They also have received a lot of attention because of their having melded into the post-hardcore emo band Sensefield, after a line-up change.
Maybe Not
Reason to Believe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How did you got that look upon your face
Just a simple hello
How hard is it to just say hi
Where's the smile
Where's the laughter
It's a coincidence
What are you after
There's no connections today
Don't be so surprised
If you see my face around again
"There's the guy who tried to talk to me"
I heard you tell your friends
You don't want me to see you
You don't want me to see you
I promise I won't look
I swear I'll shut my eyes
Promise not to look
There'll be no speculation
I won't dare to say hello
The lyrics of "Maybe Not" by Reason to Believe explore the disappointment and pain of unrequited love. The singer is trying to connect with someone they are attracted to, but the other person is not interested. The singer is puzzled by the other person's reaction, wondering how they managed to scare them off with just a simple hello. They want to know what they did wrong and wish they could turn back time to fix their mistake.
The singer is trying to make the other person see them in a new light and is hoping for a connection between them. However, as the song progresses, it becomes clear that this connection is not going to happen. The other person is not receptive to the singer's advances and is actively avoiding them. The singer is left feeling hurt and confused, with no idea what went wrong.
These lyrics encapsulate the raw emotions that come with unrequited love, from the initial thrill of attraction to the eventual disappointment and heartache that follows. The song's minimalistic melody underscores the singers' desperation and loneliness, as they try to make sense of their emotions and move on from their unrequited crush.
Line by Line Meaning
How did I scare you
I am curious as to what caused the look of fear in your eyes
How did you got that look upon your face
I am wondering how I managed to cause you to look so scared
Just a simple hello
It shouldn't be difficult to greet someone with a simple hello
How hard is it to just say hi
Why is it so challenging to exchange a basic greeting?
Where's the smile
I was hoping to see a smile on your face
Where's the laughter
I was hoping for an enjoyable interaction filled with laughter
It's a coincidence
Meeting you was unexpected and unplanned
What are you after
I am curious about your intentions
We're not clicking here
Our personalities and interests are not aligning
There's no connections today
Today, we are not forming any meaningful connections
Don't be so surprised
Please do not act taken aback if we meet again
If you see my face around again
In the future, if we encounter each other again
"There's the guy who tried to talk to me"
Your friends might recognize me as the person who attempted to converse with you
You don't want me to see you
You are intentionally avoiding being seen by me
You don't want me to see you
I sense that you do not desire to cross paths with me
I promise I won't look
I pledge not to intentionally try to catch a glimpse of you
I swear I'll shut my eyes
I will physically close my eyes to prevent looking at you
Promise not to look
I guarantee that I will not purposely view you
There'll be no speculation
I will not engage in any conjecture about you
I won't dare to say hello
I am afraid to greet you in case it causes further discomfort or awkwardness
Contributed by Jasmine I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@wayle68
FR I FL might be one of the most incredible songs ever written - 28 years on and it still makes my 50 year old ass feel emotional... Oh and want to go out and skate for the rest of the day...
@lilianahurt2658
Siento lo mismo
@andrescamacho8756
I remember driving in my car and signing this as loud as I possibly could. Good times.
@netcrumber
I am one or two generations later than you, yet I feel with currently 40 years the same as you 😋😇. I even think we were the last generation that has experienced and heard this good punk / hardcore music from the late 80s to early 90s, until then from 1996 / 1997 the newschool hardcore era began, which are now again long gone times.
Oh yes the good 90s, My first skateboard, the deck was from Santa Cruz with good Powell Wheels and the axes from Krux, back in 1997 when I was 15. 😅👍. Not to forget, I have the complete deck at that time from the underside glued with various stickers of bands like Texas is the Reason, Farside, Snapcase, Bold, etc..
@SAVEDBYGRACE162
I have a similar reaction to that song, and same age......go figure. The &inch they put out was very good as well. not as well produced, but very deep.
@adamdawson2016
Fast, melodic and ahead of its time.
@enginesdown
Absolutely.
@redstain1
I revisit this frequently because it's easier to put on than my vinyl copy. Fantastic album, and I was lucky enough to see them in Rapid City, SD in 1989 at a skatepark. Jon borrowed my skateboard and crashed in like a second. He wasn't a skater. Anyway, I ordered a T-shirt from them, and this record showed up, mostly trashed, the sleeve is just beat to hell. It's by far the best surprise I've ever received in the mail. I was lucky enough to open for Sensefield once as well. RIP Jon
@redstain1
You know those albums you loved when you were a kid, but now when you hear them, they don't hold up? This isn't one of those albums, this album still kicks ass a quarter of a century later. RIP and thank you Jon.
@enginesdown
Kick ass comment.