The 4 piece took a do-it-yourself approach to the business and set out touring across the US and Canada. With the help from some friends and the support of their new fans they found themselves headlining and sharing stages with bands such as Sum41, Gob, The Vandals, Goldfinger, Story Of The Year, Yellowcard, Mest, The Distillers and Down By Law.
Their hard work paid off and the Austin based NearMiss was welcomed into Fearless Records based in Orange County, California. Their freshman album The Gentle Art Of Making Enemies debuted in July 2002 and has sold over 7,000 copies to date. The album was quickly championed by Austin's Modern Rock 101X, where the band remains a station favorite. The year also brought a change in line up when they lost Sean whom has yet to be replaced.
Throughout 2003 and 2004 the band continued to tour aggressively and made their first appearance on the Vans Warped Tour. Their hearting pounding performances earned the guys a spot on the 2004 warped compilation which pressed and distributed over 500,000 copies in the US and Canada.
Now a part of Takeover Records Family the band's potential is limitless and holds a promising future in 2005. Their first release is a 3 way split featuring The Matches (Epitaph) and Reeve Oliver (The Militia Group) in stores everywhere June 28th. Also except the bandís sophomore full length which is slated for release in this fall. NearMiss will be on the road the remainder of the year, so look for them on this summer's Warped Tour and other national tours including Story of the Year and Goldfinger.
The Gentle Art
Near Miss Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And what others saw in you
I wonder how and why it took me so long
To realize all the wrong paths that you made me take
For your own benefit
Fuck this shit and what you wrote about it
You might think, you might say
I know who my friends are
You're running out of time
Understanding is the reason
And anger is the motivation
To cast a light on these actions
So many lies are told
Sold for your own benefit
Fuck this shit and what you wrote about it
You might think, you might believe
I know who my friends are
You might think, you might believe
You're running out of time
The lyrics to Near Miss's song The Gentle Art explore themes of manipulation and deceit, as seen through the lens of someone who has recently come to the realization that they have been taken advantage of. The opening lines express the singer's frustration, both with themselves for not recognizing the signs earlier, and with the person who has led them down the wrong path. The use of profanity in the repeated phrase "Fuck this shit and what you wrote about it" adds to the intensity of the emotions being conveyed, as does the repetition of the line "For your own benefit." The sense of betrayal is palpable, and the tone is one of anger and disillusionment.
The second half of the song shifts in its focus slightly, as the singer reflects on their current situation and how they plan to move forward. Rather than wallowing in their anger, they express a desire for understanding and a willingness to shed light on the situation. They are no longer content to be the victim of lies and manipulation, and instead plan to take control of their own life. The repeated phrases "I know who my friends are" and "You're running out of time" suggest a newfound sense of confidence and determination. Overall, the lyrics to The Gentle Art are a powerful commentary on the ways in which we can be taken advantage of by others, and the importance of standing up for ourselves when that happens.
Line by Line Meaning
All of the things I endured
I went through a lot of difficult things.
And what others saw in you
And other people were impressed by you.
I wonder how and why it took me so long
I'm thinking about how and why it took me a while to realize something.
To realize all the wrong paths that you made me take
To realize that you made me take a lot of bad paths.
For your own benefit
You did it for yourself.
Fuck this shit and what you wrote about it
I don't like what you wrote and I don't care about it.
You might think, you might say
You might have an opinion.
I know who my friends are
I know who my true friends are.
You might think, you might believe
You might believe something.
You're running out of time
You don't have much time left.
Understanding is the reason
I understand the situation.
And anger is the motivation
I'm angry and that is what's pushing me.
To cast a light on these actions
To expose what you did.
So many lies are told
You told a lot of lies.
Sold for your own benefit
You did it to benefit yourself.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jeremy Joseph Hernandez
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind