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.
The Futile
Say Anything Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nothing makes sense, so I won't think about it.
I'll go with the ignorance.
Eat, sleep, fuck and flee:
In four words, that's me!
I am full of indifference.
What do the old people teach us but how to die (die) die (die)?
Yeah, the futile, the futile, it outweighs the beautiful.
Futile, the futile, it outweighs the beautiful!
Futile, the futile, the futile so... (futile, the futile, the)
Taste. I have no taste!
I don't like these tiny portions
Or your artful abortions of sound!
Sealed with a kiss, slathered in the sauce sarcastic.
So go choke on your irony!
What do the old people teach us but how to die (die) die (die)?
And what do those hissy fits teach you except how to cry, pussy, cry?
Yeah, the futile, the futile, it outweighs the beautiful.
Futile, the futile, it outweighs the beautiful!
Futile, the futile, the futile so...
I'm eating rat poison for dinner!
Pull the cord from the phone, I am dining alone
Tonight! Rat poison for dinner, pull the cord from the phone,
I am dining alone, so goodnight!
Love! I shall not love, yet I'll still sing about it.
Hope it covers the ocean in slime!
The drama and drool, I'm leaking the blood of a fool
(I'm full of it, I'm full of it, I'm full.)
I'm eating rat poison for dinner,
Pull the cord from the phone, I am dining alone
Tonight! Rat poison for dinner,
Pull the cord from the phone, I am dining alone tonight!
Oh I am dining alone, tonight,
Tonight, tonight!
Oh yeah
The lyrics to Say Anything's song The Futile explore the singer's feelings of disillusionment and indifference towards life, love, and art. The opening lines convey the singer's reluctance to change and willingness to remain ignorant of the complexities of life. He sums up his approach to life in four words: Eat, sleep, fuck, and flee, which highlights his tendency to prioritize his basic needs rather than pursuing deeper meaning or purpose. This is further illustrated in the subsequent lines where he confesses to being "full of indifference."
The next verses criticize the traditional teachings of society and the emotive reactions that people have to difficult situations. The singer suggests that the only thing the "old people" teach us is how to die, whereas those who have "hissy fits" only learn how to cry like a "pussy." This cynical view of emotional expression highlights the singer's inability to connect with people on a meaningful level, and his preference for distancing himself from others.
The chorus of the song emphasizes its central theme: the struggle between the futile and the beautiful. The singer concedes that despite the beauty in the world, the futility of existence outweighs it. The frustration in this realization is compounded by the fact that the singer cannot enjoy the beauty that surrounds him due to his lack of taste and appreciation for art.
Overall, The Futile is a dark and introspective song that explores the struggle to find meaning and beauty in a world that often appears hopeless and futile.
Line by Line Meaning
Anything we should know about your change? Shit!
I'm so overwhelmed and unsure of myself that I can't even explain what I'm feeling, it's just a mess.
Nothing makes sense, so I won't think about it.
I can't comprehend what's happening, so I'm just going to ignore it and avoid thinking about it.
I'll go with the ignorance.
I'll choose to remain ignorant and uninformed about everything because it's easier than confronting the harsh reality of things.
Eat, sleep, fuck and flee: In four words, that's me! I am full of indifference.
I have a very simplistic and hedonistic lifestyle focused on basic needs and desires, and I'm completely indifferent to anything beyond that.
What do the old people teach us but how to die (die) die (die)?
I don't see any value in the lessons taught by older generations, as all they're really teaching us is how to grow old and eventually die.
And what do those hissy fits teach you except how to cry, pussy, cry?
I don't see the point in getting emotional and throwing a tantrum, as all it accomplishes is making you look foolish and weak.
Yeah, the futile, the futile, it outweighs the beautiful. Futile, the futile, it outweighs the beautiful! Futile, the futile, the futile so... (futile, the futile, the)
I believe that the pointlessness and uselessness of everything in life far surpasses any beauty or meaning that it may hold.
Taste. I have no taste!
