Yorn started as a drummer who also played guitar. In 1990, he was drumming for his band in a high school talent contest when someone suggested he sing the Replacements song "Talent Show." That went over so well, a competing band asked him to sing Neil Young’s "Rockin' In the Free World" with them.
He was first recognized when the Farrelly brothers picked "Strange Condition" for their film Me, Myself & Irene.
He has gained increasing popularity following the use of his song "Just Another" on popular WB television show Dawson's Creek.
Another of his songs, Murray was used in the credits of the film Igby Goes Down
The song "Undercover" was used in the first Spiderman movie and appears on the soundtrack.
The song "Lose You" was used in the closing of an episode of House on Fox.
Wear and Tear
Pete Yorn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Chance on taking
You, you pulling down on me,
I said to her and take her number,
Oh I cannot loose it all again 'till I see ideal
Where I say every night
And I wonder what I'm doing I sweep everyday in your room
I say every night
Wondering when I'll find oh oh oh
And I say what I do
Gonna bend that girl
It's late and you think it's over
Celebrate that off in air air air
Now I'm standin' to your own
Do myself some miracle where untent
Where I do it all again and again and again and again
Where I say every night
And I wonder what I'm doing
I sweep everyday in your room
I say every night
Wondering when I'll find oh oh oh
And I say what I do
The lyrics of "Wear and Tear" seem to be about a relationship that is not going as expected. The first verse suggests that the singer is disappointed in the reality of their relationship compared to the fairytale image they had before. However, despite this, they are still willing to take a chance on it. The second verse talks about the singer's daily routine: sweeping the room of their lover and wondering when they will find what they are looking for. It seems like they are contemplating the possibility of a miracle happening that will make everything fall into place.
The chorus repeats the same lines, emphasizing the singer's confusion and uncertainty about their relationship. The bridge is somewhat cryptic, with the words "gonna bend that girl" suggesting a desire to change or influence their lover in some way. The line "celebrate that off in air" is unclear but could be interpreted as a release or letting go of the past.
Overall, the lyrics of "Wear and Tear" reflect the ups and downs of a relationship, and the struggle to find meaning and fulfillment in it.
Line by Line Meaning
And you in the world seem so unfairy tale
You, in this world, appear to me as if you are not part of a fairy tale, as if you're not quite real.
Chance on taking
I'm willing to take a chance on you, to give you a shot.
You, you pulling down on me,
You always have a grip on me, pulling me down and holding me back.
I said to her and take her number,
I asked for her number, hoping to get a chance to talk to her more.
Oh I cannot loose it all again 'till I see ideal
I can't afford to lose everything again until I find what I consider to be the perfect situation.
Where I say every night
Each night I say the same thing.
And I wonder what I'm doing
I'm always questioning what I'm doing, never quite sure if it's the right thing.
I sweep everyday in your room
I constantly clean up in your space, trying to make it better for you.
I say every night
I repeat the same thing over and over again.
Wondering when I'll find oh oh oh
I keep wondering when I'll find what I'm looking for, what I need.
And I say what I do
I keep doing what I'm doing, even if it doesn't seem to make sense.
Gonna bend that girl
I'm going to try to get that girl to do what I want, to bend to my will.
It's late and you think it's over
It's gotten late and you think the night is over, but I'm not ready to be done yet.
Celebrate that off in air air air
Let's celebrate and have a good time, let it all hang out in the open.
Now I'm standin' to your own
I'm standing on my own now, not relying on anyone else for support.
Do myself some miracle where untent
I'll try to do something miraculous all on my own, without any plan or foresight.
Where I do it all again and again and again and again
I'll keep doing the same things over and over, hoping for a different result.
Contributed by Ellie W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.