Sell Out
Red Alert Lyrics
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But don't sign that paper tonight
She said but it's too late.
I don't remember what I read
Don't remember what they said
Guess it doesn't matter
Guess it doesn't matter anymore
You're gonna go to the record store
You're gonna give'em all your money
Radio plays what they want you to hear
They tell me it's cool but I just don't believe it
Sell out, with me oh yea, sell out, with me tonight
Record company's gonna give me lots of money and
Everything's gonna be all right
No more flippin' burgers puttin' on my silly hat you know
I don't want that no more
And I didn't ask when we'd get paid
I quit my day job anyway
Guess it doesn't matter, guess it doesn't matter anymore
Coz you're gonna go to the record store
You're gonna give'em all your money
Radio plays what they want you to hear
Tell me it's cool, I just don't believe it
Sell out, with me oh yea
Sell out with me tonight
The record company's gonna give me lots of money
and everything's gonna be
And I don't think it'll be so bad
And I know it won't be so bad
Cause the man said "that's the way it is"
and the man said "it don't get better than this" no no no
So I signed on to the record company
they say they're gonna give me lot's of money
if i play what they want you to hear
they tell me it's cool, and i sure believe it
Sell out, with me oh yea
Sell out with me tonight
The record company's gonna give me lots of money
and everything's gonna be all right
Yeah, yeah yeah, yeah yeah
The record company's gonna make everything all right
Baby don't you sign that paper tonight she said
But I can't work in fast food all my life
The song "Sell Out" by Red Alert talks about the struggles of young artists who dream of making it big in the music industry. The opening lines of the song, "Well, I know you can't work in fast food all your life, but don't sign that paper tonight, she said, but it's too late," suggest that the artist is having a conversation with someone, maybe a friend or a loved one, who is considering giving up their dreams in exchange for a stable but unsatisfactory job, such as working in fast food. The artist urges them not to sign the contract that would make them give up their artistic dreams.
The artist then talks about how the music industry operates. They criticize how the industry dictates what gets played on the radio and what is considered "cool." The artist encourages the listener to join them in selling out to the record company to make lots of money and to finally live the life they've always wanted, without having to work in fast food or any other dead-end job.
The lyrics also suggest that the artist has some doubts about selling out, as they mention not remembering what they read or what "they said." It's unclear who "they" refers to, but it could be interpreted as the record company representatives who are convincing the artist to sell out.
Overall, "Sell Out" is a commentary on the music industry and the compromises artists sometimes have to make to be successful. It encourages the listener to make their own choices and to not let anyone discourage them from chasing their dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I know you can't work in fast food all your life
I understand that you do not want to work in fast food for the rest of your life.
But don't sign that paper tonight
Don't make any hasty decisions tonight.
She said but it's too late.
Someone warned me not to sign, but I already did it.
I don't remember what I read
I can't recall the details of what I read.
Don't remember what they said
I can't recall what they said to me.
Guess it doesn't matter
It seems as if it is not important anymore.
Guess it doesn't matter anymore
It seems as if it is not important anymore.
You're gonna go to the record store
You plan on going to the record store.
You're gonna give'em all your money
You are going to spend all your money.
Radio plays what they want you to hear
The radio stations play the music that is popular, not necessarily what is good.
They tell me it's cool but I just don't believe it
They say that the music they play is cool, but I don't think so.
Sell out, with me oh yea, sell out, with me tonight
Join me in selling out and making music that is popular, let's do it together tonight.
Record company's gonna give me lots of money and
The record company is going to pay me a lot of money.
Everything's gonna be all right
Everything is going to be okay.
No more flippin' burgers puttin' on my silly hat you know
I'm not going to work in fast food anymore.
I don't want that no more
I don't want that anymore.
And I didn't ask when we'd get paid
I didn't ask when we would be paid.
I quit my day job anyway
I quit my day job regardless.
Coz you're gonna go to the record store
You are going to go to the record store.
Tell me it's cool, I just don't believe it
They say it's cool music, but I don't believe it.
And I don't think it'll be so bad
I don't think it will be that terrible.
And I know it won't be so bad
I am sure it won't be so bad.
Cause the man said "that's the way it is"
This is how it is because 'the man' said so.
and the man said "it don't get better than this" no no no
'The man' also said that it doesn't get any better than this.
So I signed on to the record company
I signed a contract with the record company.
they say they're gonna give me lot's of money
They promised to pay me a large sum of money.
if i play what they want you to hear
The record company wants me to play the popular music.
they tell me it's cool, and i sure believe it
They say it's cool, and I believe it.
The record company's gonna make everything all right
The record company is going to make everything okay.
Baby don't you sign that paper tonight she said
Someone warned me not to sign the paper tonight.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Steve Smith, Gary Stewart, Tony Frater, Leslie Cobb
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind