The song was written in the key of G major and set in a common time, with a tempo of 96 beats per minute. Levine's vocals on the song range from the low-note of G3 to the high note of B4. The band's guitarist James Valentine explained that the downtempo song emulates Andy Summers and The Police. Lyrically, "Must Get Out" expresses a tough period of a relationship, with a dreamy lyrical story, where the band "offers up clever imagery with 'I've been the needle and thread/Weaving figures eights and circles ‘round your head' and frank confessions to today's problems, 'The city's made us crazy and we must get out'."
07. Must Get Out
Maroon 5 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Weaving figure eights and circles around your head
I try to laugh but cry instead
Patiently wait to hear the words you've never said
Fumbling through your dresser drawer
Forgot what I was looking for
Try to guide me in the right direction
Keeping everything inside
Close my eyes and listen to you cry
I'm lifting you up
I'm letting you down
I'm dancing till dawn
I'm fooling around
I'm not giving up
I'm making your love
This city's made us crazy and we must get out
"This is not goodbye," she said
"It's just time for me to rest my head"
She does not walk, she runs instead
Down these jagged streets and into my bed
When I was fumbling through your dresser drawer
Forgot what I was looking for
Try to guide me in the right direction
Making use of all this time
Keeping everything inside
Close my eyes and listen to you cry
I'm lifting you up
I'm letting you down
I'm dancing till dawn
I'm fooling around
I'm not giving up
I'm making your love
This city's made us crazy and we must get out
There's only so much I can do for you
After all of the things you've put me through
I'm lifting you up
I'm letting you down
I'm dancing till dawn
I'm fooling around
I'm not giving up
I'm making your love
This city's made us crazy and we must get out
I'm lifting you up
I'm letting you down
I'm dancing till dawn
I'm fooling around
I'm not giving up
I'm making your love
This city's made us crazy and we must get out
I'm lifting you up (oh oh)
I'm letting you down (oh oh)
I'm dancing till dawn (oh oh)
I'm fooling around (oh oh)
I'm not giving up (oh oh)
I'm making your love (oh oh)
This city's made us crazy and we must get out (oh oh)
The song Must Get Out by Maroon 5 is a soulful depiction of a love that has faltered and is now hitting a rough patch, leaving the singer feeling confused and lost. The lyrics paint a picture of a love that is struggling to survive, with the singer torn between holding on and letting go. The metaphors in the lyrics suggest how the singer has played different roles in their relationship, like being the needle and the thread, weaving figure eights and circles around their significant other's head, trying to keep everything together.
The contrasting images of lifting the other up, letting them down, and fooling around suggest how their ups and downs reflect the turbulence in their love life. The verse "This city's made us crazy and we must get out" captures how this rollercoaster ride of love is taking a toll on them, with them wanting to escape and start afresh elsewhere. The song ends with a realization that despite their efforts, there's only so much they can do for each other after all that's happened between them.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been the needle and the thread
I have been the one trying to fix and mend our relationship
Weaving figure eights and circles around your head
I have tried different approaches to get through to you
I try to laugh but cry instead
I try to mask my pain and sadness with humor, but deep down it hurts
Patiently wait to hear the words you've never said
I am waiting for you to express your feelings and thoughts to help us move forward
Fumbling through your dresser drawer
I am searching for something, but I am not sure what it is
Forgot what I was looking for
I am lost and confused in our relationship
Try to guide me in the right direction
You are trying to help, but I am struggling to understand what we need to do
Making use of all this time
We need to use our time effectively to save our relationship
Keeping everything inside
I am struggling to open up and express my true feelings
Close my eyes and listen to you cry
I am trying to comfort you, even though I am hurting too
I'm lifting you up
I am supporting and helping you through our struggles
I'm letting you down
But sometimes I fail you and let you down
I'm dancing till dawn
I am trying to distract myself and escape from our problems
I'm fooling around
I am not taking our relationship seriously at times
I'm not giving up
I am determined to make our relationship work
I'm making your love
I am doing everything I can to show you my love
This city's made us crazy and we must get out
Our surroundings are affecting us negatively, and we need to find a way to escape and start fresh
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Adam Levine, Jesse Royal Carmichael, Ryan Michael Dusick, James Valentine, Mickey Madden
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rully Pratama
I've been the needle and the thread
Weaving figure eights and circles 'round your head
I try to laugh but cry instead
Patiently wait to hear the words you've never said
Fumbling through your dresser drawer
Forgot what I was looking for
Try to guide me in the right direction
And making use of all this time
Keeping everything inside
Close my eyes and listen to you cry, yeah
I'm lifting you up
I'm letting you down
I'm dancing 'til dawn
I'm fooling around
I'm not giving up
I'm making your love
This city's made us crazy, and we must get out
Oh, yeah
"This is not goodbye, " she said
"It is just time for me to rest my head"
She does not walk, she runs instead
Down these jagged streets and into my bed
When I was fumbling through your dresser drawer
Forgot what I was looking for
Try to guide me in the right direction
Making use of all this time
Keeping everything inside
Close my eyes and listen to you cry, yeah
I'm lifting you up
I'm letting you down
I'm dancing 'til dawn
I'm fooling around
I'm not giving up
I'm making your love
This city's made us crazy, and we must get out
There's only so much I can do for you
Oh, after all of the things you put me through
I'm lifting you up
I'm letting you down
I'm dancing 'til dawn
I'm fooling around
I'm not giving up
I'm making your love
This city's made us crazy, and we must get out
I'm lifting you up
I'm letting you down
I'm dancing 'til dawn
I'm fooling around
I'm not giving up
I'm making your love
This city's made us crazy, and we must get out
Whoa (I'm lifting you up)
Whoa (I'm letting you down)
Whoa (I'm dancing 'til dawn)
(I'm fooling around) oh
Whoa (I'm not giving up)
Whoa (I'm making your love)
Yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah (this city's made us crazy, and we must get out)
Shardonnay Macias
Songs about Jane was definitely their best album, it's a rarity to love every song on an album and they nailed every song!
Elliot HM
every song. masterpiece of an album!
Joep Voorter
They literally just played this song in my supermarket when I was doing groceries. Made my day, never heard it anywhere beside my own stereo.
bicooo1
I really really really wish they still made songs like this
Puricha Tuchaiamorn
+bicooo1 best album of maroon 5 is song about jane
ELE comments
+bicooo1 me too. I had some respect for them back then. I have absolutely none of that respect left now.
bicooo1
david gold they're nothing special now, whereas back then they were amazing
paul calderone
Good things never last.
Sebzay
+bicooo1 Why so much hate,I mean it's the pop industry selling out always happens there.Their music is still good,but definitely NOT better than this.
Mega8884
songs about jane will always be their best album.