Headfirst Slide Into Cooperstown on a Bad Bet
Fall Out Boy Lyrics


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Mr. Sandman showing his beam
When he walks into the room
The walls lean in to listen
Surf out brain waves
Click back and forth like old headlights
Sniffing model glue again

Head like a steel trap
Wish I didn't, I didn't, I didn't, I didn't,
I didn't, I didn't, I didn't, I don't
Just want to be a footnote in someone else's happiness.

Does your husband know the way that
The sunshine gleams from your wedding band?
Does he know the way to worship I know
Of the crickets that would convince me to call it a night?

I will never end up like him
Behind my back, I already am.
Keep a calendar, this way
You will always know.

The last time you came through,
Oh darling, I know what you're going through.
The last time you came through,
Oh darling, oh darling, oh darling

Tempest in a teacup,
Get unique.
Peroxide Princess shine like shark teeth
It's a sign, (it's a sign)
It's a sign, (it's a sign)
It's a sign, what if you peaked early.

Does your husband know the way that
The sunshine gleams from your wedding band?
Does he know the way, does he know the way
Of the crickets that would convince me to call it a night?

Does he, does he know the way to worship our love?
Does your husband know the way
That the sunshine gleams from your wedding band?

But, I will never end up like him.
Behind my back, I already am.
Keep a calendar, this way you will always know.

The last time you came through
Oh darling, I know what you're going through.
The last time you came through,
Oh darling, oh darling, oh darling

Does your husband know?
Does your husband know?
Does your husband know?

Does he know?
Does he know?
Does he know?

But, I will never end up like him.
Behind my back I already am.
Keep a calendar, this way you will always know.

Oh, the last time you came through,
Oh darling, I know what you're going through.




Oh, the last time you came through,
Oh darling, I know what you're going through.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Fall Out Boy's “Headfirst Slide Into Cooperstown On A Bad Bet” depict a scene of drug addiction and infidelity. Mr. Sandman, a symbol of sleep and dreams, is referenced as a representation of a drug dealer. The singer is addicted to model glue, which is causing hallucinations and has captured his imagination with its sensory appeal. The singer seems to be longing for someone else's happiness and wishes to be just a footnote of it. Additionally, we see a reference to infidelity when the singer is questioning if the husband of the woman he is seeing knows about their secret relationship.


The next stanza highlights the self-deception of the singer; he does not want to be like his father, but behind his back, he is already making the same mistakes. The lines “Does your husband know the way that the sunshine gleams from your wedding band?” and “Does he know the way to worship I know?” indicate that the singer is having an affair with a married woman. The song ends in a repeat of the first stanza, questioning if the husband knows about the affair.


Line by Line Meaning

Mr. Sandman showing his beam
The singer is starting to hallucinate and sees Mr. Sandman, a character from a song, who introduces the hallucination.


When he walks into the room
The hallucination is intensified when Mr. Sandman enters.


The walls lean in to listen
The hallucination is so intense that it feels like the walls are getting closer to the singer.


Surf out brain waves
The artist's mind is now taken over by the hallucination.


Click back and forth like old headlights
The artist is losing control of their thoughts and can't focus on anything.


Sniffing model glue again
The singer is engaging in self-destructive behavior by abusing drugs.


Head like a steel trap
The singer's mind is stuck in a negative thinking pattern.


Wish I didn't, I didn't, I didn't, I didn't, I didn't, I didn't, I didn't, I don't
The artist regrets their actions but continues to engage in them.


Just want to be a footnote in someone else's happiness.
The artist has a low sense of self-worth and believes they don't deserve happiness for themselves.


Does your husband know the way that the sunshine gleams from your wedding band?
The artist is in love with a married woman and questions if her husband notices her beauty.


Does he know the way to worship I know of the crickets that would convince me to call it a night?
The singer believes that he understands what the woman truly wants, more so than her husband.


I will never end up like him
The artist does not want to end up like the woman's husband.


Behind my back, I already am.
The singer is already in a similar situation to the woman's husband, despite his aspirations not to be.


Keep a calendar, this way you will always know.
The singer suggests keeping track of important dates and events to avoid repeating past mistakes.


The last time you came through, oh darling, I know what you're going through.
The singer understands the woman's struggle and empathizes with her.


Tempest in a teacup, get unique.
The artist is advising the woman to not let small problems overwhelm her and to be herself.


Peroxide Princess shine like shark teeth
The artist describes the woman's appearance in a negative light, comparing it to a dangerous animal.


It's a sign, (it's a sign), it's a sign, (it's a sign), it's a sign, what if you peaked early.
The singer questions whether the woman has already experienced her best years and what that means for her future.


Does he know the way to worship our love?
The singer believes that his love for the woman is better than the love she experiences with her husband.


But, I will never end up like him.
The artist reiterates that he does not want to end up like the woman's husband.


Oh, the last time you came through, oh darling, I know what you're going through.
The artist empathizes with the woman's struggles and is there for her.


Does your husband know?
The artist questions whether the woman's husband knows about their interactions.


Does he know?
The singer questions whether the woman's husband knows about their interactions.


But, I will never end up like him.
The artist reiterates that he does not want to end up like the woman's husband.


Behind my back, I already am.
The singer acknowledges that he is already in a similar situation to the woman's husband.


Keep a calendar, this way you will always know.
The singer advises the woman to keep track of important dates and avoid mistakes of the past.


Oh, the last time you came through, oh darling, I know what you're going through.
The singer empathizes with the woman and is there for her.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANDREW HURLEY, JOSEPH TROHMAN, PATRICK STUMP, PETER WENTZ

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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