Fastbacks were a pioneering Seattle band. Formed in 1979 by songwriter/gui… Read Full Bio ↴Fastbacks were a pioneering Seattle band. Formed in 1979 by songwriter/guitarist Kurt Bloch (born August 28, 1960), and friends Lulu Gargiulo (guitar and vocals, born October 12, 1960) and Kim Warnick (bass and vocals, born April 7, 1959), they disbanded in 2001. Their sound mixed a generally punk approach to vocals and sound textures with poppy tunes and strong musicianship. Bloch is also a member of The Young Fresh Fellows as well as Thee Sgt. Major III. The Fastbacks reunited for a show in West Seattle in the summer of 2011.

Fortune's Misery
Fastbacks Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Wrong again
Angry man
Saw and left
Don't forget considering another way
I hate when stupid things ruin a perfect day
Broken down
Isn't fair
I don't care

Sitting here at home without too much to do
I'm tying up the phone just so you can't get through
But here's a few things that won't have any time for you:
Happiness
Reasoning
Pleasant dream
Call me paranoia 'cause i don't trust books
I won't believe in anything that really works
I would say

Leave me in the hands of fortune's misery
I don't care

Overall Meaning

The song "Fortune's Misery" by Fastbacks is a powerful and poignant depiction of frustration and disillusionment. The lyrics convey a sense of hopelessness and resignation, with the singer feeling like everything they do is wrong and that there is no way out of their current situation. The opening lines, "Wrong again, angry man, saw and left," seem to suggest that the singer is constantly making mistakes and getting into confrontations.

The following lines, "Don't forget considering another way, I hate when stupid things ruin a perfect day," show a desire for things to be different, but also a frustration that small things can ruin even the best of days. The line, "Broken down, isn't fair, I don't care," reveals a sense of defeat and apathy - the singer feels like everything is against them and they don't even care anymore. The chorus, "Leave me in the hands of fortune's misery, I don't care," drives home the idea that the singer feels like they have no control over their life and are resigned to just letting things happen to them.

Line by Line Meaning

Wrong again
I have made a mistake once more

Angry man
I am feeling upset and irritated

Saw and left
I observed something and then departed

Don't forget considering another way
Remember to ponder different options

I hate when stupid things ruin a perfect day
I despise when minor occurrences ruin an otherwise ideal day

Broken down
I am feeling dejected and defeated

Isn't fair
This situation is unjust or inequitable

I don't care
I am indifferent or apathetic

Sitting here at home without too much to do
I am currently situated at my dwelling and have an ample amount of free time

I'm tying up the phone just so you can't get through
I am occupying the telephone line to prevent you from contacting me

But here's a few things that won't have any time for you:
The subsequent items will not be available for your attention: