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.
I Used To Have A Heart
Say Anything Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now it's shitty, shoddy cheap
Sell it in my sleep for the fakes to eat
While they kiss my ass and tell me what I need
Sex fiends with a vacant dream, a tattoo of a soul
And the words you said, still ringing in my head
Wonder where the love they stole is hiding
I don't want to be confused, I just want to find you
All I want to kill is that which keeps me ill
Underwhelmed and unfulfilled
They're in denial of the knowledge
That they're living in a lame excuse
They're in denial of what you are to me
My heart, my love, my guide
It's not alright with me, the love I lack, I need, I want you back
The circle torn apart, I used to have a heart
I used to know a girl with the deepest trust
That a man could ever know
I broke her neck from the lack of respect
I learned as an embryo on the west coast
Where the dead paint Hollywood red
The facade is well-fed with the blood of the capulets
Spread like jelly on bread across the doors of the first-borns
Weaned from birth on meds
All I want to say is this could be ok
I don't want to be a slave, I just want to spend my days
Wondering through the haze, your voice to lead the way
I can finally go and say:
There you are in front of me, luminescent as you used to be
Just sing the saddest song for me, revive me
In "I Used to Have a Heart," the singer reflects on his past self, who used to have a valuable heart worth "a billion bucks." Now, however, his heart is "shitty, shoddy cheap." He's willing to sell it to the "fakes" who tell him what he needs. He wants to find someone who can mend him and eradicate the things that keep him ill and unfulfilled. He remembers a girl who had complete trust in him, but he broke her neck because of his lack of respect, which he learned as an embryo on the west coast. He hopes to find that girl again, someone who can guide and revive him.
The lyrics of the song are more profound than they seem. The song criticizes our culture’s emphasis on status and material wealth. Money can never truly compensate for the lack of a heart, and love can only be received, not bought. Additionally, the song touches on themes of regret, loss, and longing.
Line by Line Meaning
I used to have a heart worth a billion bucks
My heart was once valuable and priceless
Now it's shitty, shoddy cheap
Now it's worthless and of low quality
Sell it in my sleep for the fakes to eat
I will let fake people have it because I don't value it anymore
While they kiss my ass and tell me what I need
They flatter me and try to manipulate me to take advantage of me
Sex fiends with a vacant dream, a tattoo of a soul
They're shallow people with empty desires, pretending to have a soul
And the words you said, still ringing in my head
I still remember the things you told me
Wonder where the love they stole is hiding
I am wondering where the love those fake people stole from me went
All I want to do is be mended by you
I want you to fix my broken heart
I don't want to be confused, I just want to find you
I want to be with you, and not feel lost or uncertain
All I want to kill is that which keeps me ill
I want to get rid of whatever makes me unwell
Underwhelmed and unfulfilled
I feel unsatisfied and underwhelmed
They're in denial of the knowledge
They refuse to acknowledge the truth
That they're living in a lame excuse
They're living in a false and weak pretext
They're in denial of what you are to me
They don't accept or understand what you mean to me
My heart, my love, my guide
You are my heart, my love, and my guide
It's not alright with me, the love I lack, I need, I want you back
I'm not okay with not having your love, I need you back in my life
The circle torn apart, I used to have a heart
My heart used to be whole, but now it is broken
I used to know a girl with the deepest trust
I once knew a girl who had the most profound trust
That a man could ever know
Trust that no man could ever surpass
I broke her neck from the lack of respect
I lost her trust because I didn't show her the respect she deserved
I learned as an embryo on the west coast
I was raised among a culture of disrespect on the west coast
Where the dead paint Hollywood red
In a place where people with empty dreams and souls dominate - Hollywood
The facade is well-fed with the blood of the capulets
The superficial and fake Hollywood is sustained by the sacrifice of genuine people
Spread like jelly on bread across the doors of the first-borns
This fake culture spreads everywhere, taking over genuine people and their actions
Weaned from birth on meds
Raised under the influence of false ideals and values, and influenced by drugs
All I want to say is this could be ok
I want to believe that everything can be okay
I don't want to be a slave, I just want to spend my days
I don't want to be tied down, I just want to enjoy my life with you
Wondering through the haze, your voice to lead the way
I want to wander through life with you guiding me
I can finally go and say:
Finally, I can say
There you are in front of me, luminescent as you used to be
You are in front of me and shining bright, like you always did
Just sing the saddest song for me, revive me
Sing the saddest song and bring me back to life
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MAX BEMIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind