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.
This Is Fucking Ecstasy
Say Anything Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My satchel filled with files
The secrets of the tribe
The cameras follow me for miles
Born a slave in 1984,
I discovered that my life is just a record they performed
A maze where I was placed
Tell me what you think of this one
Tell me what you think of this one
'Cause now I've sold you out
(erase me, erase me I'm done)
Now that there's no doubt
(My feet find the freeway, I run)
Now I've called you out
(erase me, erase me I'm done)
Now I've sold you out
They strapped me to the roof
and they cut right through me
Digging through my wounds
I watched them hopelessly and choke
"Where are my pills, where is my former lover?"
I've been betrayed by everyone I know, don't blow my feeble cover
So tell me what you think of this one
Tell me what you think of this gun
Now I've sold you out
(erase me, erase me I'm done)
Now that there's no doubt
(My feet find the freeway, I run)
Now I've called you out
(erase me, erase me I'm done)
Now I've sold you out
'Cause the truth is this:
I finally know what they conceived so long ago
A baby rat for them to test,
The poison's on a rubber breast
For me to learn; dependence on the shackles here
But now they're gone
In place I live in hyper speed
I shall not live; I shall not breathe again
This is fucking ecstasy
This is fucking leprosy
It's like they're fucking testing me
This is fucking ecstasy
Hey!
The lyrics of Say Anything's "This Is Fucking Ecstasy" are intense and full of meaning. The song seems to tell a story of a person who was born into slavery in 1984 and has now discovered that their life is just a performance. They feel like they are living in a maze and have been betrayed by everyone they know. The song's title comes up throughout the song and creates a feeling of duality between pleasure and pain.
The first few verses talk about the singer running from something, carrying secrets of the tribe with them. They seem to be in a hurry and being followed by cameras, which could mean they are on the run or trying to hide. The chorus has a repetitive refrain of "Now I've sold you out, erase me, erase me, I'm done", which could mean that the singer has betrayed someone, possibly to gain their freedom or escape something. The second verse describes the singer being strapped to the roof and being cut through, and the chorus repeats.
The bridge of the song changes the tone of the lyrics completely, as the singer seems to have had an epiphany. They understand that they were created as a test subject, with poison introduced to their system through a rubber breast. They have been dependent on their captors and their shackles, but now that they are gone, the singer feels free. They say, "I shall not live; I shall not breathe again," which could be interpreted as the singer dying or giving up their old life to start anew.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm sprinting yet I stride
Though I am moving quickly, I remain composed and focused
My satchel filled with files
I carry with me the valuable information of my community
The secrets of the tribe
I am entrusted with the confidential knowledge of my people
The cameras follow me for miles
I am constantly being monitored and surveilled
Born a slave in 1984,
I was born into a society that oppresses and controls me
I discovered that my life is just a record they performed
Realizing that my existence is nothing more than a controlled experiment
A maze where I was placed
My life is like a labyrinth, designed to confuse and entrap me
Tell me what you think of this one
Let me know your thoughts on this revelation
Cause now I've sold you out
I have betrayed you and exposed your secrets
(erase me, erase me I'm done)
I want to be removed from this situation entirely
Now that there's no doubt
There is no longer any uncertainty or confusion
(My feet find the freeway, I run)
I am fleeing from the consequences of my actions
They strapped me to the roof
They subjected me to severe physical punishment and torture
and they cut right through me
They cut into my flesh, causing me great pain
Digging through my wounds
They probe my injuries, causing me additional suffering
I watched them hopelessly and choke
I am a passive victim, unable to fight back or defend myself
Where are my pills, where is my former lover?
I am searching for comfort and relief in my desperation
I've been betrayed by everyone I know, don't blow my feeble cover
My trust in others has been shattered and I am vulnerable
Cause the truth is this:
In reality, the situation is as follows
I finally know what they conceived so long ago
I have at last discovered their long-held plan for me
A baby rat for them to test,
I am a mere experiment to them, akin to a lab rat
The poison's on a rubber breast
The harmful substance has been disguised in an innocuous form
For me to learn; dependence on the shackles here
They want me to rely on the debilitating environment around me
But now they're gone
The oppressive forces have been removed
In place I live in hyper speed
Without the hindrances of the past, I can now live life at an unprecedented pace
I shall not live; I shall not breathe again
I refuse to return to the oppressive and stifling lifestyle from before
This is fucking ecstasy
This newfound freedom is incredible and euphoria-inducing
This is fucking leprosy
The remnants of my past life are a disease I want nothing to do with
It's like they're fucking testing me
Despite the oppressive forces being gone, I still feel like there are challenges and obstacles in my way
This is fucking ecstasy
I am still elated by the newfound freedom I have
Hey!
An exclamation of sorts to emphasize newfound liberation
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Janoy Cresva
Max Bemis is one of my heroes of music. He has no problem getting politically incorrect and telling people how it is.
Colby Schindler
exactly
Grosstradamus
I love that Anthony Raneri from Bayside did guest vocals on this.
LemonZeppelin
I will tell you what I think of this one: I think it's brilliant.
xFlyingFlip
holy shit ... i wrote this 4 years ago. Still love Max but I'm not gonna do all those heart things again.
Caity Fisher
YES!! this song is badass! yay for posting it :D
Joel Middaugh
Vials definitely vials
xcovermyeyesx
...do you have a concrete copy of the album to look in the liner notes? they've listed all the songs' lyrics there. :)
SeamusnotruB
Excellent song
rebeccarss
i listened to this song just because of the title lol