The original line-up consisted of Dave Chandler (guitar), Mark Adams (bass), Armando Acosta (drums) and Scott Reagers (vocals). They recorded their first two albums before Scott Weinrich replaced Reagers in 1986. The line-up of Chandler, Adams, Acosta and Weinrich is the longest-lasting. The third album Born Too Late (1986) is generally acknowledged as their best release.[3]
After breaking up in 1996 and briefly reforming in 2003, Saint Vitus reunited again in 2008 with the band's "classic" line-up, featuring Weinrich, Chandler, Adams and Acosta, and embarked on a successful tour. However, after 30 years in the band, Acosta left Saint Vitus in 2009 due to worsening health, and was replaced by Henry Vasquez. By 2016, both Weinrich and Adams had left Saint Vitus and were replaced by Reagers and Patrick Bruders respectively, leaving Chandler as the only constant member of the band and reuniting two-fourths of the original lineup.
Just Friends
Saint Vitus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just leave me alone
I have done OK so far
Living on my own
You said you could give me shelter
Underneath your wing
But all I ever got from you
Was hate and misery
Woman
You don't want
To be
Just friends
Thought that I could always be there
Everytime you call
Now you seem surprised to find
That I'm not there at all
Oh you loved the way you had me
Pressed beneath your thumb
Now I am the one who's laughing
My new life's begun
My new life is getting stronger
Since you've gone away
Survival is the only thing
That I care for today
You showed me the beautiful
And ugly sides of love
Now I am to roam the earth
Bitching what you've done
The lyrics of Saint Vitus's song Just Friends have a strong message about the end of a toxic relationship. The singer talks about how his former partner offered him shelter under her wing but only gave him hate and misery in return. He no longer wants her empty love and just wants to be left alone. The chorus "Woman, you don't want to be just friends" shows how the singer believes his former partner wants to cling onto the past and keep him around as a backup option, but he has moved on and does not want to be involved with her anymore.
The second verse talks about how the singer used to always be there for his partner, but now that they have ended things, she seems surprised to find that he's not around. The line "you loved the way you had me pressed beneath your thumb" suggests that the former partner may have been controlling and manipulative in the relationship. However, the singer has now moved on and is enjoying his new life without her.
The final verse shows how the singer is now stronger after the end of the relationship. He is only focused on survival and does not care about anything else. The line "you showed me the beautiful and ugly sides of love" implies that the relationship was both good and bad, but ultimately ended badly. The final line "now I am to roam the earth bitching what you've done" shows that the singer is still dealing with the aftermath of the relationship and is vocal about the negative impact it had on him.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't want your empty love
I don't desire a love that is unfulfilling and hollow
Just leave me alone
Please remove yourself from my presence
I have done OK so far
I have managed well on my own thus far
Living on my own
Thriving independently without any romantic involvement
You said you could give me shelter
You promised to offer me protection and refuge
Underneath your wing
Under your care and guidance
But all I ever got from you
I've only received from you
Was hate and misery
Hatred and suffering were the sole outcomes of your companionship
Woman
Addressing the antagonist directly
You don't want
You don't desire
To be
To exist
Just friends
Merely platonic acquaintances
Thought that I could always be there
Assumed I would be available whenever you needed me
Everytime you call
Whenever you would reach out to me for help
Now you seem surprised to find
You appear to be shocked to discover the situation has changed
That I'm not there at all
I am no longer present in your time of need
Oh you loved the way you had me
You derived pleasure from exerting control over me
Pressed beneath your thumb
Emphasizing the oppressive nature of the relationship
Now I am the one who's laughing
I am deriving joy from your misfortune
My new life's begun
Starting over fresh, starting a new chapter
My new life is getting stronger
My new beginning is gradually progressing and improving
Since you've gone away
Ever since you left
Survival is the only thing
Merely staying alive is my primary concern
That I care for today
My current focus is only on survival
You showed me the beautiful
You revealed the lovely aspects of love to me
And ugly sides of love
Additionally, you uncovered the painful aspects of love
Now I am to roam the earth
I am destined to wander the world alone
Bitching what you've done
Regularly reminding myself and others of the harm you inflicted
Contributed by Evelyn R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.