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.
Slowly Through a Vector
Say Anything Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Damp with fog the bog that grows the former business sector
With my laugh, my lonely minion
Only I can save the lives that blink within this canyon
Whoa
We're passing slow, passing slow. Slow, Slow
Drink the colors of the night time
I‘ll display my disaffection (you brought me up, yea, you spit me out)
Out across the city
Loud and proud in your direction
Whoa
We're passing slow, we're passing slow. Slow, Slow.
Whoa
We're passing slow, we're passing slow. Slow, Slow.
When I get to your apartment I climb the rail outside the building
A band of them were in your apartment
They tied you up unwound, unwilling
I watch them cut, watch them touch, watch them do what they came to do
And in I come to lick it up
Clean up what is left of you
Ha ha ha show me what you got
In "Say Anything" song, "Slowly Through a Vector," the singer sets the scene by describing passing slowly through a vector, which is damp with fog, that grows the former business sector. The singer seems to be on a mission to save the lives that exist within the canyon. However, the singer admits to being lonely and laughing as a lonely minion. In the song, the singer adds a whoa to emphasize the slowness of their movement.
The song's tone shifts when the phrase "drink the colors of the night time" is introduced. The singer is promising that they will display their disaffection and make their presence known by being loud and proud in the direction of someone who brought them up but then spit them out. The slow pacing persists throughout the song as the singer finally reaches their destination, climbing the rail outside the building to get to the apartment. Inside the apartment, the singer discovers a band of people who have tied up the person they are after. They watch as the people cut and touch, doing what they came to do, and then laugh as they come in to clean up what is left.
Line by Line Meaning
Passing slowly though the vector
We're moving slowly through this specific path or route
Damp with fog the bog that grows the former business sector
The area we're passing through is moist due to the fog and the swamp which is replacing the old commercial district
With my laugh, my lonely minion
I am accompanied only by my laughter, my only companion being myself
Only I can save the lives that blink within this canyon
I alone have the ability to rescue those who are struggling in this valley
Drink the colors of the night time
Savor the beauty of the evening scenery and experience it fully
If you were wrong then I was right and this will be the right time
If you were incorrect, then I was correct and the current moment presents the opportunity to prove it
I‘ll display my disaffection (you brought me up, yea, you spit me out)
I'll express my dissatisfaction with my upbringing, you raised me up only to abandon me
Out across the city Loud and proud in your direction
My voice echoes through the town as I speak directly to you
When I get to your apartment I climb the rail outside the building
Once I arrive at your place, I ascend the exterior of the structure using the railing
A band of them were in your apartment They tied you up unwound, unwilling
A group of people were inside your flat; they bound you without your consent
I watch them cut, watch them touch, watch them do what they came to do
I witness them slicing, touching and proceeding with their intended action
And in I come to lick it up Clean up what is left of you Ha ha ha show me what you got
I intrude to clean up the remains of the commotion and confront you with humor about your defeated state
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MAX BEMIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@k.r.1788
Passing slowly through a vector
Damp with fog the bog that grows the former business sector
With my laugh, my lone companion
Only I can save the lives that blink within this canyon
Woah, we're passing slow, we're passing slow, woah, slow, slow
Drink the colors of the night time
If you were wrong then I was right and this will be the right time
I'll display my disaffection you grind me up, yeah, you spit me out
Out across the city loud and proud in your direction
Woah, we're passing slow, we're passing slow, woah, slow, slow
Woah, we're passing slow, we're passing slow, woah, slow, slow
But when I get to your apartment I climb the rail outside the building
A band of them were in your apartment they tied you up unwound, unwilling
I watch them cut, watch them touch, watch them do what they came to do
And in I come to lick it up, clean up what is left of you
Ha ha ha show me what you got
(Ha ha ha show me what you got)
Ha ha ha show me what you got
(Ha ha ha show me what you got)
Ha ha ha show me what you got
(Ha ha ha show me what you got)
Said, "Ha ha ha show me what you got"
(Ha ha ha show me what you got)
Ha ha ha show me what you got
(Ha ha ha show me what you got)
Ha ha ha show me what you got
(Ha ha ha show me what you got)
Ha ha ha show me what you got
(Ha ha ha show me what you got)
Ha ha ha show me what you got
(Ha ha ha show me what you got)
Ha ha ha show me what you got
(Ha ha ha show me what you got)
Ha ha ha show me what you got
(Ha ha ha show me what you got)
Ha ha ha show me what you got
(Ha ha ha show me what you got)
Ha ha ha show me what you got
(Ha ha ha show me what you got)
Ha ha ha show me what you got
(Ha ha ha show me what you got)
Ha ha ha show me what you got
(Ha ha ha show me what you got)
@steveon1178
I just don't understand how anybody could mistake this song for anything but genius song writing.
@micahwaddell4281
This one of the greatest albums of our lifetime
@desireeknight8811
3:25 is a perfect example of why Say Anything will always be my favourite bands. It starts out feeling phantom of the opera-y, then it starts sounding like rock, then you got this freakin circus music and him saying "hahaha, show me what you got" over and over again, then it goes back into the rock n roll. Love it.
Its like listening to multiple songs from different genres in one song with them. I've always heard them get categorized as "melodic rock" because they can't figure out wtf to categorize them as. <3
@royalrocker311
HA HA HA, SHOW ME WHAT YAH GOT! My favorite part of the album, definitely, with the intro of Woe coming in second.
@ninjaassassin27
7 years later, and still listening.
@lunaghbest2436
Did you make it to 8?
@alissajones9960
Yuh
@ninjaassassin27
@@lunaghbest2436 I made it to 11 and counting.
@lunaghbest2436
@@ninjaassassin27 14 years here :0
@andrewboyce7268
15.