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Rouse Yourself
JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound Lyrics
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I′m sitting here awake and alone
I just need a cigarette,
I love the way you roll your own,
You're frightened of the danger
Me, I′m like between the blinds,
If everything's a stranger,
We should really stay behind,
If we had forever
I hope we'd just get better, better, better,
That′s why it′s such a shame, yeah
The ways we stay the same, same, same,
Don't let yourself get crazy,
History is on our tail,
If only I could save me oh,
Then in the end I′m bound to fail
Mhhh... ohhhh,
If we had forever,
I hope we'd just get better, better, better,
That′s why its such a shame yeah,
The ways we stay the same, same, same,
Next motel, we'll give a try,
Ring the bell they′ll deny, lie
When the black is all you see,
Then it falls on meeeeeeee...
If we had forever,
I hope we'd just get better, better, better,
That is why its such a shame yeah,
The ways we stay the same, same, same
Well if we had forever,
I hope we'd just get better better better,
That′s why its such a shame,
The ways we stay the same same same
Oh, oh, oh, oh...
"Rouse Yourself" seems to be a plea for someone to wake up and take action. The singer is alone, waiting for someone and wishing they were there with him. He admits that he needs a cigarette and loves the way she rolls her own; however, he is also aware of the dangers that come with smoking. Despite this, he wishes they could stay together and navigate the unknown together. The chorus echoes this sentiment as he hopes that if they had forever, they could strive to be better. But since forever is not guaranteed, he is saddened that they often remain the same. The second verse alludes to the dangers of being stuck in the past, highlighted by the line, "history is on our tail." The singer seems to be trying to get himself or someone else to snap out of their complacency and live in the present. The end of the song suggests that they might have to keep moving and face some opposition, but he still holds out hope that they can improve and change for the better.
The lyrics of "Rouse Yourself" are subjective and can be open to interpretation. At the surface level, a girl that the singer loves is absent, and he waits for her with the expectation that she will return very soon. As he waits, he reflects upon their relationship and how the time spent together could have been better, and they both could have grown stronger. He realizes that he is still just waiting for her and smoking cigarettes. If they had more time, they could have improved themselves and their relationship more, but he wishes they would take action now. The song's message is relatable, that we should strive to be better people every day with our loved ones and not wait for a better time to take action.
Line by Line Meaning
Rouse yourself baby
Wake up and pay attention to our situation, my dear.
I'm sitting here awake and alone
I'm restless and unsatisfied, waiting for something to happen.
I just need a cigarette,
I have a compulsive need to relieve my stress and anxiety with nicotine.
I love the way you roll your own,
I appreciate your skill and independence in making your own cigarettes.
You're frightened of the danger
You're afraid of the risks and uncertainty that come with our adventurous lifestyle.
Me, I’m like between the blinds,
I'm stuck in a limbo between different perspectives and choices.
If everything's a stranger,
If we're surrounded by unfamiliar or hostile people and situations,
We should really stay behind,
It's safer and wiser to avoid taking unnecessary risks and attracting unwanted attention.
If we had forever
If we had an unlimited amount of time and opportunities,
I hope we'd just get better, better, better,
I wish we could improve ourselves and our relationship over time instead of stagnating or regressing.
That’s why it's such a shame, yeah
That's why it's so disappointing and frustrating,
The ways we stay the same, same, same,
The negative patterns and habits we can't seem to break or overcome.
Don't let yourself get crazy,
Don't lose your sanity and composure when faced with challenges and obstacles.
History is on our tail,
Our past actions and mistakes are catching up to us and limiting our options.
If only I could save me oh,
If only I could find a way to save myself or both of us from the consequences of our actions.
Then in the end I'm bound to fail
Despite my efforts, there's a high probability that I'll fail anyway.
Next motel, we'll give a try,
Let's keep moving and trying different places to stay and escape our problems.
Ring the bell, they'll deny, lie
But don't expect too much or rely on anyone else to help us.
When the black is all you see,
When everything seems hopeless and dark,
Then it falls on meeeeeeee...
Then it's up to me to find a way to cope or survive.
Oh, oh, oh, oh...
The repetition and elongation of these sounds express a sense of longing, frustration, and ambiguity.
Writer(s): Inconnu Compositeur Auteur, Inconnu Editeur, Jayson Brooks, Kevin Marks
Contributed by Mackenzie T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@AzianFrog
Aubrey Plaza & Jake Johnson might just be the start of a great cast for a T.V. show.
@ayaJB1D
April and Nick in the same video 😍😍
@jamesgoldring3445
omg yes ship dat
@vicentesalasii1480
10 years later and still no lyric video or Visualizer of this timeless classic. Guess it's time to make one.
@Jaceaceman
At first I was just watching my 2 favourite actors and then I realized there was a song and it grew on me stupid fast.
@jennywhite3508
I love you jake johnson!
@Justin-wf5nr
Just heard this song in Chicago at the NASCAR street race. Was great live!
@sweetstuff55
To be honest i came to see Aubrey Plaza but stayed for the band. This song is amazing.
@cloudydaaze
The poster in Nick Millers room brought me here!
@imjande
Every band should have Aubrey in at least one of their music videos