The band is best known for the song "Popular", released as a single from their aformentioned debut. The song reached #11 on the US Billboard Alternative Songs chart and propelled the album itself to #63 on the Billboard 200. Each of the verses in "Popular" are extracted from the 1964 guide 'Penny's Guide to Teen-Age Charm and Popularity', a work by former teen television actress Gloria Winters, and the lyrics are sarcastically spoken, with a calm, deadpan voice used initially that gradually builds Kinison-style in teen angst and rage.
The groups follow-up effort, an album titled 'The Proximity Effect', failed to garner as much attention due to music industry shenanigans. The band explains on their official website:
Nada Surf recorded The Proximity Effect in 1998 with Fred Maher (Luna, Lou Reed, Matthew Sweet). It was a mighty fine record. Elektra [now part of Atlantic], claiming they "didn’t hear a single," asked the band to go back in the studio to hunt for one. As this was months after they’d handed the record in, the band refused and were dropped. It’s pretty safe to say, though, that Elektra didn’t appear to be "listening" very hard. The Proximity Effect was released as scheduled in Europe. Critics loved it and fans bought it. Elektra still didn’t care, but the band still did. So after wrestling the rights back, Nada Surf released The Proximity Effect stateside in 2000 on their own label, MarDev Records, and toured accordingly...
After a three-year wait, the group released Let Go through Barsuk Records to positive reviews. The song "Inside of Love" received some airplay and even reached #73 in the United Kingdom, a feat which neither "Popular" nor the other two previously released singles from Let Go achieved. On the strength of the single, the album reached #31 on Billboard's Top Independent Albums chart.
The band's fourth album, The Weight Is a Gift, was released in Germany on September 5, 2005, by City Slang Records, in Japan/Australia September 12th and in the US September 13th by Barsuk, and in the rest of Europe September 19th by V2/City Slang. It was produced by Chris Walla of the band Death Cab for Cutie, Louie Lino and Nada Surf. The album's lead single is "Always Love."
In 2008, Lucky was released. In 2010 the band returned to the scene triumphantly with the cover-album If I Had a Hi-Fi, revealing a diversity in source material whilst re-moulding it into trademark Nada Surf songs.
The band announced a new record will be released in January, 2012 called " The Stars Are Indifferent to Astronomy." The first single is called "When I was Young" and is available free to download from the band's website. On Oct 24th, 2011, the song was also featured as an NPR "Song of the Day"
Inside of Love
Nada Surf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It kills all thought
Getting spacier than
An astronaut
Making out with people
I hardly know or like
I can't believe what I do
I want to know what it's like
On the inside of love
I'm standing at the gates
I see the beauty above
Only when we get to see
The aerial view
Will the patterns show
We'll know what to do
I know the last page so well
I can't read the first
So I just don't start
It's getting worse
I want to know what it's like
On the inside of love
I'm standing at the gates
I see the beauty above
I want to know what it's like
On the inside of love
I can't find my way in
I try again and again
I'm on the outside of love
Always under or above
I can't find my way in
I try again and again
I'm on the outside of love
Always under or above
Must be a different view
To be a me with a you
I want to know what it's like
On the inside of love
I'm standing at the gates
I see the beauty above
I want to know what it's like
On the inside of love
Of course I'll be all right
I just had a bad night
I had a bad night
Nada Surf's song "Inside of Love" is about the desire to experience true intimacy and connection with another person. The singer is stuck in a pattern of disconnecting behaviors - watching terrible TV, making out with people he doesn't know or like - that provide temporary relief but ultimately leave him feeling empty and unfulfilled. He yearns to know what it's like "on the inside of love," to experience the depth of feeling and connection that he knows is possible.
The line "Only when we get to see the aerial view / Will the patterns show / We'll know what to do" suggests that the singer is looking for a bigger perspective, a way to step back from the immediate moment and see the larger picture of his life and relationships. He's stuck in destructive patterns because he can't see a way out, but he knows that if he can gain some perspective, he'll be able to figure out how to move forward.
The final lines of the song - "Of course I'll be all right / I just had a bad night / I had a bad night" - suggest that the singer is hopeful that he can find a way to break free from his destructive patterns and find the love he's looking for. He's acknowledging that setbacks are a natural part of the process, but he's confident that ultimately he'll be able to move forward and find what he's looking for.
Line by Line Meaning
Watching terrible TV
My mind is numb and I'm not thinking.
It kills all thought
Watching TV is so unproductive that my mind shuts down completely.
Getting spacier than
An astronaut
I'm becoming more disconnected from reality than someone in outer space.
Making out with people
I hardly know or like
In my search for love, I'm willing to settle for anyone rather than being alone, even if I don't truly like or know them.
I can't believe what I do
Late at night
My desperation for love and connection makes me do things I regret or can't believe I did.
I want to know what it's like
On the inside of love
I yearn to experience true love and connection with another person.
I'm standing at the gates
I see the beauty above
I'm close to experiencing true love and happiness, but not quite there yet.
Only when we get to see
The aerial view
Will the patterns show
We'll know what to do
Only when we step back and see the bigger picture, can we understand the patterns and make the right choices in love and life.