I lack any personal preferences or aesthetic sense, and therefore cannot judge or critique things based on my own taste.
I don't like these tiny portions Or your artful abortions of sound!
I dislike anything that comes in small or unsatisfying quantities, and I also dislike anything that's overly pretentious or artificially crafted.
Sealed with a kiss, slathered in the sauce sarcastic.
Everything around me that's supposed to be sweet or sincere is laced with a bitter or ironic coating.
So go choke on your irony!
I've had enough of people being insincere or sarcastic just for the sake of being clever or funny, and I wish they'd just be honest instead.
I'm eating rat poison for dinner! Pull the cord from the phone, I am dining alone Tonight! Rat poison for dinner, pull the cord from the phone, I am dining alone, so Goodnight!
I'm so disillusioned and miserable that I'd rather poison myself than deal with anyone else, and I'm severing all contact with the outside world for the night.
Love! I shall not love, yet I'll still sing about it.
I'm unwilling or unable to feel love, but I still want to express myself through the medium of love songs.
Hope it covers the ocean in slime! The drama and drool, I'm leaking the blood of a fool (I'm full of it, I'm full of it, I'm full.)
I don't see any value or meaning in love, and I believe it will only lead to more messiness, drama, and heartbreak for me and those around me.
Oh I am dining alone, tonight, Tonight, tonight! Oh yeah
I'm emphasizing my loneliness and seclusion by repeating that I'm alone tonight and adding a sarcastic tone at the end to show my apathy.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MAX BEMIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kalia Arkenia
“Shit!
Nothing makes sense, so I won't think about it.
I'll go with the ignorance.
Eat, sleep, fuck and flee:
In four words, that's me!
I am full of indifference.
What do the old people teach us but how to die (die) die (die)?
And what do those hissy fits teach you except how to cry, pussy, cry?
Yeah, the futile, the futile, it outweighs the beautiful.
Futile, the futile, it outweighs the beautiful!
Futile, the futile, the futile so... (futile, the futile, the)
Taste. I have no taste!
I don't like these tiny portions
Or your artful abortions of sound!
Sealed with a kiss, slathered in the sauce sarcastic.
So go choke on your irony!
What do the old people teach us but how to die (die) die (die)?
And what do those hissy fits teach you except how to cry, pussy, cry?
Yeah, the futile, the futile, it outweighs the beautiful.
Futile, the futile, it outweighs the beautiful!
Futile, the futile, the futile so...
I'm eating rat poison for dinner!
Pull the cord from the phone, I am dining alone
Tonight! Rat poison for dinner, pull the cord from the phone,
I am dining alone, so goodnight!
Love! I shall not love, yet I'll still sing about it.
Hope it covers the ocean in slime!
The drama and drool, I'm leaking the blood of a fool
(I'm full of it, I'm full of it, I'm full.)
I'm eating rat poison for dinner,
Pull the cord from the phone, I am dining alone
Tonight! Rat poison for dinner,
Pull the cord from the phone, I am dining alone tonight!
Oh I am dining alone, tonight,
Tonight, tonight!
Oh yeah”
R S
This whole album just encapsulated all my pissed off/horny/confused teenage feelings. I'm grateful to have had them during the dumpster fire that was high school.
Dmitri Tomasavich
I had slim shady lp, and ppl wonder why I'm so fukd up...
NS
110% same here buddy.
confrontationaltiger
it's 2020 and I fear we won't see quality like this again for a while.
I o
2 years and no end in sight...
Greg Mitchell
There never was and never will be a band anything like old school Say Anything. They were an anomaly in my opinion, and a very welcome one. This and Baseball are really 100% one of a kind albums. There is NOTHING like this. Enjoy it for what it is 😊
pinkdxck
@Greg Mitchell this is a very common style of singing… wdym
Journey Vetsch
Stop being so pesamistic and find some new punk rock it's out there and if not make a band
Tiger Festivals
@pinkdxck what other bands sound like this? I'd like to listen to some similar stuff
Alex Mula
It's 2021 and... the lyrics to this song ring true more than ever.