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.
You're the Wanker If Anyone Is
Say Anything Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You fugly brat! ('fraidy cat!)
Who ever thought shit could shine like that?
So glad you stabbed my back
(The blade when I turned my back)
Go away!
I'm through with you and all the games you put me through
You're old and slow, I'm fast and new
Go away!
I'm through with you
Your eyes, they convey all I despise with one glazed glance in my direction
Go grow some balls!
I'm think of you when your momma calls in just her under-alls
I'll photograph your decent, your fall
When you bitch, and beg and crawl
Go away!
I'm through with you and all the games you put me through
Don't you tell me what to do!
Go away!
I'm through with you
Please, just leave you mean nothing more than nothing now to me
Please, just leave you mean nothing more, you mean nothing to me
The lyrics to Say Anything's song "You're The Wanker If Anyone Is" are directed towards an ex-partner who was emotionally manipulative and hurtful to the singer. The opening lines "With you out of my life skies are blue and love is real and true" show that the singer is relieved to be out of the toxic relationship and that the world seems much better without their ex in it. However, the tone quickly switches to anger and bitterness as the singer calls their ex a "fugly brat" and mocks their cowardice by calling them a "fraidy cat". The line "Who ever thought shit could shine like that?" is a way of saying that their ex was a terrible person, but somehow managed to make themselves look good, possibly through deception or manipulation.
Throughout the song, the singer confronts their ex's behavior and refuses to be a victim any longer. The line "I'm through with you and all the games you put me through" shows that the singer has had enough of their ex's manipulations and is ready to move on. The lyrics "Your eyes, they convey all I despise with one glazed glance in my direction" suggest that the ex's behavior is so ingrained in their personality that it can be seen in a simple look. The song ends with the singer telling their ex to leave and that they mean nothing to them anymore.
Overall, "You're The Wanker If Anyone Is" is about the singer taking control of their life and refusing to let their ex manipulate them any longer. It's a powerful and angry breakup song that encapsulates the emotions felt when leaving a toxic relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
With you out of my life skies are blue and love is real and true
Without you in my life, everything is brighter and love feels genuine
You fugly brat! ('fraidy cat!)
Insulting and mocking you for being unattractive and cowardly
Who ever thought shit could shine like that?
Surprised at how much better life is without you
So glad you stabbed my back
Being sarcastic about how happy they are that the other person betrayed them
(The blade when I turned my back)
Hinting that the betrayal caught them off guard
Go away!
Demanding that the other person leave them alone
I'm through with you and all the games you put me through
Expressing a sense of finality and being done with the other person's manipulations
You're old and slow, I'm fast and new
Belittling the other person by comparing them unfavorably to oneself
Don't you tell me what to do!
Pushing back on the other person's attempt to control them
Your eyes, they convey all I despise with one glazed glance in my direction
Feeling disgusted by the other person's behavior and attitude
Go grow some balls!
Mocking the other person's lack of courage
I'm think of you when your momma calls in just her under-alls
Making a crude joke implying that they don't care about the other person
I'll photograph your decent, your fall
Threatening to document the other person's downfall and humiliation
When you bitch, and beg and crawl
Imagining the other person groveling for forgiveness
Please, just leave you mean nothing more than nothing now to me
Begging the other person to go away because they are completely insignificant
Please, just leave you mean nothing more, you mean nothing to me
Repeating that the other person is meaningless and should leave
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MAX BEMIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind