Make Do And Mend is an American post-hardcore band from West Hartford, Conn… Read Full Bio ↴Make Do And Mend is an American post-hardcore band from West Hartford, Connecticut, formed in 2006. They first released a 6-track EP (We're All Just Living) in 2007, and then a follow-up EP (Bodies Of Water). They gave it for free online, and then Panic Records called to help out with an official release, which came true in March 2009. At the end of the year, the band entered the studio to record two songs for a split album with Touché Amoré, released September 2010 on Panic Records. On October 26th, 2010, Make Do And Mend released their first full-length album, entitled End Measured Mile--a split label release between Paper + Plastick and Panic Records.
The band announced they had signed with Rise Records and would be recording a new album in February 2012. On June 19th, 2012, the band released a new record, (Everything You Ever Loved). While technically members of "The Wave", along with La Dispute, Touché Amoré, Pianos Become the Teeth, and Defeater, the band has since clarified that "The Wave" was merely an inside joke between those bands and does not represent a particular movement or subgenre in post-hardcore.

Current members:
James Carroll - guitar, vocals
Mike O'Toole - guitar
Luke Schwartz - bass guitar
Matt Carroll - drums

Thanks
Make Do and Mend Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well I've been wading in your waves up to my chin,
Sinking slowly deeper as the waves roll in.
Losing sight of land, I'm wondering,
"How'd I ever trick myself to get back in?"

Believe me, there's no harder thing in this life
Than believing that happiness is within my arm's reach
And seeing that there is beauty in this world that I have been missing,

And I don't want to miss no more.

These are the days that are putting wrinkles on my face,
And I've been forced to admit that the slightest weight could bury me.
And now the leaves are turning on the trees
And there's a map between me and what I need.
I don't know if it needs me, it feels like I'm sinking.

I'm throwing darts at a map,
Trying to remember where I left my heart last.
So when the van's packed up and the tank is filled with gas,
We can make our way from the east coast to the west.
And you could call…
Or I'll see you all next summer or next fall,
And we can talk about the year we spent apart
Since the last time every city stole my heart.

These are the days that are putting wrinkles on my face,
And I've been forced to admit that the slightest weight could bury me.
And now the leaves are turning on the trees
And there's a map between me and what I need.
I don't know if it needs me, it feels like I'm sinking.

'Cause these are the days that are putting wrinkles on my face,
And I've been forced to admit that the slightest weight could bury me.
And now the leaves are turning on the trees
And there's a map between me and what I need.
I don't know if it needs me, it feels like I'm sinking.

These are the days that are putting wrinkles on my face,
And I've been forced to admit that the slightest weight could bury me.
And now the leaves are turning on the trees
And there's a map between me and what I need.
I don't know if it needs me, it feels like I'm sinking.

Yeah I don't know if it needs me, it feels like I'm sinking.
Yeah I don't know if it needs me, I know I'm sinking.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Make Do and Mend's song "Thanks" are a reflection of the struggles of life and the realization that happiness is not always within arm's reach. The song begins with the singer wading in someone's waves up to their chin, sinking deeper as the waves roll in, losing sight of land and wondering how they tricked themselves into going back in. This imagery may represent the challenges and difficulties that life presents, and how one may feel overwhelmed and lost in these situations.

The chorus then describes the difficulty of finding happiness, how it feels just out of reach, and how it adds wrinkles to the face. The singer admits that they've been forced to admit that even the slightest weight could bury them. The leaves turning on the trees and the map between them and what they need is a metaphor for the obstacles that life presents and the effort required to overcome them.

The song then ends on a hopeful note, with the singer throwing darts at a map, trying to remember where they left their heart last. They plan to travel from the east coast to the west in search of answers, but the uncertainty of whether what they need needs them back adds to the feeling of sinking. Ultimately, the song can be seen as an honest reflection of the struggles of life and the hope that lies in reaching out and searching for answers.

Line by Line Meaning

Well I've been wading in your waves up to my chin, Sinking slowly deeper as the waves roll in. Losing sight of land, I'm wondering, "How'd I ever trick myself to get back in?"
I've been caught up in someone's emotional turmoil and it's dragging me down. I can't seem to see a way out and I'm questioning why I got myself into this situation.

Believe me, there's no harder thing in this life Than believing that happiness is within my arm's reach And seeing that there is beauty in this world that I have been missing, And I don't want to miss no more.
It's difficult to believe that happiness is attainable and that there's beauty in the world when things are tough. But I want to start living life to the fullest and appreciate all the good things.

These are the days that are putting wrinkles on my face, And I've been forced to admit that the slightest weight could bury me. And now the leaves are turning on the trees And there's a map between me and what I need. I don't know if it needs me, it feels like I'm sinking.
These trying times are taking a toll on me and I have to acknowledge that even the tiniest problem can feel unbearable. The world around me is changing and I'm not sure how to navigate it. I'm unsure if I'm wanted or needed in these circumstances and I feel overwhelmed.

I'm throwing darts at a map, Trying to remember where I left my heart last. So when the van's packed up and the tank is filled with gas, We can make our way from the east coast to the west. And you could call… Or I'll see you all next summer or next fall, And we can talk about the year we spent apart Since the last time every city stole my heart.
I'm lost and searching for something that makes me feel alive. I'm eager to travel, hoping to find what I'm looking for. I'm making plans to meet up with friends and loved ones to reconnect and reminisce about the past year, which has been hard.

'Cause these are the days that are putting wrinkles on my face, And I've been forced to admit that the slightest weight could bury me. And now the leaves are turning on the trees And there's a map between me and what I need. I don't know if it needs me, it feels like I'm sinking.
These are tough times that are aging me prematurely. I have to concede that even the smallest issues can be overwhelming. The world around me is changing and I'm uncertain of what I require to survive. I'm feeling drained and unsure of my place in the world.

Yeah I don't know if it needs me, it feels like I'm sinking.
I'm unsure if I have anything to offer the world and it's dragging me down.

Contributed by Adrian W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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