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.
Yellow Cat Red Cat
Say Anything Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Invade my red cat in the yard
The feline war has raged for years
So I assume it'd be too hard
For me to drive my foot between them
I would never risk the scratch
Just to prove to one or both of them
A cat is just a cat
Again, I watch my cousin greg
Watch mtv inside his home
He makes fun of the hip hop videos
From the couch he rides alone
Snug in the cushion of his cackling
He forgets his living doubts
He has relied on this for years
You will not yank the carpet out
These are my friends
This is who they have been for always
These are my days
This is how they stay
I watch this dude
Each night, same table
He creates and crumples up
His eyes are wide from sipping endlessly
His endless coffee cup
He feeds me quotes
That lonely goat
I watch him grazing by himself
I will not stop him when he rambles
I'm becoming one myself
Lou is bugged
Shot up with drugs
He sweats this bird he hardly knows
All that he wants is to see someone
He respects without their clothes
So like some hybrid mother/lover
She'd soothe and heal his wounds
And kiss those dying ears so softly
That the reaper stops to swoon
Oh please
These are my friends
This is who they have been for always
These are my days
This is how they stay
These are my friends
This is who they remain forever
This is how we stay
I watch my neighbor's son
Play with his shotgun in the street
I think I'll blaze all day
And marvel at the massive food I eat
It's strange, I'm skinny when I'm standing
But I'm buddha when I sit
And if I'm truly so enlightened
Why'd I waste your time on it
As I look back at countless crossroads
And the middle where I stay
Right up the beaten path to boredom
Where the fakest fucks get laid
By the faux-finest finds
It's been that way
God damn you, how you stay
With every scummy, crummy hour
Of the scummy, crummy day
These are my friends
This is who they have been for always
These are my days
This is how they stay
These are my friends
This is who they remain forever
This is how we stay
The song "Yellow Cat Red Cat" by Say Anything explores the theme of acceptance through a series of vignettes. The first verse sets the scene of two cats fighting, and the singer's reluctance to intervene because he understands that "a cat is just a cat." This represents the idea that sometimes people choose to allow conflict to occur without interference, knowing that sometimes it's best to let things resolve themselves. The second verse features the singer's cousin who spends his time mocking hip hop videos on MTV. He finds solace in this routine, and the singer recognizes that this is how he has coped with life for years. The third verse depicts a man at a coffee shop, creating and crumpling up his work, disconnected from the world around him. The fourth and final verse features the singer observing a neighbor's son playing with a shotgun in the street, while he sits in his house, smokes weed, and eats food. The chorus reminds us that despite our differences, these people are the singer's friends and this is how they have always remained.
Throughout the song, there is a theme of acceptance for those around us, even when that means accepting their flaws and quirks. At the same time, there is a subtle discomfort with this acceptance, with the singer questioning whether he is truly okay with every aspect of his friends' lives. This highlights the fact that acceptance can be messy and complicated, and it is never as simple as just accepting everything at face value.
Line by Line Meaning
I watch my yellow cat
I observe my yellow cat
Invade my red cat in the yard
Enter the space of my red cat outside
The feline war has raged for years
A long-lasting conflict between cats has occurred
So I assume it'd be too hard
I believe it would be difficult
For me to drive my foot between them
I shouldn't intervene to separate them
I would never risk the scratch
I'm unwilling to get physically hurt
Just to prove to one or both of them
To demonstrate a point to either cat
A cat is just a cat
They are ordinary creatures
Again, I watch my cousin greg
Once more, I observe my relative named Greg
Watch mtv inside his home
He views music television from his residence
He makes fun of the hip hop videos
He ridicules the hip hop music videos
From the couch he rides alone
He sits solo on the sofa
Snug in the cushion of his cackling
Comfortably laughing in the couch's softness
He forgets his living doubts
He ignores his existential uncertainties
He has relied on this for years
He has depended on it for an extended period
You will not yank the carpet out
You won't disrupt his habits
These are my friends
These people are my acquaintances
This is who they have been for always
They've been this way since I met them
These are my days
This is how I spend my time
This is how they stay
This is their routine
I watch this dude
I observe this man
Each night, same table
He sits at the same table every night
He creates and crumples up
He writes and destroys his work
His eyes are wide from sipping endlessly
Drinking coffee, his eyes are dilated
His endless coffee cup
His mug that is never empty
He feeds me quotes
He shares sayings with me
That lonely goat
Himself, the isolated animal
I watch him grazing by himself
I see him indulging alone
I will not stop him when he rambles
I let him babble without interjecting
I'm becoming one myself
I'm turning into him
Lou is bugged
Lou is agitated
Shot up with drugs
He has used narcotics
He sweats this bird he hardly knows
He's anxious about someone he barely met
All that he wants is to see someone
His desire is to meet someone
He respects without their clothes
He admires them without clothing
So like some hybrid mother/lover
A combination of a maternal and romantic figure
She'd soothe and heal his wounds
She'd calm and cure his emotional injuries
And kiss those dying ears so softly
She'd gently kiss his struggling ears
That the reaper stops to swoon
Even death would be enamored with her affection
Oh please
Used to express disbelief or disagreement
I watch my neighbor's son
I observe the child next door
Play with his shotgun in the street
He uses his firearm to play outside
I think I'll blaze all day
I plan to smoke marijuana excessively
And marvel at the massive food I eat
I'm amazed by how much I can consume
It's strange, I'm skinny when I'm standing
When upright, I appear thin
But I'm buddha when I sit
When I'm seated, I seem bigger
And if I'm truly so enlightened
If I'm really so wise
Why'd I waste your time on it
Why did I use your time on this topic
As I look back at countless crossroads
Reflecting on many moments of decision
And the middle where I stay
I'm in a state of indecision
Right up the beaten path to boredom
Going through a predictable and dull route
Where the fakest fucks get laid
Where dishonest people succeed romantically
By the faux-finest finds
With insincere people of mediocre quality
It's been that way
It's been like that for a while
God damn you, how you stay
Damn you, why do you persist
With every scummy, crummy hour
During every wretched, awful moment
Of the scummy, crummy day
Of the disgusting, dreadful day
These are my friends
These people are my acquaintances
This is who they have been for always
They've been this way since I met them
These are my days
This is how I spend my time
This is how they stay
This is their routine
These are my friends
These people are my acquaintances
This is who they remain forever
They'll be the same for eternity
This is how we stay
This is the way we remain
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MAX BEMIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rip Van WInkle
"I watch this dude
each night, same table
creates and crumples up.
