Reputation to Protect
Joey Calderaio Lyrics
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Why does it look so familiar?
Am I lost in a dream?
But I know I'm not dreaming
This is déjà vu
I remember being here but I don't remember you
Do you know my name?
Do you know where I've been?
Why do you look just like me
Look a little closer
Oh it cannot be
Staring at the mirror
Now i could see clearer
Right in front of me was a face full of terror
The clock is ticking is on the shelf
Time passing by as I stare into myself
I don't like what I see
Thinking it's time for a change of scenery
These memories, memories won't fade
They constantly hit replay
Its not clear to me
What is meant to be
In this fantasy
Woah oh
No remedy, remedy will change
I'll always remain the same
What you gonna do
Stuck in déjà vu
Am I breaking through to you?
Press against my temples as I lay here with my thoughts
Coming to my senses to process what I saw
Oh no
I know it cannot be
The demons I was fighting with turned out to be me
The repetition trips me up
My brain is looping thoughts
Caught a case of bad luck
What you gonna do when you come to realize you're stuck in déjà vu?
Am I lost in a dream?
But I know I'm not dreaming
Coming to grips and I can feel what's right in front of me
Slipped from my hands and I can see it quickly vanishing
How will I know what these visions are communicating?
Coming from within
Déjà vu will soon return again
Cause were on a mission. So stand up and listen
The lyrics to Joey Calderaio's song "Reputation to Protect" explore the theme of confusion and self-doubt, portrayed through the perspective of the artist's alter ego or internal self. The song's opening lines, "I've never been here before, why does it look so familiar?" lead to an introspective journey questioning one's identity, memory, and actions. The sense of being lost in a dream or living in a déjà vu that is not entirely clear is explored in the lines "This is déjà vu, I remember being here but I don't remember you."
The artist questions the similarity between himself and the person he sees "Why do you look just like me" yet differentiates himself from the other person by saying "We are not the same." The inner struggle becomes apparent through the use of the repetition of the phrase "déjà vu" and the image of looking in the mirror "Staring at the mirror, Now I could see clearer, Right in front of me was a face full of terror."
As the song progresses, the artist realizes he is not fighting external demons, but rather battling his own thoughts and memories, saying "The demons I was fighting with turned out to be me," and ends on a hopeful note with the lines "Cause were on a mission. So stand up and listen," giving a sense of assurance and the call to fight against self-doubt.
Line by Line Meaning
I've never been here before
I'm in a new situation
Why does it look so familiar?
Although the place is new, it feels familiar
Am I lost in a dream?
Wondering if this is a dream
But I know I'm not dreaming
Realizing this is not a dream
This is déjà vu
Feeling like I've seen this before
I remember being here but I don't remember you
Recognizing the place, but not you
Do you know my name?
Asking if you know me
Do you know where I've been?
Asking if you know my past
We are not the same
Realizing we are different people
Why do you look just like me
Puzzled that we look alike
Look a little closer
Asking you to examine me more closely
Oh it cannot be
Shocked that we look so similar
Staring at the mirror
Looking at myself in the mirror
Now i could see clearer
Gaining a better understanding
Right in front of me was a face full of terror
Recognizing the fearful look on my own face
The clock is ticking is on the shelf
Noting the passage of time
Time passing by as I stare into myself
Watching time go by while reflecting on my self
I don't like what I see
Disliking my reflection
Thinking it's time for a change of scenery
Considering making some changes in my life
These memories, memories won't fade
Remembering past experiences
They constantly hit replay
Reliving past experiences
Its not clear to me
Feeling uncertain
What is meant to be
Questioning the purpose of things
In this fantasy
In this imagined world
Woah oh
Expressing excitement or surprise
No remedy, remedy will change
There's no solution to change things
I'll always remain the same
Staying the same
What you gonna do
Asking what you'll do
Stuck in déjà vu
Feeling trapped in a cycle
Am I breaking through to you?
Asking if you understand me
Press against my temples as I lay here with my thoughts
Putting pressure against my head while thinking
Coming to my senses to process what I saw
Regaining my composure to think clearly
The demons I was fighting with turned out to be me
Realizing that my own thoughts were causing me trouble
The repetition trips me up
The recurring thoughts are confusing me
My brain is looping thoughts
Stuck in a repetitive thought pattern
Caught a case of bad luck
Having some unfortunate events happen
What you gonna do when you come to realize you're stuck in déjà vu?
Asking what someone would do when they realize they're trapped in a cycle.
Coming to grips and I can feel what's right in front of me
Accepting what's happening and understanding it better.
Slipped from my hands and I can see it quickly vanishing
Watching something slip away.
How will I know what these visions are communicating?
Wondering what message my experiences convey.
Coming from within
Originating from myself
Déjà vu will soon return again
The cycle will continue
Cause were on a mission. So stand up and listen
Sharing a message of action and calling for attention
Contributed by Isabelle J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@sakariraty7299
That Quitar sounds so smooth, very well done! :D
@JoeyCalderaio
Thanks so much! Do you play guitar as well?
@larrysetajr6750
They Need to calab with eric Rachmany dope ass song n style
@JoeyCalderaio
Larry Seta Jr that’d be dope! I’ve reached out to him a few times
@larrysetajr6750
It definitely wont be long b4 ur doin music with scott from stick figure n eric Rachmany ur songs r real dope definitely been jammin it out here n Texas
@JoeyCalderaio
Larry Seta Jr much love dude I REALLY appreciate that!!
@sandramedellin9062
sweet song!! thumbs down?? why do people make this error?