Pentimento was an indie rock/pop punk band from Buffalo, NY. In their lifes… Read Full Bio ↴Pentimento was an indie rock/pop punk band from Buffalo, NY. In their lifespan they released two full length albums (Pentimento, 2012) & (I, No Longer, 2015), two EPs (Wrecked, 2011) & (Inside The Sea, 2013), & in 2012 they released a split with Young English. They toured with Reggie And The Full Effect after they reformed in 2013 and subsequently became Reggie's full time backing band. Since they called it quits around 2016 they have since played some reunion shows.

Members:

Vinny Caito - Bass
Lance Claypool - Guitar
Mike Hansen - Drums/Vocals
Jeramiah Pauly - Vocals/Guitar

http://pentimentony.bandcamp.com
http://www.facebook.com/Pentimentony
https://www.youtube.com/user/pentimentony
http://twitter.com/pentimentony
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Gateway
Pentimento Lyrics

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Hey, I thought I chased you away.
I guess I misunderstood the depth of the will that it takes.
What is it they say?
"You have to hit rock-bottom before you learn to be okay".
Are you back to your old ways?
You're back to your old ways.
Losing faith in everything -
refusing to make a change.

Like it matters anyway.
It doesn't matter anyway.
We live, we die, we all end up the same.
So I let you go. It didn't feel like anything.

Just let me go for good.
I guess this feels like nothing at all. Let me go.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Pentimento's "Gateway" describe the painful process of watching someone go back to their old ways and lose faith in everything. The persona confesses that they thought they have chased this someone away, but they realize they've misunderstood the depth of the latter's will to be okay. The lyrics move on to reference the idea commonly heard among some circles that people have to hit rock-bottom before they learn to be okay. However, the persona laments that the person, whom the song is about, is now back to their old ways and losing faith in everything, refusing to make a change. The persona seems to have given up hope and concludes that it doesn't matter anyway because we all end up the same.

The personae then confesses they let the person go, and it didn't feel like anything. In contrast, the personae asks to be let go themselves and explains that it feels like nothing at all. The use of repetition throughout the song emphasizes the pain this persona is experiencing, from the repetition of "back to your old ways" and "it doesn't matter anyway" to the repetition of the phrase "let me go" at the end of the track. The lyrics to "Gateway" seem to suggest that it's difficult to watch someone lose their way and not try to help, but ultimately the choice to change is up to the person.

Line by Line Meaning

Hey, I thought I chased you away.
I believed that I had successfully kept you out of my life, but I was wrong.

I guess I misunderstood the depth of the will that it takes.
I underestimated the amount of effort it would require to rid myself of your presence.

What is it they say?
What is the proverbial phrase that people often repeat?

"You have to hit rock-bottom before you learn to be okay".
The saying is that one has to reach a point of extreme suffering or failure before they can truly recover or heal.

Are you back to your old ways?
Have you reverted to the same habits and behaviors that caused problems before?

You're back to your old ways.
Yes, you have returned to the same negative patterns.

Losing faith in everything -
I am experiencing a loss of trust and confidence in all aspects of life.

refusing to make a change.
I am unwilling to take steps to alter my circumstances or behavior.

Like it matters anyway.
It seems pointless or inconsequential.

It doesn't matter anyway.
It is not important or relevant.

We live, we die, we all end up the same.
Regardless of how we live or what we achieve, ultimately we will all face the same fate of death.

So I let you go. It didn't feel like anything.
I released you from my life, but the experience was not significant or impactful.

Just let me go for good.
Please allow me to permanently move on from this situation.

I guess this feels like nothing at all. Let me go.
This event or relationship seems unimportant or meaningless to me now, so please allow me to move on without any further attachment.

Contributed by Brody R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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