The four-piece's commercial breakthrough came with the successful release of several singles from the album Bleed American (2001). Four singles from the album charted within the Top 20 positions of the Alternative Songs chart, with "The Middle" reaching the #1 position. Jimmy Eat World's follow-up album Futures (2004) featured another Alternative number one song, "Pain". The RIAA certified Bleed American platinum and Futures gold, rewarding the two albums for selling over one and a half million records between them. The band's sixth album, Chase This Light (2007), became their highest charting album, peaking at number five on the Billboard 200.
Discography:
1994 - Jimmy Eat World
1996 - Static Prevails
1999 - Clarity
2001 - Bleed American
2004 - Futures
2007 - Chase This Light
2010 - Invented
2013 - Damage
2016 - Integrity Blues
2019 - Surviving
Band members:
Jim Adkins – vocals, guitar
Zach Lind – drums
Tom Linton – guitar, vocals
Rick Burch – bass
http://www.jimmyeatworld.com/.
Claire
Jimmy Eat World Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This one shot all you get.
Pass by your one good thing.
Lift your head back shoot and chase.
Never hear you laugh like that, so full.
Not since you were nine.
[Chorus]
Unsettled, severing
Always severing old ties.
One last good-bye
May last the rest of your life.
Learn your restricted ropes.
Paint a cross on your left hand.
One good thing signed away
And with it your only hope.
Attention focused on today.
So quiet slip behind my back.
[Chorus]
One way trip can work both ways.
Loose ends kept untied make better friends.
The things you buy may someday leave you.
Can you say full ride?
I can still see you around.
(repeat)
The lyrics of Jimmy Eat World's song "Claire" narrate the story of someone who missed their one chance to excel, and now they are left with just one last chance to say goodbye as they sever old ties before moving on in life. The first stanza urges the listener to take hold of their opportunities since they only get one chance. The singer has wasted their only opportunity to shine, and they cannot help but regret missing that one chance. The second stanza speaks of one good thing, the singer has signed away, and with it went their only ray of hope. The chorus resonates with the eerie feeling of being unsettled and always severing old ties. One last goodbye can last for an extended period, making us ponder the people we have met and parted ways with in our lives.
In the third stanza, the singer invites the listener to learn the restricted ropes since it could help in shaping their destiny, preferring to use the metaphor "paint a cross on your left hand." However, if we do not learn these ropes, we may miss out on vital opportunities that could change the course of our lives. In the next line, the singer is trying to focus on their task as if trying to slip behind their friend's back to avoid any more slips or misses of opportunities. The chorus repeats once again, emphasizing the theme, highlighted earlier in the song. The final stanza contains deep reflections, sharing a belief that letting go of loose ends can make friends. The song closes with a reminder that material things may vanish, but strong ties built based on trust and loyalty will always remain.
Line by Line Meaning
One chance to show your face.
This is your only opportunity to make a first impression.
This one shot all you get.
You only have one chance at this.
Pass by your one good thing.
You may miss out on the best thing in your life if you're not careful.
Lift your head back shoot and chase.
Take a risk and go for what you want.
Never hear you laugh like that, so full.
It's been a long time since you were truly happy.
Not since you were nine.
You haven't been this happy since you were a child.
Unsettled, severing. Always severing old ties.
You're always leaving things behind and starting anew.
One last good-bye May last the rest of your life.
Saying goodbye one time could have a lasting impact.
Learn your restricted ropes.
Understand the rules and boundaries you're working within.
Paint a cross on your left hand.
Mark yourself as different from others and show your devotion.
One good thing signed away And with it your only hope.
You gave up the one thing that could've made your life better, and now you feel hopeless.
Attention focused on today.
You're only thinking about the current moment.
So quiet slip behind my back.
You're being sneaky and doing something without telling anyone.
One way trip can work both ways.
Taking a chance can go well or disastrously.
Loose ends kept untied make better friends.
Not getting too involved in someone's life can make for a better friendship.
The things you buy may someday leave you.
Material possessions aren't forever and you can lose them.
Can you say full ride?
Could you be any happier?
I can still see you around. (repeat)
You may not have seen the last of each other yet.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JAMES CHRISTOPHER ADKINS, RICHARD E BURCH, THOMAS DARRELL LINTON, ZACHARY MICHEL LIND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind