(If You Want It)
Relient K Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Not if you want it it's upon us and I wanna say it's sinking in
If I was hasty maybe I was rushed along
I won't move into little boxes and then not get the itch to move on
So think real slow
Don't forget that yes is yes and no is no
Melting prints of grass and snow
Cause this is the end if you want it
This is the end
You're not the first thing in my life I've loved and lost
Yeah I've thought worse things that I might be less inclined to merely just shrug off
You'll take me home
Like my family did my father did I know
You'll think real slow
But don't forget the speed that I can go away
Cause this is the end if you want it
Yeah this is the end
I've been convincing myself that I'm worthwhile
Cause I'm worth what I'll convince myself to be
Been convincing myself that I'm worthwhile
Cause I'm worth what I'll convince myself to be
I met the devil and I stared her in the eyes
Her hair had scales like silver serpents
I, a statue, stood there mesmerized
I took the fire escape and made it out alive
Yeah I still burn from time to time but I've a healing hand against my side
Blisters on my feet I crawled back home
Frozen from the sleet, burned sand, and stones
Nourished back to life by life alone
With one shake of the mane regain the throne
The song (If You Want It) by Relient K is about accepting the end of a relationship or a phase in life. The singer is saying that he cannot deny it anymore and that it is sinking in. He may have been hasty and rushed along, but he does not want to move into little boxes and then not get the itch to move on. He then advises to think real slow and not forget that yes is yes and no is no. By melting prints of grass and snow, he means that he may forget the way to get back home. However, he signifies that this is the end if you want it, which might be a sign of relief or a warning.
The chorus repeats that it is the end if you want it, and the singer has lost things in his life before that were worse than this, but he may be less inclined to shrug it off. He then talks about being worth what he will convince himself to be and that he has been convincing himself that he is worthwhile. He then takes a dream-like turn and talks about meeting the devil and staring her in the eyes. Her hair had scales like silver serpents, and he, a statue, stood there mesmerized. But he took the fire escape and made it out alive, and though he still burns from time to time, he has a healing hand against his side.
The song seems to be about coming to terms with the end of something and accepting it. It also talks about the struggle to find self-worth and moving on from difficult experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't keep a straight face and say this is not the end
I can't pretend this isn't the end of something important
Not if you want it it's upon us and I wanna say it's sinking in
This ending is happening because someone wants it, and I'm starting to understand that
If I was hasty maybe I was rushed along
Maybe I made this decision too quickly because I was influenced by others
I won't move into little boxes and then not get the itch to move on
I don't want to settle for a small, confined life and then regret not doing more
So think real slow
Take your time to think carefully
Don't forget that yes is yes and no is no
Remember to be clear with your answers
Melting prints of grass and snow
Memories that are fading away
Means I may forget the way to get back home
I might lose my way and feel lost
Cause this is the end if you want it
This is the end because someone has chosen it to be that way
You're not the first thing in my life I've loved and lost
I've experienced loss before and it hurts each time
Yeah I've thought worse things that I might be less inclined to merely just shrug off
I've dealt with harder things, but this still hurts
You'll take me home
You'll bring me back to where I belong
Like my family did my father did I know
Just like my family and my father would do
But don't forget the speed that I can go away
Remember that I can leave quickly
I've been convincing myself that I'm worthwhile
I've been trying to believe in my own value
Cause I'm worth what I'll convince myself to be
My worth depends on what I believe about myself
I met the devil and I stared her in the eyes
I faced a difficult challenge head-on
Her hair had scales like silver serpents
The challenge was intimidating and frightening
I, a statue, stood there mesmerized
I froze and couldn't move
I took the fire escape and made it out alive
I found a way to escape the danger
Yeah I still burn from time to time but I've a healing hand against my side
I still feel pain from that experience, but I have support to help me heal
Blisters on my feet I crawled back home
I endured a difficult journey to return to safety
Frozen from the sleet, burned sand, and stones
I faced harsh weather conditions and physical injury
Nourished back to life by life alone
I relied on my own strength and resilience to recover
With one shake of the mane regain the throne
I will regain my power and control over my life
Contributed by Charlie I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@genesisacevedo9804
I've given up on giving up slowly,
I'm blending in so you won't even know me
Apart from this whole world that shares my fate
This one last bullet you mention is my one last shot at redemption
Because I know to live you must give your life away
And I've been housing all this doubt and insecurity and
I've been locked inside that house all the while You hold the key
And I've been dying to get out and that might be the death of me
And even though, there's no way in knowing
Where to go, promise I'm going because
I gotta get outta here
I'm stuck inside this rut that I fell into by mistake
I gotta get outta here
And I'm begging you, I'm begging you, I'm begging you to be my escape.
I'm giving up on doing this alone now
'Cause I've failed and I'm ready to be shown how
He's told me the way and I'm trying to get there
And this life sentence that I'm serving
I admit that I'm every bit deserving
But the beauty of grace is that it makes life not fair
'Cause I've been housing all this doubt and insecurity and
I've been locked inside that house all the while you hold the key
And I've been dying to get out and that might be the death of me
And even though, there's no way in knowing
Where to go, promise I'm going because
I gotta get outta here
'Cause I'm afraid that this complacency is something I can't shake
I gotta get outta here
And I'm begging you, I'm begging you, I'm begging You to be my escape.
I am a hostage to my own humanity
Self detained and forced to live in this mess I've made
And all I'm asking is for you to do what You can with me
But I can't ask You to give what You already gave
'Cause I've been housing all this doubt and insecurity and
I've been locked inside that house all the while you hold the key
And I've been dying to get out and that might be the death of me
And even though, there's no way in knowing
Where to go, promise I'm going because
I've gotta get outta here
I'm stuck inside this rut that I fell into by mistake
I've gotta get outta here
And I'm begging you, I'm begging you, I'm begging you to be my escape.
I fought you for so long
I should have let you in
Oh how we regret those things we do
And all I was trying to do was save my own skin
But so were you
So were you
@kc1n698
To all the 30 somethings that can’t believe we got this old, and remember this song from a simpler time in our youth, I feel you. Keep going.
@Sleepyless
25 here but we keep going
@ryandykenga487
27 bro, everyone keep your heads up we’re all here for you
@robharding9861
Old but still learning
@Nworb1990
Needed that bro. We've got this!
@NicolaiMarethyu
You know given I turn 30 in less than a week I feel a little called out seeing this comment, lol.
@littlelaughable
I'm glad my younger self listened to this song as a pre-teen that way I could come back here and listen as an adult during a time in my life when I need to hear it all. Thanks younger me, and thanks Relient
@givmethesucc3914
Sunshine Spaceclouds just discovered this awesome band few months ago and i'm 14 so none of my friends listen to this band as it's quite old
@johnthangminlun
Funk is what you are, SunShine !
@minorcek
Sunshine and Spacecloud same.