Ripping Stories For Boys is told from “the other side of the pride”, as Jacob puts it.
“For me, being a ‘man’ was something dark and incomprehensible and inescapable. Everything I wanted for myself drew me further and further away from the pride.”
Jacob’s music spans a wide range of styles and influences, from the sharply whimsical ode to the male obsession with cars (Drive to Kill) to painful and elegiac explorations of the different ways men deny their true selves (Casanova, Shepherds Sleeping). A recurring theme is the pressure of expectation. Aryan Boy is a thumping, almost spiteful anthem to the gay club scene.
New Age Nothing
Jacob Diefenbach Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"such a long time, no see. shows how the mighty can fall. at least you've gone for the thing that you love."
(looks kind of cute when you watch from above.)
Hello, doorman, i'll take the room with a view, to keep informed of my options 'til i'm beaten down by what prudent men do.
New age nothing; something but caught in the net.
Picasso and rembrandt defeated at six, living it up now as optometrists.
Nowadays, beethoven's been working the streets, sucking down hard ones just to make ends meet.
So please don't ask why we haven't slept in three days.
The dreamers have nothing to say.
The opening lines of Jacob Diefenbach's song "New Age Nothing" set the stage for a story of a person who is grappling with the reality of their life as they navigate through a world that demands they adhere to traditional notions of success. The singer, who seems to be in court or some type of legal proceeding, is meeting with a judge who is a former high school friend. They engage in small talk, talking about how long it has been since they have seen each other and how the mighty can fall. The judge, who has seemingly achieved traditional success, tells the singer that at least they have gone for the thing that they love. This line highlights the tension between societal expectations and personal fulfillment.
The second half of the song takes a surreal turn, describing a world where great artists and composers are reduced to working menial jobs, and the dreamers have been taken away. This imagery reveals the disillusionment the singer feels with a society that values conformity over creativity. The line "New age nothing; something but caught in the net" suggests that there is a certain value in breaking free from convention, but it is not always easy to do so. The dreamers may be taken away, but they still have something to say, even if they are not listened to.
Overall, "New Age Nothing" is a poignant commentary on the struggle to pursue one's dreams in a world that often rewards conformity over creativity. It suggests that sometimes, it may be easier to give in to society's expectations, but there is value in pursuing what one loves even when the odds are stacked against them.
Line by Line Meaning
Check my neck tie, then pucker up for the judge, whose new right hand's an old high school friend i meet for lunch.
I dress up for court and greet the judge who happens to be a former classmate. It's been a while since we met and I express how even the exalted can stumble in life. I find some consolation that you've pursued your passion. (It might even look appealing to people looking down from above).
Hello, doorman, i'll take the room with a view, to keep informed of my options 'til i'm beaten down by what prudent men do.
I ask the doorman for a room with a window view to monitor my surroundings, as I expect to face hardships because I refuse to follow the norms set by society's 'prudent' individuals.
New age nothing; something but caught in the net.
I feel like I'm caught in a web of societal expectations - I have dreams and aspirations, but they're being blocked by societal norms and standards. Despite having ambitions, I feel like I'm stuck in a void.
Picasso and rembrandt defeated at six, living it up now as optometrists.
Even great artists like Picasso and Rembrandt weren't immune to struggles. They may have lost at the beginning of their careers, but now they have steady jobs and are living comfortably as optometrists.
Nowadays, beethoven's been working the streets, sucking down hard ones just to make ends meet.
Even someone as renowned as Beethoven would struggle in this society - he's resorted to begging on the streets just to make ends meet.
So please don't ask why we haven't slept in three days.
I'm so preoccupied with the hardships I face that sleep is the least of my priorities - I haven't slept in three days.
The dreamers are taken away.
Our society is harsh and unforgiving towards people with dreams and aspirations. They're often ostracized and taken away from larger society.
The dreamers have nothing to say.
Dreamers often stay silent because society refuses to listen or take them seriously.
Contributed by Abigail Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.