This song was originally recorded for the 1996 compilation Sweet Relief 2 -… Read Full Bio ↴This song was originally recorded for the 1996 compilation Sweet Relief 2 - Gravity of The Situation, all songs on this album were originally by the Athens, Georgia Singer Vic Chesnutt and the proceeds of the album were donated to the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, a non-profit organization which raises funds for musicians with medical and financial hardship. Garbage's version is rockier than the original and Shirley Manson's voice really suits the song.

Kick My Ass
Garbage Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm so sorry you had to kick my ass,
You said I ruined your life,
I didn't mean to do that,

I had to untangle where we was intwined,
It was strangling me
Were you breathing so fine,

The jam I was in
When things weren't working out.
Led me to the brunt
Of your swinging bout.

I'm so sorry,
I regret everything,
What can I do
To have you take back that swing.

I'm so sorry
A scuffle ensued.
But things are much better
I guess thanks to you,

The jam I was in
When things weren't working out.
Led me to the brunt
Of your swinging bout.

I'm so sorry you had to pull my hair.

I had to take care of business,
A lot of business giving there.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Garbage's "Kick My Ass" present a narrative of regret and apology following a physical altercation. The singer apologizes for the other person having to "kick my ass" and acknowledges that they apparently feel their life was ruined by the singer's actions. However, the singer claims they didn't intend to have such a negative impact. They had to "untangle where we was intwined," suggesting their relationship was unhealthy or codependent in some way, and being entangled with the other person was suffocating the singer.

At this point, the lyrics become somewhat ambiguous - it's unclear what the "jam" is that the singer was in, and why it led to a physical fight. It's possible that the other person was angry with the singer for extricating themselves from the relationship, or for pursuing their own interests instead of prioritizing the other person's needs. Regardless of the cause, the singer expresses remorse and asks what they can do to make amends. The lyrics describe another scuffle taking place, but ultimately things are "much better," presumably because the fight helped to resolve tensions between the singer and the other person.

Overall, "Kick My Ass" presents a nuanced exploration of the aftermath of a physical fight. Rather than glorifying violence or assuming a macho attitude, the lyrics acknowledge the emotional complexity that can underlie fights between loved ones. The singer regrets their actions but also acknowledges the circumstances that led to the fight, suggesting that there were issues in the relationship that needed to be addressed. At the same time, the lyrics don't minimize the physical harm that was done, with references to hair-pulling and swinging.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm so sorry you had to kick my ass,
Apologizing for being the cause of someone's problems, even though it led to them physically attacking them

You said I ruined your life,
Acknowledging someone else's feelings of being hurt or wronged by one's actions

I didn't mean to do that,
Claiming unintentionality in causing harm to someone else

I had to untangle where we was intwined,
Reflecting on the need to separate oneself from a situation or person that was suffocating or holding them back

It was strangling me
Describing the negative impact the relationship or situation had on one's own well-being

Were you breathing so fine,
Asking if the other person was even aware of how their actions were affecting the singer's mental or emotional state

The jam I was in
Explaining the difficult situation the singer was in

When things weren't working out.
Clarifying the reason for the artist's actions and decisions

Led me to the brunt
Admitting that the artist faced the worst consequences of their actions

Of your swinging bout.
Referring to the other person's physical attack as a direct result of the artist's own mistakes or actions

What can I do
Showing a desire to make amends and remedy the situation

To have you take back that swing.
Asking the other person to forgive their actions and move forward from the incident

I regret everything,
Expressing complete remorse for their behavior

A scuffle ensued.
Recounting the physical altercation that occurred after the singer's actions and decisions

But things are much better
Acknowledging that the situation has improved since the altercation

I guess thanks to you,
Recognizing that the other person's reaction ultimately forced the artist to recognize their mistakes and move forward

I'm so sorry you had to pull my hair.
Apologizing again for the physical altercation and the role they played in causing it

I had to take care of business,
Asserting that the singer took actions in their own best interest, even if it resulted in the other person being hurt or angered

A lot of business giving there.
Suggesting that the singer had a lot of work to do (on themselves or in their own life) that ultimately led to the events in question

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: VIC CHESNUTT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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