Wes Scantlin was born in St. Joseph, Missouri. Raised in Kansas City, he attended Park Hill High School. After high school, he started the creation of Puddle of Mudd, now now famous for songs such as "Control", "She Hates Me", and "Blurry". Scantlin got his start in the music business after a copy of his demo was given to a friend producer by the name of Fred Durst. Durst enjoyed the demo, but Wes neglected to take any major steps forward with the band. Later, upon hearing that Scantlin's first attempt at a band had failed, Durst decided to bring Scatlin to California in an attempt to put a new band together.
In California Scantlin met Doug Ardito, an intern at Interscope Records. When Scantlin found out about Ardito's bass playing, they decided to work together. Still in pursuit of a guitarist, Fred Durst contacted a guitarist from his hometown of Jacksonville, Florida, Paul Phillips. Phillips auditioned for the spot in Puddle of Mudd, and upon acceptance, left college to join the band full time. A drummer was also recruited from Jacksonville, however, via creative differences, left the band before it achieved any mainstream media attention.
The name of the band was inspired by the Missouri River flood, where the band in its early days performed and practiced. The large amount of pressure from the equipment left the floor a big "puddle of mud."
Puddle of Mudd is signed to Fred Durst's record label, Flawless Records.
In 2005 two members, Paul Phillips and Greg Upchurch, left the band. Greg currently drums for 3 Doors Down while Paul, now playing in Society Red, left citing creative and personal differences.
Their song "Control" was the official theme song of WWE's Survivor Series pay-per-view event in November 2001, and their song "Nothing Left to Lose" was the official theme song of WWE's Royal Rumble pay-per-view event in January 2004.
Their second album, "Come Clean" spawned 4 hits in 2003 and has sold 5 million albums to date. Their follow up, "Life on Display" spawned 1 hit single and sold 600,000 albums. In 2007, the band released "Famous", which takes a general rock as well as "nu-grunge" approach.
The band is currently working on a live album that is slated for release in 2008.
They have released their fourth album "Songs in the Key of Love and Hate"
Current members of the band include :
Wes Scantlin : Vocal, Rythmn.
Doug Ardito : Backing Vocals, Bass.
Paul Phillips: Lead Guitar
Ryan Yerdon: Drums
Sydney
Puddle of Mudd Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why'd you have to go
And leave everybody behind!
Help me
'cause I'm thinkin' of takin' these
Emotions, these emotions way to far! (way too far)
For everything I've ever done!
Gonna set you free!
Gonna set you free!
Free! (free free free)
Save me!
From slippin' down my knees are bleedin', I'm back on the ground!
(on the ground)
No one! will ever know what its like unless they've been there before (there before)
Ageing and I think I'm heading in the light, but I can't get back home!
Get back home!
Gonna set you free!
Gonna set you free!
Crazy! no one crazy!
No one knows me! talks about me!
I'm no clown! look a mountian!
Just don't touch me! hell has helped me! I belong! and then! now she won't ever! let me go!
Don't ever let her go! but your takin' away my soul! I know! if you ever know how much, you
Mean to!
Sydney!
Why'd you have to go
And leave everybody behind!
(oh behind)
Baby! now I'm gone, you knw I'm gone!
And I hope that your fine!
It'll be alright!
Gonna set you free!
Gonna set you free!
Yeah! gonna set you free!
I know that your lookin' down on me!
Sydney Lookin down on me
Come to set you free
Why'd you leave me? [repeat 3 times]
Why'd you leave me by myself?
Why'd you leave me?
Why'd you leave me by myself?
The lyrics of Puddle of Mudd’s “Sydney” tell a story of heartbreak and regret. The singer is begging for forgiveness from the person he loves, who has left him. He is going through intense emotions and is fighting to keep it together. He realizes that he needs help and is seeking someone to save him. He feels that he is alone and nobody understands him. He can’t seem to find his way back home and feels that he is losing his mind.
The chorus, “Gonna set you free,” is a plea to the person he loves to let him go so that she can move on with her life. He accepts that he has made mistakes and that he needs to move on. The lines, “No one knows me! Talks about me! I'm no clown! Look a mountain! Just don't touch me! Hell has helped me! I belong! And then! Now she won't ever! Let me go!” express his internal conflict and pain.
Line by Line Meaning
Sydney!
Addressing and calling out to Sydney.
Why'd you have to go
And leave everybody behind!
Asking why Sydney had to leave everyone behind and expressing sadness about the situation.
