Music is an art form that is meant to speak to us beyond the literal. After… Read Full Bio ↴Music is an art form that is meant to speak to us beyond the literal. After spending years perfecting his craft, Singer/songwriter, Joseph Michelini decided to take his music to the next plane. Cutting his teeth in coffee houses in Toms River, NJ, Joseph began to introduce different elements, from acoustic bass, to banjo and cello. At that point, River City Extension was born; having the intention of writing orchestral indie rock, while introducing elements of Punk, Country, Folk, and World music. River City Extension found itself going from a 3 piece acoustic act, and developing into a full 8-piece band. The band perfected a staggering and impressive live show, filled with high energy and angst. Finding themselves without a label they went into the studio and recorded their first D.I.Y. EP, Nautical Sabbatical in 2008. The band literally put the CDs together by hand prior to each show.

After finalizing their outfit, River City Extension hit the road, establishing a strong following in the Northeast region, making lasting impressions on audiences and promoters alike. The band created an organic element gradually developing them from a small local phenomenon, into a budding national act landing a slot on ARTSCAPE in Baltimore, MD directly supported Cake and Robert Randolph performing in front of 14,000 people as well as opening regionally for such acts as Squeeze and Nicole Atkins.

In late 2009 River City Extension hit the studio to record their first LP named “The Unmistakable Man” . The band along with Eric Sanderson of the Brooklyn based band Pela, spent the next few months working in the studio perfecting each song. The plan was to release an album that would allow the listener to experience a story from start to finish, whatever their interpretation would be. “The Unmistakable Man” delivers immense and precise orchestration, and is reflective of their energetic live show, this music will stand the test of time.

In early 2010 the band inked a deal with XOXO Records (Home to The Gaslight Anthem, Let Me Run, This Charming Man etc...). The band’s new album has already started to get recognition, most recently appearing of the cover and featured in the East Coast Rocker. With the support of their label, friends and family, River City Extension plans to tour diligently across the US and UK.

Something's Gotta Give
River City Extension Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Somebody always wants their money back
Just when doing the right thing wasn't exciting
You tugged on the curtain string certain the words that came out
Were not spoken in doubt

Sooner or later
Something's gotta give
And with your back against the wall what all could you have done?

Fight or run?
Would you listen to yourself?

So you're ready to break?
Twenty-six shows
Fell in love with the road
Now you look down your nose
Struck by wonder that he isn't you
Like it's what you're due

They say sooner or later
You've gotta answer to someone
And if you can't tell yourself the truth then it's already gone
No more right or wrong
No standard to place your judgement on

It's been a long time
I feel the weight coming down
Of life in the country with any other love that I've found

How'd you ever see it
(Sooner or later)
If you don't believe it
Given your surrender
(Something's gotta give)
Part of me will never understand

But is there hope left in your heart?
Right or wrong, I'm moving on

Overall Meaning

In "Something's Gotta Give," River City Extension explores the conflict between doing what's right and chasing excitement. The song opens with the line "somebody always wants their money back." This statement is a metaphor for the consequences that come with making choices that go against one's values. When you do the wrong thing, sooner or later, there will be a price to pay. The song then goes on to question whether one would choose to fight or run when faced with adversity.

As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the singer is a musician who has been on the road for a long time. They have fallen in love with the lifestyle but are now starting to question whether it's worth it. The line "Now you look down your nose, struck by wonder that he isn't you, like it's what you're due," suggests that the singer has become arrogant and entitled. They believe that their success is a given rather than something they have worked hard for.

The chorus of "Sooner or later, something's gotta give" highlights the inevitability of consequences. If you keep doing the wrong thing, eventually, something will happen to show you the error of your ways. The line "If you can't tell yourself the truth, then it's already gone" suggests that the singer has been lying to themselves about the impact their lifestyle has been having on them. They have been avoiding facing the truth and are now at a breaking point.

In summary, "Something's Gotta Give" is a thought-provoking song that explores the conflict between doing what's right and chasing excitement. It questions the singer's choices while highlighting the inevitability of consequences.

Line by Line Meaning

Somebody always wants their money back
People always want something in return, even when you do them a favor.

Just when doing the right thing wasn't exciting
Sometimes, doing the right thing can be boring or uneventful.

You tugged on the curtain string certain the words that came out Were not spoken in doubt
You pulled back the curtain, sure that the words spoken were genuine and certain.

Sooner or later Something's gotta give And with your back against the wall what all could you have done? Fight or run? Would you listen to yourself?
Eventually, something has to give and you have to make a choice. When you're backed into a corner, you have to decide whether to fight or flight and whether to trust your intuition.

So you're ready to break? Twenty-six shows Fell in love with the road Now you look down your nose Struck by wonder that he isn't you Like it's what you're due
You're on the verge of breaking down after going on tour for twenty-six shows. You became infatuated with the lifestyle and now have a sense of entitlement. You're envious of someone else and assume that you deserve what they have.

They say sooner or later You've gotta answer to someone And if you can't tell yourself the truth then it's already gone No more right or wrong No standard to place your judgement on
Eventually, you have to take responsibility and be held accountable. If you can't be honest with yourself, then you've lost your sense of morality and can no longer differentiate what's right from wrong.

It's been a long time I feel the weight coming down Of life in the country with any other love that I've found
It's been a while since you've been in the country and you feel the burden of life weighing down on you. You're nostalgic for a lost love and can't find that same feeling anywhere else.

How'd you ever see it (Sooner or later) If you don't believe it Given your surrender (Something's gotta give) Part of me will never understand
How could you have seen the outcome coming if you didn't believe it was possible? You gave up and now something has to change. Even if I try, I may never understand your perspective.

But is there hope left in your heart? Right or wrong, I'm moving on
Do you still have the hope and desire to change your situation? Regardless of whether it's the right or wrong decision, I'm moving forward and progressing.

Contributed by Cameron C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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