Sometimes Say Never
Ryan Higa Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Never Say Never
Well Maybe Sometimes
Yeah, Yeah, Auto tune

Verse 1:
See I never thought that i could be a singer (and I'm not)
I never thought that I'd be 6 ft. tall ( I'm short)
I never thought that I'd be a telemarketer (would you like to buy some toner)
I never not, did never think I'd fall (what)

Pre-chorus:

And I'm not being pessimistic (Stick)
I'm just being realistic (realiStick)
You should give everything you have
But remember this

Chorus:

I will sometimes say never
(I said it 6 times so far)
I will eat peanut butter
(just cuz it rhymes)

Whenever my dog makes poop
You know what I'll make you do

Pick it up, pick it up, pick it up, pick it up up up up
Unless you say never

I, I sometimes say never
I, I sometimes say never
I, I sometimes say never





Repetition is catchy

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Ryan Higa's song Sometimes Say Never may seem superficial at first, but they actually convey important lessons on optimism, realistic expectations, and responsibility. The opening lines "Never Say Never, Well Maybe Sometimes" set the tone for a message that is both encouraging and cautious. The use of auto-tune as a recurring phrase signals the song's playful approach to self-expression in the context of pop culture.


In the first verse, Higa offers examples of things he never thought he could do or become, but that he did or could have done anyway. By acknowledging his shortcomings and the limitations of reality, Higa avoids falling into the trap of false positivity or self-deprecation. He also highlights the absurdity of some societal standards, such as height or job titles, and the humor in his own perceived failures. The pre-chorus builds on this idea of balanced thinking, urging listeners to strive for their goals while being aware of the challenges and setbacks that may arise.


The chorus crystallizes the main theme of the song, which is to accept that life is unpredictable and messy, and that we have agency in shaping our own responses to it. The repetition of "sometimes say never" underscores the variability of our attitudes and beliefs, as well as the irony of using a negative term to express positivity. The juxtaposition of the serious advice to clean up after one's pets with the nonsensical rhyme of "peanut butter" demonstrates Higa's talent for mixing seriousness and playfulness in his lyrics.


Line by Line Meaning

Never Say Never
Don't completely rule out any possibility


Well Maybe Sometimes
But it's okay to be realistic and acknowledge limitations


Yeah, Yeah, Auto tune
Just a silly nod to the overuse of auto-tune in music


See I never thought that i could be a singer (and I'm not)
I never thought I had the talent to be a successful singer


I never thought that I'd be 6 ft. tall ( I'm short)
I never expected to grow taller than my current height


I never thought that I'd be a telemarketer (would you like to buy some toner)
I never set out to become a telemarketer, but sometimes we end up in unexpected jobs


I never not, did never think I'd fall (what)
I never thought I'd experience failure or setbacks, but they happen to everyone


And I'm not being pessimistic (Stick)
I'm not trying to be negative


I'm just being realistic (realiStick)
I'm being honest about the limitations and challenges that come with life


You should give everything you have
It's important to give your best effort and try your hardest


But remember this
But it's also important to acknowledge that there are things outside of our control


I will sometimes say never
I may set limitations on myself at times, but it's not permanent


(I said it 6 times so far)
This lyric is just a self-aware acknowledgement of the repetition in the song


I will eat peanut butter
This line is random and doesn't have much meaning, other than it rhymes with 'never'


Whenever my dog makes poop
This line is also random and doesn't connect to the rest of the song


You know what I'll make you do
The artist is implying that if someone doesn't pick up after their dog, they'll be forced to do it


Pick it up, pick it up, pick it up, pick it up up up up
This is a humorous and exaggerated way of emphasizing the importance of picking up after your dog


Unless you say never
This line is a silly way of saying that someone might refuse to pick up after their dog, even though it's the responsible thing to do


I, I sometimes say never
Repeating the earlier lyric to emphasize the theme of occasionally setting limitations on oneself


Repetition is catchy
This line is another self-aware acknowledgement of the repetition in the song, and perhaps poking fun at the idea that repetition is a common tactic in pop music




Contributed by Austin E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@Lolmonster777

It’s 11 years later and I was literally singing this to myself today. I had no idea that lyrics to this version of the song were imbedded into my brain

@DenimTurtleneck

came back because i started singing this to myself out of nowhere after not watching it for 10 years

@jojofofo5

Every time I think of the actual song, these are the lyrics in my head and I start singing it xD I don't even know the real lyrics haha

@chelsea7553

SAME lol growing up as an internet kid

@tristonthomas2945

Internet at is prime. Ryan is crazy for getting board with this stuff he was such an icon basically a founding father or YouTube.

@cactalguy266

Better than the original.

@cactalguy266

Yuh Kurose I just like this one more

@sids2k

+Yuh Kurose he means the original Justin B song.

@reidsalzetti2923

Good point

@Cuday

No, not just better. WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY BETTER

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