Say Anything, then called Sayanything, began their career when the band was still in high school. They self-released two EP's and one LP entitled Baseball. Baseball and the band's first EP, Junior Varsity, are both out of print and are no longer available. The band's second EP entitled Menora/Mejorah was released online. All of these early albums have a pop punk sound reminiscent of blink-182 and of Max's favorite band, Saves the Day.
In August 2004 they released ...Is a Real Boy on Doghouse Records. The album was produced by Tim O'Heir (Sebadoh, All-American Rejects, Superdrag) with arrangements by Stephen Trask (Grammy nominated for Hedwig & the Angry Inch). While recording the album Max Bemis had a nervous breakdown during which he took to the streets of New York until his girlfriend found him and ended up in a mental hospital for a few weeks. He attributes the breakdown to stress and bipolar disorder.
Some time after ...Is a Real Boy was released, a set of 8 songs entitled Vs. AIDS Demos were leaked onto the internet by an unknown source. Soon the band told fans that the demos were part of an AIDS benefit album that had been scrapped, and told anyone who had attained them not to distribute them to anyone else (Max Bemis later stated on his website, "that shit sucks," in regard to the demos).
Say Anything signed with J Records (Maroon 5, Alicia Keys), owned by BMG Entertainment, one of the "big four" record labels. Under J Records they re-released ...Is a Real Boy with a bonus disc entitled ...Was a Real Boy containing seven of the eight Vs. AIDS Demos. This album, originally scheduled to be released on October 25th, 2005, was delayed over 4 months to February 28th, 2006. Some copies ended up leaking out through various retailers, notably Tower Records' website. Most leaks occurred due to retailers shipping pre-orders before J-Records had a chance to stop them. Soon copies of the album were selling for over $50 on eBay.
Say Anything released their third album, In Defense of the Genre, under J Records in 2007. Produced by Brad Wood, the album had two discs containing 27 songs, many of them featuring guest appearances by high-profile musicians such as Gerard Way and Hayley Williams.
In November 2009, Say Anything released their fourth full-length studio album, Say Anything. This is the band's first album under RCA Records. It contains 13 tracks, including "Hate Everyone," which was the album's first single.
On August 19, 2010 it was confirmed that Say Anything and RCA Records had parted ways. Soon after (September 29) it was announced via Say Anything's official website that Alex Kent would be leaving the band, and that Kenny Vasoli of The Starting Line would be temporarily taking over as bassist for their upcoming tour. As of so far no permanent bassist has been selected to replace Kent.
In December 2012, Bemis announced that drummer Coby Linder, the only other remaining original member of the band, had left Say Anything on amicable terms to pursue other projects.
Belt
Say Anything Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So they carded me
And they carted me off.
Naked with that belt around my waist
It was my father's once
I still see his face
They carted me off.
And I fled through field and farm stripped of natural charm
Naked but that belt I wear so well
Past the pyramids
And the liberty bell
Hey this is something I have to do for myself
I have to for myself.
I ignored the sheep and shepherds on my way
What could their small words say
When they say them that way
Bathed in sweat and feathered as a crow
I laid a beating on the sleet and snow
With my frostbitten toes.
I remained unrecognized in my home town
Beneath my monstrous gown
Of feather and down
But I gathered up and army made of those
Who aimed to shake them
From their repose
We took up weapons
And took off our clothes
So what say you
And all your friends
Meet all of my friends
In the alley with knives
What say you
And all your friends
Step up to my friends
In the alley tonight
The lyrics to "Belt" by Say Anything are rich in metaphorical meanings and offer multiple interpretations. A common interpretation is that the belt represents the singer's pride and integrity, which he refuses to sell to the industry or anyone else for that matter. The industry, represented as the "gendarme", tries to take away the singer's sense of identity and creativity, but he manages to hold onto his integrity and escape. The belt, which once belonged to his father, is a symbol of heritage, tradition, and the singer's refusal to let go of his past.
As the song progresses, the singer embarks on a journey where he sheds his natural charm and becomes exposed to the harshness of the world. The line "I ignored the sheep and shepherds on my way" is particularly poignant, suggesting that the singer is resisting conformity and rejecting societal expectations. He chooses to seek his own path, a path that is difficult, but ultimately true to himself. The line "Bathed in sweat and feathered as a crow, I laid a beating on the sleet and snow" describes the singer's resilience and determination to overcome the odds. The song's climax, where the singer invites his "friends" to meet in an alley with knives, is a confrontation between his sense of identity and those who seek to challenge it.
Overall, "Belt" is a deeply personal song that reflects on the struggle for identity, integrity, and creative freedom in a world that often seeks to suppress these qualities. Through vivid imagery and metaphorical language, the singer offers a powerful reminder of the importance of staying true to oneself and resisting conformity.
Line by Line Meaning
I wouldn't sell my belt to industry
I refuse to be a corporate sellout
So they carded me
They checked my ID or credentials
And they carted me off.
They forcibly removed and took me away
Naked with that belt around my waist
Left with nothing except for my belt
It was my father's once
The belt has sentimental value
I still see his face
The memory of my father stays with me
But I managed to escape the good gendarme
I eluded capture by the police
And I fled through field and farm stripped of natural charm
I ran through rural areas, devoid of comfort or beauty
Naked but that belt I wear so well
The belt is the only thing of substance I have left
Past the pyramids
I've traveled through Egypt
And the liberty bell
I've also been to Philadelphia
Hey this is something I have to do for myself
I'm on a personal quest
I have to for myself.
I must do this for my own sake
I ignored the sheep and shepherds on my way
I disregarded conformists and authority
What could their small words say
They have nothing meaningful to contribute
When they say them that way
Their words are without conviction
Bathed in sweat and feathered as a crow
I am exhausted and disheveled
I laid a beating on the sleet and snow
I persevered against harsh weather conditions
With my frostbitten toes.
My extremities have suffered from the cold
I remained unrecognized in my home town
I returned unnoticed
Beneath my monstrous gown
My outfit was unconventional
Of feather and down
I was wearing feathers and down
But I gathered up and army made of those
I rallied like-minded people
Who aimed to shake them
We were against the status quo
From their repose
We wanted to disrupt their comfort
We took up weapons
We prepared for battle
And took off our clothes
We stripped ourselves bare - vulnerable yet courageous
So what say you
What is your response
And all your friends
And those who share your views
Meet all of my friends
Come face-to-face with my allies
In the alley with knives
We are ready for a fight
Step up to my friends
We are not backing down
In the alley tonight
This confrontation is happening now
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MAX BEMIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind