After a solo tour in the fall of 2003, Alexakis decided to continue with Everclear, organizing a new band that made its debut in March of 2004. The new lineup consisted of bass player Sam Hudson, guitarist Dave French, and drummer Eric Bretl. In the summer of 2004, the band added keyboard player Josh Crawley, and swapped Bretl for former Everclear drum tech Brett Snyder. The new lineup released its first recording, a cover of Woody Guthrie's This Land Is Your Land, that summer. A self-released EP of performances recorded for XM Satellite Radio called Closure was given out at shows in the fall of 2004.
Free of a major label, Alexakis spent the ensuing year and half slowly recording material for a new Everclear release. He admitted that the time after the breakup of the original lineup served as a "wake up call", during which he suffered his third divorce and a filing for bankruptcy. Alexakis announced the completion of the album in early 2006,titled Welcome To The Drama Club. The new band is now on Eleven Seven Music.
In August of 2008, drummer Brett Snyder left the band after four years. He was then replaced by Tommy Stewart, who previously played in bands Fuel and Godsmack.
Normal Like You
Everclear Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't even have the strength to pick up the phone
You wouldn't even know me since you went away
The Prozac doesn't do it for me anymore
Yeah you ought to take your medication every day
Be a good dog, live life in a wonderful way
Tell me why you want to be blind
I know now every day
I get closer to the place inside
Where I can be normal too
I heard those stupid people talk about you again
I just have to laugh to keep from hurting bad
Their simple minds just cannot seem to understand
You are neurotic and depressed
It doesn't mean that you're sad
You walk around oblivious to everything
You wear that party dress, black mascara
Like you're queen for the day
I will never be normal like you
You walk around oblivious to everyone
I see you walking slow and simple underneath the big black sun
Tell me why you want to be blind
I don't want to be normal like you
I know now every day
I get closer to the place inside
Where I can be complacent
I get closer to the place inside
Where I can be sedated
Yes I get closer to the place inside
Where I can be normal too, I can be normal too
I can be normal like you
The song "Normal Like You" by Everclear is a critique of society's definition of normalcy and conformity. The singer of the song is addressing someone who has gone away and is now taking Prozac for their condition. The suggestion that the medication is not enough implies that the person is still struggling with mental illness. The singer seems resentful that they were contacted, but they also seem to empathize with the person's situation. The refrain "I don't want to be normal like you" challenges the idea of what is considered normal and makes it clear that the singer does not wish to conform to society's standards.
The song's lyrics also address the stigma surrounding mental illness. The singer is critical of the "stupid people" who cannot understand that a person can be both neurotic and depressed, but not necessarily sad. The idea that the society does not understand conditions like depression and anxiety are further emphasized by the line "Their simple minds just cannot seem to understand." The singer even describes the person they are addressing as "walking slow and simple," which is an extension of this idea.
Overall, "Normal Like You" is a powerful critique of societal norms and a reflection on the stigma surrounding mental illness. It highlights the idea that people who struggle with mental illness can still lead fulfilling lives, and it questions why society considers certain behaviors or states of mind as "normal."
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah they said you called me maybe yesterday
Someone mentioned that you may have tried to contact me recently.
I don't even have the strength to pick up the phone
I am feeling too emotionally drained to even answer a call from you.
You wouldn't even know me since you went away
I have changed so much since you left, that you probably wouldn't recognize me.
The Prozac doesn't do it for me anymore
My medication is no longer helping me cope with my mental health issues.
Yeah you ought to take your medication every day
It is important to stay on top of managing your mental health by consistently taking prescribed medication.
Be a good dog, live life in a wonderful way
A sarcastic comment, suggesting that taking medication and being obedient is what society wants from individuals with mental health issues.
Tell me why you want to be blind
Asking why someone would choose to ignore or overlook the harsh realities of life and pretend that everything is okay.
I don't want to be normal like you
Rejecting the idea of conforming to societal norms and expectations.
I know now every day
Coming to the realization that growth and self-acceptance takes time and happens gradually.
I get closer to the place inside
Becoming more in touch with my inner self and working towards healing and self-acceptance.
Where I can be normal too
Accepting that being yourself, even if it means not fitting into societal norms, is okay.
I heard those stupid people talk about you again
Others continue to gossip and spread rumors about the individual in question.
I just have to laugh to keep from hurting bad
Finding humor in the ignorance and lack of understanding shown by others, in order to cope with feelings of pain and frustration.
Their simple minds just cannot seem to understand
Others are unable or unwilling to understand the struggles and complexities of the individual in question.
You are neurotic and depressed
Describing the individual's mental health struggles as a way of explaining their behavior.
It doesn't mean that you're sad
Clarifying that mental health struggles do not always equate to being sad or unhappy.
You walk around oblivious to everything
Implying that the individual in question is disconnected from reality or unaware of their surroundings.
You wear that party dress, black mascara
Describing the individual's outward appearance, which does not necessarily reflect their inner struggles.
Like you're queen for the day
Suggesting that the individual is living in a fantasy world, where they are in control and can escape their problems.
I will never be normal like you
Affirming the artist's rejection of societal norms and expectations.
You walk around oblivious to everyone
Reiterating the idea that the individual is disconnected and unaware of others around them.
I see you walking slow and simple underneath the big black sun
Describing the individual's appearance and the sense of melancholy or heaviness that they seem to carry with them.
Where I can be complacent
Acknowledging the temptation to give up and become complacent in one's struggles with mental health.
I get closer to the place inside
Continuing to work towards healing and self-acceptance.
Where I can be sedated
Acknowledging the temptation to rely solely on medication to cope with mental health struggles.
Yes I get closer to the place inside
Reaffirming the singer's commitment to self-discovery and self-acceptance.
Where I can be normal too, I can be normal too
Affirming the idea that being true to oneself, even if it means not fitting into societal norms, is a worthwhile pursuit.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ART ALEXAKIS, CRAIG MONTOYA, GREG EKLUND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind