'
I turn on the TV.


Wrestle with Jimmy
I'm wrestling with my thoughts.


Something is bubbling behind my back
Something is happening behind my back.


The bottle is ready, to blow
I'm about to explode emotionally.


Say it ain't so Your drug is a heartbreaker Say it ain't so My love is a lifetaker
I'm begging you to deny that your addiction is breaking my heart, and my love is not destroying you.


Yeah - I can't confront you I never could do That which might hurt you to try and be cool
I can't talk to you about your addiction. I'm afraid to hurt you, and I'm trying to act cool about it all.


When I say This way is a waterslide away from me That takes your further every day... Uhh, so be cool - Yeah!
When I tell you that you're going down a dangerous path, I mean that you're moving further away from me each day. So, even though it's hard, please try to stay calm.


Dear Daddy, I write you in spite of years of silence You've cleaned up, found Jesus, things are good or so I hear This bottle of Steven's awakens ancient feelings Like father, stepfather the son is drowning in the flood! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Ohhhhh! Your sorry!
I'm writing to you, even though we haven't talked in a long time. I've heard you've found religion and things are better, but seeing this alcohol brings up old feelings. As your child, I feel like I'm drowning in the same situation, and it hurts. You should apologize.




Contributed by Keira K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@jgseg6828

The Deftones guys do not make covers, they absorb the song as one of their own and spill it out as their lifes were at stake. As rock spirit as it can gets.

@studiocrow866

for real >???

@wilgeorgeleenders9041

Totally agree!!

@brandonjackson5865

I agree I always like the way Deftones approach covers.
Their Simple Man cover absolutely destroys Shinedowns version. I like Shinedown but I hated what they did to Simple Man.
“Squeal Like a Pig” lol I forgot he did that, love drunk Chino !

@16BitOG

This is suuuuuper cringe. Just enjoy the music man, it's not that deep.

@jeremys3951

@@16BitOGlol fr YouTube comments be cringe af

3 More Replies...

@kotomile

My dying wish is that Deftones record this incredible cover in studio with the same energy

@kotomile

Maybe without the squeal like a pig injections though lol

@originalsinjungle

This!

@EYEHATEERIC

This is awesome.People are acting like a ''cover'' means that you have to sing it exactly like the original song,which is wrong.Being true to the lyrics and doing it in your own style is what a cover is all about..

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