Weeks and Jason Null formed the band in their small hometown of Corinth, Mississippi in 2004. They met when Weeks, who was in a band, was playing guitar at his best friend’s house, when Null, who was in a rival local group, walked in to rehearse with his band. Within days of that meeting, Null and Weeks were writing and honing the intimate writing style that now defines Saving Abel. In early 2005, the pair’s songs caught the ear of noted producer Skidd Mills (12 Stones, Saliva, Submersed), who took the band into his 747 Studios in Memphis. Mills notes, “It was ‘18 Days’ that hooked me. The first time I heard it I was like, ‘these guys are the real deal; they’ll be doing this for a long time.’ Jason and Jared have always understood that the most important part of the music business is having great songs.”
Saving Abel gradually came together in the final electric lineup of guitarist Scott Bartlett, bassist Eric Taylor, and drummer Blake Dixon, and the band paid its dues both onstage and off. Weeks would toss Saving Abel demos onto the stage when bigger bands played in town, and between playing gigs, working day jobs, and Weeks and Null constantly driving from Mississippi to Memphis to record their self-titled EP with Mills, it was a busy and prolific couple years. Weeks remembers; “I used to work at a hospital. I’d have to be there at 4:30 in the morning drawing blood. I’d wake people up and stick a needle in their arm. I’d be walking around the hospital, singing ‘Addicted’ in my head, writing down the lyrics on patients’ clipboards and doctor script pads.”
Null and Weeks bring in differing songwriting approaches influences, giving Saving Abel a well-rounded sound. Null comes from a musical family, and recalls Saturday nights at the local community center as a child. “We didn’t miss it, ever! It was bluegrass band after bluegrass band. We’d hoot and holler, as we used to say. My brother traded my bike for a guitar for me when I was 6, and I learned ‘Johnny B. Goode’ that night! I go back to Willie and Waylon, but as a kid of the ‘80s, I also love Metallica. Also, Angus Young is one of my main influences, as well as the guitar sound and solos of Seattle bands like Soundgarden and Alice in Chains.” For his part, a teenage Weeks played basketball and went to state twice in tennis before music consumed his life. A big fan of the blues and Southern Rock, Weeks calls himself the more “literal” songwriter of the two, explaining, “If something is really bothering me, or how I’m feeling at that moment, I’ll write about it. For me to get the most out of a song, I have to get it almost to the point I’m ready to cry if I can’t get it out, and that makes people relate to it.”
After shopping their indie EP for almost a year, a copy of ‘Addicted’ found its way to one-time Virgin A&R Consultant Scott Frazier and manager partner Rick Smith. They were so excited that they sent the song to the label’s Chairman/CEO Jason Flom. Flom was impressed upon first listen and immediately sent A&R vet Kim Stephens (Collective Soul, Matchbox 20, Edwin McCain) to see the band in Jackson, Tennessee. The band was signed the next day. Says Stephens, “I was sold on the merit of the songs and instantly recognized this was a band with huge potential.”
Saving Abel, the Virgin debut produced by Mills, features mostly brand-new tunes, plus a few favorites from the indie EP, including the poignant, perfectly crafted “18 Days,” “Running From You,” and “Drowning Face Down.” Null explains that “18 Days” was lyrically inspired by sheriff Buford Pusser of ‘Walking Tall’ fame, while laughingly admitting that the rowdy road trip in “New Tattoo” (“The blue is for the bruise you left in my heart / and the red is for the color we’re about to paint this town”) is “based on a true story.” Null furthers: “Our goals are always to concentrate on the song, not just one cool part to make a kid bop his head. Every person I talk to loves a different song of ours.” Null was also the one who gave the band its name: “I Googled the story of Cain and Abel and found a line about ‘there was no Saving Abel,’ which just jumped out at me.” Everyone agreed and the name stuck…much like Saving Abel's songs get instantly stuck in the minds and ears of everyone who hears them. With a radio-ready sound combining big riffs and memorable melodies, Saving Abel has created a polished combination of Southern and Alternative rock…. 2008 style. Get Addicted. Get Saving Abel. You can go to http://savingabel.com
You Make Me Sick
Saving Abel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You make me sick
You make me sick
Here comes Mr. Cool, thinks he’s looking real fine
All dressed in black, tattoos he found online
But getting real loose in his daddy’s Cadillac
Still living with his mom, yeah in a three room shack
You make me sick (sick, sick)
You make me sick
Look at all these little girls looking for their dreams
Living off these sexualites who’s life ain’t what they seem
You make me sick (sick, sick)
You make me sick
Do us all a favour and make it end quick
You make me sick
Look at Mr. TV man tryna spread the news
All I hear is lies about time to tell the truth
You make me sick (sick, sick)
You make me sick
Do us all a favour and make it end real quick
You make me sick
Hey there politician with your painted on grin
Don’t forget to free the hands of the ones that got you in
You only seem to care about that money that you make
Your livin' in that shitty grin that’s planted on your face
You make me sick (sick, sick)
You make me sick
Do us all a favour and make it end real quick
You make me sick, aha
You make me sick (sick, sick)
You make me sick
You make me sick
You make me sick
Do us all a favour and make it end quick
You make me sick
The lyrics of "You Make Me Sick" by Saving Abel seem to express the singer's frustration with different individuals and aspects of society that make him feel disgusted. The song suggests that these people are not living true to themselves but are presenting an image that is not reflective of their reality. The singer expresses disdain for a guy who thinks he is cool but is still living with his mom in a shack, a media news anchor whom the singer thinks is lying, and politicians who care only about the money and not the people they are supposed to represent. The lyrics suggest that there is something fake and insincere about these people, and the singer is disgusted by their behaviour.
The repeated refrain "you make me sick" emphasizes the singer's disgust and adds to the overall negative tone of the song. The lyrics suggest that the individuals mentioned are not living genuine lives, and are hiding behind a facade to make themselves appear better than they are. The result of this is the creation of a culture that promotes shallow values, false images, and material gain, leading the singer to feel sick and frustrated.
Overall, "You Make Me Sick" is a song expressing the frustration of the singer with people and aspects of society that he sees as fake and insincere, promoting a culture that values material gain and shallow expressions of image over substance.
Line by Line Meaning
You make me sick
The person addressed is causing strong feelings of disgust and aversion
Here comes Mr. Cool, thinks he’s looking real fine
A man, who is trying too hard to appear cool, is being viewed as a joke
All dressed in black, tattoos he found online
His appearance is a result of imitation and lack of originality
But getting real loose in his daddy’s Cadillac
Despite his attempts to look cool, he is still living off his father's wealth
Still living with his mom, yeah in a three room shack
He is not independent and lives in a low-standard dwelling
Look at all these little girls looking for their dreams
Young women are trying to find fulfillment but end up objectifying themselves
Living off these sexualities who’s life ain’t what they seem
These women use their bodies as a means of survival, but it is not sustainable
Do us all a favour and make it end quick
The addressed person should stop their behavior to benefit everyone
Look at Mr. TV man tryna spread the news
The media is not trustworthy and often manipulates the truth
All I hear is lies about time to tell the truth
The media continues to spread dishonest information instead of reporting what is important
Hey there politician with your painted on grin
Politicians are often fake and use their appearance to manipulate the public
Don’t forget to free the hands of the ones that got you in
Politicians should not forget the people who helped them gain power
You only seem to care about that money that you make
Money is the only motivation for politicians
Your livin' in that shitty grin that’s planted on your face
The politician's fake smile is a symbol of their insincerity
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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