his eyes are wide from sipping endlessly,
his endless coffee cup.
He feeds me quotes,
that lonely goat,
I watch him grazing by himself
I will not stop him when he rambles,
I'm becoming one myself."
Shit man. Shit...
Anushka
I watch my yellow cat
Invade my red cat in the yard
The feline war has raged for years
So I assume it'd be too hard
For me to drive my foot between them
I would never risk the scratch
Just to prove to one or both of them
A cat is just a cat
Again, I watch my cousin greg
Watch mtv inside his home
He makes fun of the hip hop videos
From the couch he rides alone
Snug in the cushion of his cackling
He forgets his living doubts
He has relied on this for years
You will not yank the carpet out
These are my friends
This is who they have been for always
These are my days
This is how they stay
I watch this dude
Each night, same table
He creates and crumples up
His eyes are wide from sipping endlessly
His endless coffee cup
He feeds me quotes
That lonely goat
I watch him grazing by himself
I will not stop him when he rambles
I'm becoming one myself
Lou is bugged
Shot up with drugs
He sweats this bird he hardly knows
All that he wants is to see someone
He respects without their clothes
So like some hybrid mother/lover
She'd soothe and heal his wounds
And kiss those dying ears so softly
That the reaper stops to swoon
Oh please
These are my friends
This is who they have been for always
These are my days
This is how they stay
These are my friends
This is who they remain forever
This is how we stay
I watch my neighbor's son
Play with his shotgun in the street
I think I'll blaze all day
And marvel at the massive food I eat
It's strange, I'm skinny when I'm standing
But I'm buddha when I sit
And if I'm truly so enlightened
Why'd I waste your time on it
As I look back at countless crossroads
And the middle where I stay
Right up the beaten path to boredom
Where the fakest fucks get laid
By the faux-finest finds
It's been that way
God damn you, how you stay
With every scummy, crummy hour
Of the scummy, crummy day
These are my friends
This is who they have been for always
These are my days
This is how they stay
These are my friends
This is who they remain forever
This is how we stay
Haunted Harmonics
Juvenile, crass, and absolutely gorgeous. This band didn’t get enough shine. They were leagues above all of their contemporaries man
Draw your name show
Red cat/ yellow cat - talking about how the Nazis and Russians split Poland. Lol you’ll notice a lot of the Jewish references in this album. - but yep lol look Ukraine is yellow and so is Russia in there current wars , both socialist country’s. One a Dem socialist sovereign nation , and the other one a socialist republic - funny how these things come to fruition
Hugh Mann
@Draw your name show my man just said Russia is socialist. You know where the PEOPLE have the most power not the government. 🤣🤣🤣 You can style yourself anything you want doesn't make it true. 🤣🤣🤣 Next he is going to talk about the freedoms of the "people's republic of china" 🤣🤣
Prison Mike
Perfect description- but for me at least, I thought they got plenty of love, especially where I grew up. They were huge up in boston- sold out a show with northstar and hot rod circuit but had to check in for mental health..next show also sold out and they seemed to hit that sweetspot between notoriety and 'sell-out'..the goldilock zone for the "scene" kids..like early Nov did. But I get what you're saying. We booked trophy scars a couple times around here and they had a giant following, just not across the country..not more than the east coast I'd say- his lyrics are also amazing
Cody Slone
@Hugh Mannmans never been to Russia. Or America for that matter
John Kendall
This song has so many memorable little lyrical snippets. "It's strange; I'm skinny when I'm standing, but I'm Buddha when I sit" is probably one of my favorites. I eventually memorized this song simply because of all the little things that stood out even though it was originally one of my least favorite songs on the album (I didn't hate it, just liked others more).
Rip Van WInkle
"I watch this dude
each night, same table
creates and crumples up.
his eyes are wide from sipping endlessly,
his endless coffee cup.
He feeds me quotes,
that lonely goat,
I watch him grazing by himself
I will not stop him when he rambles,
I'm becoming one myself."
Shit man. Shit...
Alyssa Moss
My best friend told me this is his favorite song. Just lost him last night and listening to this in honor of him. Rest easy Jon.
Tim Schmidt
I know it's kind of late to say this, but I'm sorry to hear about your loss, Alyssa.
Austin Essick
Jon was awesome i loved him like a brother.