Contrary to most songs on the rest of the album, the speaker in “The (Shipped) Gold Standard” seems to be opposed to the self-centered narcissistic attitude of their culture, or at least willing to admit the restlessness of consistently complaining.
The title of the song itself is a play on words: the gold standard is an economic system in which the value of currency was determined by a standard, or fixed, amount of gold. “Gold standard” is also a term used to describe top-of-the-line, high quality products. In music certification, a system that tracks the popularity of a single or record, the Recording Industry Association of American certification (RIAA) categorizes the following ascending popularity: gold, platinum and diamond. Popularity is determined by a certain number of units sold, either in sales, streams, or shipments.
Commercially, “The (Shipped) Gold Standard” was the most successful non-single song from Folie à Deux, peaking at #20 on the Billboard Bubbling Under chart (#120 on the Hot 100).
The Gold Standard
Fall Out Boy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I'm no good at math and besides the dollar is down
Plant palm trees on Lake Michigan before it gets cold
I gotta feel the wind chill again before I get old
I want to scream "I love you" from the top of my lungs
But I'm afraid that someone else will hear me
Before it all becomes the same old song
As soon as we hit the hospital I know we're gonna leave this town
And get new passports and get get get get get out now
All the Yes men said "no comment"
My mouth got going the wrong way and all the calls started snowing
The time my dad caught me a horse shoe crab
And I asked him if throwing it back into the sea would bring our luck back
I want to scream 'I love you' from the top of my lungs
But I'm afraid that someone else will hear me
You can only blame your problems on the world for so long
Before it all becomes the same old song
As soon as we hit the hospital I know we're gonna leave this town
And get new passports, get out now
Tell that boy I'll leave you alone now
Like a stove, I'll turn my love down
Supra and the prophet are both in the business of souls
I want to scream "I love you" from the top of my lungs
But I'm afraid that someone else will hear me, woah
I want to scream "I love you" from the top of my lungs
But I'm afraid that someone else will hear me
You can only blame your problems on the world for so long
Before it all becomes the same old song
As soon as we hit the hospital I know we're gonna leave this town (know we're gonna leave this town)
And get new passports and get get get get get out
Get get get get get out now
The Gold Standard by Fall Out Boy appears to be a lamentation of the singer's current circumstances in life. He/someone is considering giving up on their current life's work and starting all over again as an accountant. However, they are not good at math, and the economic state of the country isn't favorable. The singer has a desire to plant palm trees on Lake Michigan and brace the cold wind chill once more before it becomes too late to enjoy these simple pleasures. The singer has a desire, similar to many others, to scream at the top of his lungs that he loves someone dearly. This seems to be something he would love to do for the sake of love and affection, but the fear of someone else hearing him becomes a hindrance.
The singer then talks about how one can only blame outside factors for their problems for so long before it becomes a repetitive situation they find themselves in. The solution then appears to be leaving the town they are currently residing in, starting fresh and getting new passports. In the second to last verse, the singer bids farewell to a boy, creating the impression that there might have been a romantic relationship between them that is no longer possible due to unforeseen circumstances. He goes on to state that he can only turn his love down for that boy just like stove heat.
Overall, The Gold Standard by Fall Out Boy appears to be an expression of someone's desire to get out of their current predicament and start fresh. It shows how we often find ourselves in situations where we feel stuck and are searching for ways to get out.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes I want to quit this all and become an accountant now
I want to give up my life as a musician and pursue a career as an accountant.
But I'm no good at math and besides the dollar is down
However, I am not skilled enough to handle a job that requires high-level math knowledge and the economy is not doing well either.
Plant palm trees on Lake Michigan before it gets cold
I want to plant palm trees on Lake Michigan before winter arrives.
I gotta feel the wind chill again before I get old
I need to experience the cold wind again while I am still young.
You can only blame your problems on the world for so long
You cannot keep blaming others or the situation around you for your problems forever.
Before it all becomes the same old song
Otherwise, it will turn into a monotonous narrative that gets repeated over and over again.
As soon as we hit the hospital I know we're gonna leave this town
If we go to the hospital, I am confident that we can escape from this place.
And get new passports and get get get get get out now
We should obtain new passports and leave this place as soon as possible.
Tell that boy I'll leave you alone now
I will inform that guy that I will no longer bother him.
Like a stove, I'll turn my love down
I will decrease the intensity of my love towards someone like how we turn down the heat on a stove.
Supra and the prophet are both in the business of souls
Supra and the prophet are engaged in activities that involve the soul.
My mouth got going the wrong way and all the calls started snowing
I spoke inappropriately, and as a result, I received many calls and messages from people.
The time my dad caught me a horse shoe crab
I recall the time when my father caught a horseshoe crab.
And I asked him if throwing it back into the sea would bring our luck back
I asked my father if throwing the horseshoe crab back into the sea would bring us good luck.
I want to scream 'I love you' from the top of my lungs
I have a strong desire to express my love openly and loudly.
But I'm afraid that someone else will hear me
However, I am afraid that others will hear my confession and that it will cause problems.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANDREW HURLEY, JOSEPH TROHMAN, PATRICK STUMP, PETER WENTZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind