After the breakup of Trip Shakespeare, Dan Wilson and John Munson joined up with drummer Jacob "Jake" Slichter to form Semisonic in 1995. An E.P., Pleasure, was released that year, and their first studio full-length release, Great Divide, followed in 1996 on MCA. Although they drew a cult following among 90s powerpop fans, mainstream success eluded the group.
Semisonic's breakthrough came two years later in 1998 when their sophomore effort, Feeling Strangely Fine, reached the Top 50 chart on the strength of the hit single "Closing Time". Their international career also blossomed when another song from the album, "Secret Smile," quickly became a U.K. radio favourite in the summer of 1999, eventually peaking at #13 on the official U.K. Singles Chart.
In early 2001, the band released its third album, All About Chemistry. The single "Chemistry" was a mainstay overseas; however, the album didn't fare as well in the United States. Another song, "Over My Head," was used in the 2001 teen movie Summer Catch, and Semisonic rode the wave of various tours in and around the U.K. In the fall of 2001, Semisonic contributed their cover of the Wings classic, "Jet," for the Paul McCartney tribute CD, Listen to What the Man Said.
Semisonic has been mostly on hiatus since 2001. Band members have since pursued other projects, such as Slichter's writing career and Wilson's solo recordings They performed for the first time in years on July 14, 2006 for the Minneapolis Aquatennial. They have also been spotted performing for private parties in basements. Dan Wilson's talented songwriting has lead to massively popular collaborations with Adele and other artists.
* The song "F.N.T." was used in the 1996 movie The Long Kiss Goodnight.
* "F.N.T." was also used in the 1999 movie 10 Things I Hate about You.
* "Never You Mind" appeared on the Never Been Kissed soundtrack in 1999.
* "Chemistry" appeared on the 40 Days and 40 Nights soundtrack in 2002.
Get A Grip
Semisonic Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Here at the end of the lonely world
You're finding out
If there's someone to cry about
Lonely girls and you lonely boys
Playing alone with your lonely toys
Well don't be blue
Get a grip on yourself you know you should
I got a grip on myself and it feels good
Get a grip on yourself take my advice
I got a grip on myself and it feels nice
When the lights come on and the party's through
There are always a few with nobody to do
Well now don't despair
You'll eventually get there
And meanwhile all of you lonely ones
Here's what to do while you wait for the sun
To rise above
The loneliest kind of love
Get a grip on yourself you know you should
I got a grip on myself and it feels good
Get a grip on yourself take my advice
I got a grip on myself and it feels nice
And it feels nice
And it feels nice 4x
If you're looking for someone to get a grip on you
First you gotta get a grip on yourself it's true
The lyrics of Semisonic's song "Get A Grip" are about loneliness and the struggle to find connection with others. The song speaks to lonely boys and girls, who are finding out whether or not there is someone they care about enough to cry over. The loneliness is portrayed through the image of playing alone with toys, and the sense of desperation as the lights come on and the party ends. However, the song offers a solution to this problem: getting a grip on oneself. The lyrics suggest that to find someone to connect with, one must first learn to take control of one's own life and emotions. The song encourages listeners to adopt a positive attitude and outlook on life, and reminds them that eventually they will find someone to connect with.
One of the interesting facts about the song "Get A Grip" is that it was released in 1993, but didn't become popular until 1998 when it was re-released on Semisonic's album "Feeling Strangely Fine." The song was then featured prominently in the soundtrack of the teen comedy "Can't Hardly Wait," and became a hit in the summer of 1999. Another interesting fact about the song is that it was written by Dan Wilson, who also wrote songs for artists such as Adele, Taylor Swift, and Weezer. Wilson has said that the song was inspired by his own experiences with loneliness, and the struggles he faced in trying to connect with others.
The chords for "Get A Grip" are as follows (in standard tuning):
Verse: G, D, Am, C
Chorus: G, D, Am, C
Overall, the lyrics of "Get A Grip" offer a message of hope to those struggling with loneliness, and encourage listeners to take control of their own lives and emotions in order to find connection with others. The song's popularity and enduring appeal are a testament to the universality of its message, and its ability to speak to listeners across generations.
Line by Line Meaning
Lonely boys and you lonely girls
Addressing the audience as lonely individuals
Here at the end of the lonely world
Implying that the world appears lonely
You're finding out
Realizing what the world has to offer
If there's someone to cry about
An uncertain hope of finding someone to love
Playing alone with your lonely toys
Describing how people are left with nothing but their own company
Well don't be blue
Encouraging the audience to not be sad
If there's no one to play with you
Accepting that the world can be limited in social opportunities
Get a grip on yourself you know you should
Advising to take control of own emotions
I got a grip on myself and it feels good
An assurance of self-satisfaction when one takes control of emotions
Get a grip on yourself take my advice
Reiterating the suggestion to take charge of emotions
When the lights come on and the party's through
Describing a common experience of social gatherings coming to an end
There are always a few with nobody to do
Indicating that despite being together, some can still be alone
Well now don't despair
Encouraging to stay hopeful
You'll eventually get there
Suggesting that happiness can still be achieved despite lonesomeness
Meanwhile all of you lonely ones
Addressing people who feel alone
Here's what to do while you wait for the sun
Suggesting activities to lessen the loneliness
To rise above
To overcome the feeling of lonesomeness
The loneliest kind of love
Emphasizing the difficulty of finding love while feeling alone
If you're looking for someone to get a grip on you
If looking for love and affection from someone else
First you gotta get a grip on yourself it's true
One must be in control of their own emotions before seeking love from others
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: DAN WILSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
yo mama
on F.N.T.
wow i cant stop listening to this