Help me
'cause I'm thinkin' of takin' these
Emotions, these emotions way to far! (way too far)
Seeking help because emotions are overwhelming and could lead to extreme actions being taken.
Baby! I know that and I'm sorry
For everything I've ever done!
Apologizing for any past wrongdoings and acknowledging wrong actions have been committed.
Gonna set you free!
Gonna set you free!
Free! (free free free)
Promising to free Sydney from any burdens or hardships and expressing this in a repetitive, emphatic manner.
Save me!
From slippin' down my knees are bleedin', I'm back on the ground!
(on the ground)
Asking for help to prevent falling into a desperate situation and being physically hurt.
No one! will ever know what its like unless they've been there before (there before)
Expressing that no one can truly understand a situation unless they have experienced it themselves.
Ageing and I think I'm heading in the light, but I can't get back home!
Get back home!
Gonna set you free!
Gonna set you free!
Crazy! no one crazy!
Feeling like he is moving toward something positive but is stuck and needs help to move forward. Reiterating the promise to free Sydney and confirming that he is not crazy.
No one knows me! talks about me!
I'm no clown! look a mountian!
Just don't touch me! hell has helped me! I belong! and then! now she won't ever! let me go!
Don't ever let her go! but your takin' away my soul! I know! if you ever know how much, you
Mean to!
Feeling like nobody understand him and trying to prove that he is not a joke. Acknowledging that he belongs to someone but now he is being taken away from that person. Expressing how much Sydney means to him and how it is taking a toll on him.
Sydney!
Why'd you have to go
And leave everybody behind!
(oh behind)
Repeating the opening lines and reiterating the sadness about Sydney leaving.
Baby! now I'm gone, you knw I'm gone!
And I hope that your fine!
It'll be alright!
Gonna set you free!
Gonna set you free!
Yeah! gonna set you free!
Confirming that he is leaving but hoping that Sydney will be okay. Repeating the promise to free Sydney, this time with added emphasis.
I know that your lookin' down on me!
Sydney Lookin down on me
Come to set you free
Why'd you leave me? [repeat 3 times]
Why'd you leave me by myself?
Why'd you leave me?
Believing that Sydney is watching over him from above and calling out to her. Repeating the question of why Sydney left and expressing a feeling of abandonment.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: WESLEY SCANTLIN, WESLEY REID SCANTLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ho Chi Mints
Sydney, why'd you have to go
And leave everybody behind?
Help me 'cause I think I've taken these emotions
These emotions way to far (way too far)
Baby, you know that I'm sorry
For everything I've ever done
I'm gonna set you free
I'm gonna set you free
Free (free, free, free)
Save me from slipping down, my knees are bleeding
I'm back on the ground (on the ground)
No one will ever know what it's like
Unless you've been there before (there before)
Aching and I think I'm headed in the light
But I can't get back home
Get back home
I'm gonna set you free
I'm gonna set you free
Crazy, going crazy
No one knows me, talks about me all the time
Drowning, look I'm melting
Just don't touch me
Heaven help me, I'll be fine
Lifting up, she won't ever let me go
Don't ever let her go
But you're taking away my soul I know
If you'll ever know how much you mean to me
Sydney, why'd you have to go
And leave everybody behind (oh behind)
Baby, now I'm gone, you know I'm gone
And I hope that you're fine (you're gonna be alright)
I'm gonna set you free
I'm gonna set you free
Yeah I'm gonna set you free
I know that you're looking down on me
Sydney, I know that you're looking down on me
I'm gonna set you free
Why'd you leave me?
Why'd you leave me?
Why'd you leave me?
Why'd you leave me by myself?
Why'd you leave me?
Why'd you leave me, oh, Sydney
Chris Smith
Critics hated this album. Why? I have NO IDEA!!!! Love this song!
J
@Wendy Lin It is their best album.
Adam Griffith-Smith
It’s one of those records that takes a few listens for it to grow on you. Critics only reviewed it after one listen
Wendy Lin
One of their best albums!
Free Dnb
top album!! oh well their loss
thedixie250
Very underrated track. One of my favorites on this album.
Sydney Reid
love this song....why wasnt it ever on the radio...my name is sydney also...lol
Peter Brousaides
If you have rock in your heart n soul this group n songs are from pain love n loss keep on rocking
BrandonJMusic
This must be my fav puddle of mudd song
gucciwearsupreme
Same reminds me of my ex with the same name miss her to this day🙄