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.
Surgically Removing the Tracking Device
Say Anything Lyrics
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On a bedroom floor
Empty all the meds
Never anymore
For sure
Throbbing in my flesh
Breaking out in scarlet swords
Therapy I've been enslaved
So now I've crossed the line
(Tearing out my on a bedroom floor)
Fixing up the drugs
With a tiny flame
Put 'em in my lungs
And forget my name
I blame my parents for molesting me
With self-fulfilling prophecies
The teacher for indulging me
His shit dressed up in fury, fear and shame
So now I've crossed the line
(Put 'em in my lungs, forget my name)
High and I'll drive
I'll get high and I'll drive
If I were the keys
Then where would I be
If it's up to me
Then I will be free
If I were the keys
Then where would I be
If it's up to me
Then I will be free
Yeah, yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
In Say Anything's song, "Surgically Removing the Tracking Device", it is clear that the singer is experiencing immense emotional pain and choosing to self-medicate to rid themselves of that pain. The opening lines, "Tearing out my hair on a bedroom floor/Empty all the meds never anymore/For sure", describe the singer seemingly at their wit's end, unable to cope with their emotions and willing to try anything to make themselves feel better. The following lines, "Throbbing in my flesh/Breaking out in scarlet swords/Therapy I've been enslaved/I think I'll medicate this rage", indicate the severe physical and emotional pain the singer is experiencing and their desire to escape it through drugs.
The next verse, "Fixing up the drugs/With a tiny flame/Put 'em in my lungs/And forget my name", further highlights the singer's desperation to escape their emotional pain through substance abuse. The lines, "I blame my parents for molesting me/With self-fulfilling prophecies/The teacher for indulging me/His shit dressed up in fury, fear, and shame", suggest that the singer's traumatic experiences have led them to this point, and that their pain is not solely a result of their own choices. This verse also speaks to the idea that the singer feels powerless, as they blame others for their current state of being.
The chorus, "If I were the keys/Then where would I be/If it's up to me/Then I will be free", could be interpreted as the singer questioning their path in life and their sense of control over it. They seem to be searching for some form of agency and freedom, but are unsure of how to achieve it. Overall, the song conveys a sense of desperation and hopelessness, as the singer struggles to cope with their inner turmoil and pain.
Line by Line Meaning
Tearing out my hair
Distraught and upset, physically pulling out hair from my head
On a bedroom floor
This act of desperation is taking place in a private, possibly isolated and dark location
Empty all the meds
Getting rid of any remaining medication that was meant to help, but no longer does
Never anymore
No longer wanting to rely on medication for relief from pain or mental distress
For sure
Determined to make a change and stick to it
Throbbing in my flesh
Feeling intense physical and emotional pain
Breaking out in scarlet swords
Experiencing self-harm through cutting, reflecting the pain I feel inside
Therapy I've been enslaved
Feeling trapped and forced to continue therapy, even if it is not helpful or fulfilling
I think I'll medicate this rage
Choosing to self-medicate with drugs and alcohol to cope with anger and frustration
So now I've crossed the line
Acknowledging that my actions have gone too far and may have negative consequences
Fixing up the drugs
Preparing to use drugs by heating or mixing them in ways that are potentially dangerous
With a tiny flame
Using a small and dangerous method to heat up drugs for use
Put 'em in my lungs
Inhaling drugs directly into my body, bypassing the liver and bloodstream
And forget my name
Losing myself in a high or drunken stupor, forgetting who I am and what I'm doing
I blame my parents for molesting me
Feeling anger and resentment towards my parents for the abuse I experienced as a child
With self-fulfilling prophecies
Feeling stuck in patterns of negative behavior and repeating them, as if fulfilling a prediction
The teacher for indulging me
Blaming a teacher for not intervening or helping when I was struggling with mental health issues
His shit dressed up in fury, fear and shame
Feeling like the teacher's methods and attitudes exacerbated my mental health issues, rather than helping
High and I'll drive
Intending to drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, putting myself and others in danger
If I were the keys
Fantasizing about being in control, about having a choice and a chance to get away
Then where would I be
Wondering what my life would be like if I were in control and could make my own choices
If it's up to me
Feeling like my choices are limited by external factors, like abuse and mental health issues
Then I will be free
Hoping for a future where I am no longer controlled by my circumstances, but can make my own choices and be happy
Yeah, yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
A mantra of hope and determination, repeated to try and convince myself that things will get better
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MAX BEMIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind