Mouthpiece was a New Jersey straight edge hardcore punk band from 1991 to 1… Read Full Bio ↴Mouthpiece was a New Jersey straight edge hardcore punk band from 1991 to 1996. While they had only three records, they had a huge fan base during their time together. Often seen as one of the last bands of the youth crew era, or the earliest revival of it, their popularity was due in part to the relative scarcity of other bands in southern New Jersey at the time. However, many fans and critics alike credited them as a rare voice of reason in comparison to the aggressive trends in straight edge bands at the time.

Nothing There
Mouthpiece Lyrics

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I extended my hand, pulled you to the top,
I watched your sun rise, I stood by your side.
You took advantage, climbed for your fame,
Held up your flag, and pushed me away.
But I will not inflate your ego,
And I will not back your words.
I extended my hand, pulled you to the top,
I watched your sun rise, but I will not inflate your ego,

And I will not back your words.
Now you can't handle, lying on the ground,
But without us, where would you be?
Pushed through the ground, there's nothing there,

Pushed through the ground, there's nothing there,
Nothing... there.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to the song "Nothing There" by Mouthpiece delve into the themes of betrayal, friendship and the dangers of ambition. The song can be interpreted as a reflection of the lead singer's personal experiences, where he extends a helping hand to a friend, only to be taken for granted and pushed aside when the friend's goals are achieved. The opening lines describe how the singer helped the friend achieve success, but then the friend becomes egotistical and fame-driven, ultimately pushing the singer away.

The statement, 'I will not inflate your ego', highlights a refusal to be complicit in their egocentric behavior. The chorus of the song, 'pushed through the ground, there's nothing there', can be interpreted as a warning to the friend, as their fame and fortune is built on a foundation of false friendships and deceit, and will crumble away without them.

Line by Line Meaning

I extended my hand, pulled you to the top,
I helped you rise to success by offering you my support and aid.

I watched your sun rise, I stood by your side.
I witnessed your success and remained a steadfast companion to you.

You took advantage, climbed for your fame,
You capitalized on my support and climbed to fame at my expense.

Held up your flag, and pushed me away.
You promoted yourself and separated yourself from me after achieving success.

But I will not inflate your ego,
I will not feed into your self-importance or contribute to it.

And I will not back your words.
I will not advocate for you or support your opinions anymore.

Now you can't handle, lying on the ground,
Now that you have fallen from grace, you cannot cope with being on the bottom.

But without us, where would you be?
Without the support of others, you would not be where you are today.

Pushed through the ground, there's nothing there,
After being torn down from your pedestal, there is no substance or importance left.

Nothing... there.
You have lost everything and are left with nothing of value.

Contributed by Stella C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.