I know the last page so well
I can't read the first
I've been hurt so many times in the past that it's hard for me to start a new relationship without worrying about how it will end.
So I just don't start
It's getting worse
My fear of getting hurt again is causing me to isolate myself even more, making my loneliness worse.
I can't find my way in
I try again and again
I keep trying to find love but never seem to succeed or find the right person.
I'm on the outside of love
Always under or above
I feel like I'm always just outside of true love, either never being in a relationship or not finding the right person.
Must be a different view
To be a me with a you
Being in a loving relationship would change my perspective and my life's experiences and there's no way to know what that would be like until it happens.
Of course I'll be all right
I just had a bad night
Although I may feel alone and sad at times, I know I'll eventually feel better and move on.
I had a bad night
I experienced a rough time with my emotions and loneliness.
Lyrics © KARMACODE
Written by: DANIEL PRIETO CASTRO LORCA, IRA ELLIOT, MATTHEW RORISON CAWS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rosy Lazo
Watching terrible TV
It kills all thought
Getting spacier than
An astronaut
Making out with people
I hardly know or like
I can't believe what I do
Late at night
[Chorus:]
I wanna know what it's like
On the inside of love
I'm standing at the gates
I see the beauty above
Only when we get to see
The aerial view
Will the patterns show
We'll know what to do
I know the last page so well
I can't read the first
So I just don't start
It's getting worse
[Chorus:]
I wanna know what it's like
On the inside of love
I'm standing at the gates
I see the beauty above
I wanna know what it's like
On the inside of love
I can't find my way in
I try again and again
[Bridge:]
I'm on the outside of love
Always under or above
I can't find my way in
I try again and again
I'm on the outside of love
Always under or above
Must be a different view
To be a me with a you
[Chorus:]
I wanna know what it's like
On the inside of love
I'm standing at the gates
I see the beauty above
I wanna know what it's like
On the inside of love
Of course I'll be alright
I just had a bad night
I had a bad night
MojoJackson
Schreckliches Fernsehen schauen
Es tötet alle Gedanken
Werde spaßiger als ein Astronaut
Komme mit Leuten aus
Die ich kaum kenne oder mag
Ich kann nicht glauben
Was ich spät nachts tue
Ich will wissen wie es
Im Innern der Liebe ist
Ich stehe an den Toren
Ich sehe die Schönheit weiter oben
Nur wenn wir das Luftbild
Zu sehen bekommen
Werden sich die Muster zeigen
Wir werden wissen was zu tun ist
Ich kenne die letzte Seite so gut
Ich kann die erste nicht sehen
Also fange ich gar nicht erst an
Es wird nur schlechter
Ich will wissen wie es
Im Innern der Liebe ist
Ich stehe an den Toren
Ich sehe die Schönheit weiter oben
Ich will wissen wie es
Im Innern der Liebe ist
Ich kann meinen Weg herein nicht finden
Ich versuche es immer und immer wieder
Ich bin außerhalb der Liebe
Immer darunter oder darüber
Ich kann meinen Weg herein nicht finden
Ich versuche es immer und immer wieder
Ich bin außerhalb der Liebe
Immer darunter oder darüber
Es muss eine andere Sicht geben
Um ein Ich mit einem Du zu sein
Ich will wissen wie es
Im Innern der Liebe ist
Ich stehe an den Toren
Ich sehe die Schönheit weiter oben
Ich will wissen wie es
Im Innern der Liebe ist
Natürlich werde ich in Ordnung sein
Ich hatte nur eine schlechte Nacht
Ich hatte eine schlechte Nacht
Jord Tury
It's crazy but when I went through my first breakup at 19 I literally spent 4 months locked away in my room. The only thing that got me through was HIMYM. Such an incredible series which helped me overcome so much. Once the show wrapped everything up I walked outside and I felt so many doors open to me. This was one of the many songs from the show that genuinely inspired me.
anchit kumar
Jesus Christ. Same thing happened to me when I was 18 and a month into my first semester at college. Got out of a 3 year relationship. The series helped me so much.
- Clumsy Ninja
You hear a song on a movie, TV show, or radio, then you go to google or YouTube and type in the soundtrack or the lyrics of the song you heard. Sometimes it's a short journey to find the song sometimes it's a hard journey to find it. Then once you've found it, you feel relieved, and post which show, or movie brought you hear. Another person who reads it feels a little connection with those who watched the same show or movie and the world gets smaller. :) the end. Love you one tree hill and how I met your mother watchers! Tv shows, movies, and music is great!
Abbas Ahmad
And here I am, reading your comment, and it's 2023
tzvi snyder
Wowww
Hasini Chamika
Beautifully said!
Krystle McDaniel
Love this ❤️ how I met your mother 😊
Justine Luis
Holy shit. You hust described what juts happened to me. im currntly listening to this and ep 7 of HIMYM Is on pause. OMG. OMG I FOUND MY PEOPLE
Emman Pilapil
watching himym for the 2nd time. man, this show just had a great impact on my life.
Allen Guillermo
I feel you brother