Still, Harvey Danger has attracted U.S. attention due to their critical praise, with the All Music Guide calling the release 'Little By Little' "a smart and compelling pop album". In contrast, the band is little known in Europe, the aforementioned issues compounded since the band focused on selling themselves in America (especially Seattle) and thus made it very difficult for fans to get albums in Europe. The original drummer, Evan Sult, moved to Chicago and now drums in the band Bound Stems. For a short-time, he was replaced by Michael Welke, formerly of the band No. 226.
As a symbol of the group's close connection to its fans, they published their last album as a free download along with other materials. In 2009, they announced on their website they've called it quits. According to them, their decision was mutual, and they felt the band has run its course. The single "Flagpole Sitta" remains popular on various radio stations as well as having notoriety from being the theme song to the popular British comedy program 'Peep Show'.
On March 6, 2016, bass player and founding member, Aaron Huffman, died of respiratory failure.
Problems And Bigger Ones
Harvey Danger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And look away virginia
Him:
Spend every day like the past is a bridge crossing twenty years
Whispers away not so much
Get your poison tongue out of my ear
Here's a fact you cannot rise above:
We'll have problems and then we'll have bigger ones
You wanted to go alone though
I never said no
I never said no
Her:
Spiteful confrontations, trial separations,
It's just another present to get past
The man was very helpful but I knew he wouldn't stay
There used to be a baby but the baby went away
Forswear what you undergo
You wanted to go alone though
I never said no
I never said no
It doesn't make me cry to hear dylan say
Most likely you go your way
I'll go mine
I'll go mine
I'll go mine
Forswear what you undergo
You wanted to go alone though
I never said no
I never said no
The first verse of Harvey Danger's "Problems And Bigger Ones" is told from the perspective of a man who seems to be in a tumultuous relationship. Perhaps he is in a long-distance relationship, as he mentions crossing through border states to the "wrong side" and looking away from Virginia. The man seems to be resigned to the fact that every day is like a bridge crossing twenty years, showing that the days seem very long and hard to get through. He tells someone to get their poison tongue out of his ear, perhaps indicating that the other person is negative or abusive towards him. He then delivers the chorus, stating that problems are inevitable, but bigger ones will always follow. He mentions "damage to damned control", implying that the struggles in his relationship have led to a loss of control over his life.
The second verse switches to the perspective of a woman. She speaks of "spiteful confrontations" and "trial separations," suggesting that she and her partner have been fighting a lot and perhaps even broken up temporarily. She mentions a man who was helpful but knew he couldn't stay, which could indicate that she had a rebound relationship but ultimately realized it wouldn't last. She talks about a baby who went away, which could be interpreted as a miscarriage or the loss of a child. She, too, delivers the chorus, indicating that she knows that problems are inevitable and that her partner wanted to go it alone, but she never said no.
Perhaps the song is about two people who are in love but can't seem to stop fighting or overcome the obstacles in their relationship. They both seem to understand that problems will always arise in life, but they can't help feeling overwhelmed when everything seems to go wrong. Despite their struggles, they seem to be willing to keep going and to let each other go their separate ways if necessary.
Line by Line Meaning
Cross through the border states to the wrong side
Travel through areas that are potentially dangerous
And look away virginia
Refuse to acknowledge certain things and pretend they don't exist
Spend every day like the past is a bridge crossing twenty years
Live each day as if it's leading you towards a bridge that crosses two decades of your life
Whispers away not so much
Talk about something until it no longer has meaning
Get your poison tongue out of my ear
Stop saying hurtful things to me
Here's a fact you cannot rise above:
Here's a truth that you cannot ignore or deny
We'll have problems and then we'll have bigger ones
We will face difficulties, and then even bigger ones
From damage to damned control
From harm to complete loss of control
You wanted to go alone though
You wanted to do things on your own
I never said no
I never refused to let you do what you wanted
Spiteful confrontations, trial separations,
Meaningful and potentially harmful arguments, and temporary breakups
It's just another present to get past
It's just another challenge to overcome
The man was very helpful but I knew he wouldn't stay
Someone helped us out of kindness, but we knew it wouldn't last
There used to be a baby but the baby went away
There used to be something innocent and pure, but it's gone now
Forswear what you undergo
Abandon or reject what you're experiencing
It doesn't make me cry to hear dylan say
Bob Dylan's words don't make me emotional
Most likely you go your way
Most likely, you'll choose to do what you want
I'll go mine
And I'll do what I want
I never said no
Once again, I never refused to let you do what you wanted
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HUFFMAN, LIN, NELSON, SULT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind