Do Better
Say Anything Lyrics
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An episode of Will & Grace
Controversial yet mundane
Debra's messing with your brain
Even scientologists
Know there's more to all of this
Search the ruins for trap doors
Simple as a hint of gas
Climbing nostrils as you pass
Making Harvard graduates feel childish when they laugh at it
Climb the rungs to kingdom come
Sour patch to acid tongue
Are you opposed to having fun you clench the world between your bun
You could do better
You could do better
You could be the greatest man in the world (woah!)
You could do better
You could do better
You could be the greatest man in the world (woah!)
Your life is always the post of something else
Where's the present?
The way that you present yourself
And it's disgusting how little that you try
The existential equivalent of pink eye
Drink alone and watch TV
Your'e expecting harmonies
To tap yout tune with silver spoons
The anthem of impending doom
Guiding Satan's steady hand
Forcing Beatles to disband
It's eco-freaks and drama queens
The young at heart know what I mean
You could do better
You could do better
You could be the greatest man in the world (woah!)
You could do better
You could do better
You could be the greatest man in the world (woah!)
You could do better
Better than that
You're a fraud
Thank god you learnt to keep your shirt on
You could do better
You could do better
You could be the greatest man in the world
You burn so brightly
You burn so brightly in the dark
You burn so brightly
You burn so
You burn so
You could do better
You could do better
You could be the greatest man in the world (woah!)
You could do better
You could do better
You could be the greatest man in the world (woah!)
You could do better
Better than that
You're a fraud
Thank god you learnt to keep your shirt on
You could do better
You could do better
You could be the greatest man in the world (woah!)
You could do better
You could do better
You could be the greatest man in the world (woah!)
We could do better
We could do better
We could be the greatest band in the world (woah!)
In "Do Better," Say Anything sings about the concept of striving for greatness in life, both in personal and professional settings. The song opens by dismissing life being simple or easy, stating that it’s far more complex than an episode of Will & Grace. It’s both controversial and mundane, something that's highlighted when the band compares life to Debra's messing with your brain, which means it affects your cognitive process without you even realizing it. Even Scientologists know there's more to it than meets the eye, and people continuously search for meaning, attempting to understand the reason they were put here.
The second verse addresses the idea of settling for mediocrity, something the song sharply criticizes. The lyrics talk about those who lead unfulfilling lives and are content to spend their days drinking alone and watching TV. The song criticizes those who expect to coast through life without having to put in an effort or being the best they can be. The chorus of the song is the most memorable part of the song, repeatedly stating that people generally can do better and strive for greatness. It wraps up by saying not only can the individual listening to the song do better, but the band itself could also "be the greatest band in the world.”
Line by Line Meaning
Life is not a spark in space
Life is more than just a fleeting thing that happens in the vast expanse of space
An episode of Will & Grace
It's not something to be watched and forgotten like an episode of a TV show
Controversial yet mundane
Life is filled with complex, controversial things that are often overshadowed by the mundane
Debra's messing with your brain
The everyday things in life often affect us more than we realize
Even scientologists
Even those who believe in extreme things understand that there's more to life
Know there's more to all of this
That there's a greater purpose or meaning to life
Search the ruins for trap doors
People often look for hidden meaning or opportunities in life
Wonder what you're put here for
They think about the reason for their existence
Simple as a hint of gas
Something as small and fleeting as a hint of gas can have an impact
Climbing nostrils as you pass
Even the smallest things can affect us
Making Harvard graduates feel childish when they laugh at it
Even the most educated people can realize the importance of small things
Climb the rungs to kingdom come
Work your way to success in life
Sour patch to acid tongue
Some people may be bitter and negative in life
Are you opposed to having fun you clench the world between your bun
Don't take life too seriously, have fun and enjoy it
Your life is always the post of something else
Your life is influenced by the things that happen around you
Where's the present?
Live in the moment, don't get caught up in the past or future
The way that you present yourself
The way you act and present yourself to the world can have an impact
And it's disgusting how little that you try
Not trying or putting effort into your life is sad and disappointing
The existential equivalent of pink eye
Not trying in life is like having a painful eye infection that affects your outlook
Drink alone and watch TV
Avoiding life and isolating yourself isn't healthy
You're expecting harmonies
You're expecting things to be perfect and easy in life
To tap your tune with silver spoons
But success and happiness often require hard work and struggle
The anthem of impending doom
The future can seem scary or uncertain
Guiding Satan's steady hand
People can be misguided or led down the wrong path in life
Forcing Beatles to disband
Even great things can come to an end
It's eco-freaks and drama queens
There can be a lot of different types of people and perspectives in life
The young at heart know what I mean
Those who keep a youthful perspective understand the importance of enjoying life
You burn so brightly
You have a lot of potential and can shine in life
In the dark
Even in tough times or when it seems like you're not making progress
You're a fraud
If you're not trying and living up to your potential, you're being dishonest with yourself
Thank god you learnt to keep your shirt on
At least you're not flaunting something you don't have
We could do better
As a band or group, we can strive to be our best selves
We could be the greatest band in the world
But it takes effort and determination to achieve greatness
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MAXIM ADAM BEMIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind