Set It Off has experimented with a variety of genres, beginning with pop-punk within their early years and then adding R&B elements within their album Duality, in 2014. Carson has stated online that the band was influenced by Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco, Green Day and Blink-182 in the earliest years of the band. Set It Off introduced more influences; including hip-hop and emo within 2019's Midnight. However, in 2023, the band have returned to their pop-punk roots, through singles including 'Punching Bag', 'Win Win' and 'Evil People'.
The band have released five studio albums including Cinematics (2012), Duality (2014), Upside Down (2016), Midnight (2019) and Elsewhere (2022). They have also appeared in 'Punk Goes' through various covers including 'This Christmas (I'll Burn It to the Ground)' and 'Problem'.
I'd Rather Drown
Set It Off Lyrics
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So please come in and take a seat
Here's the part where I learn and you will teach
On how to treat people like a piece of meat
I want a genuine, not a replica
Lethal medicine, a pin to the cornea
A sight for sore eyes
No doors exist in my fortress
The only entrance is the one I bear
You're nothing more than a temptress
I fell victim to a heartless stare
Burn the bitch down
I never will cross that bridge again
I cannot trust you easily
Or think that I'm the only one
I never let people in
And I have you to remind me why
So baby, burn the bitch down
I never will cross that bridge again
I'd rather drown
I'm the master of construction
Because I'm building walls like it's my occupation
If you portray a liar
I'll shut you out without hesitation
It's an art form of consummate skill (consummate skill)
Of how she plays them like the pawn
Making boys drool at her will
Like Pavlov to the dogs
No doors exist in my fortress
The only entrance is the one I bear
You're nothing more than a temptress
I fell victim to a heartless state
Burn the bitch down
I never will cross that bridge again
I cannot trust you easily
Or think that I'm the only one
I never let people in
And I have you to remind me why
So baby, burn the bitch down
I never will cross that bridge again
I'd rather, I'd rather, I'd rather
Fail me, slit my throat so lightly
Pick me up and drop me right into my grave
And now I wonder, sit alone and ponder
Should I even bother when I see your face?
The itch I couldn't scratch
But I come crawling back but no
I'd much rather, rather, rather, rather, rather, rather (Sing it boys)
I'd rather burn the bitch down
I never will cross that bridge again
I cannot trust you easily
Or think that I'm the only one
I never let people in
And I have you to remind me why
So baby, burn the bitch down
I never will cross that bridge again
Go ahead and burn the bitch down
I never will cross that bridge again
I cannot trust you easily
Or think that I'm the only one
I never let people in
And I have you to remind me why
So baby, burn the bitch down
I never will cross that bridge again
I'd rather drown
The song "I'd Rather Drown" by Set It Off speaks to the struggle of trusting others as a result of being mistreated in the past. The first verse is a confrontation with someone who has treated the singer poorly, and the singer is asking them to teach them how to be so callous and unkind to others. The second verse is the singer proclaiming that they want someone genuine and authentic, not a copy or a lie, but someone who is truly good for them. However, they know that eventually, the person will betray them, and they will be left to build walls around themselves again. The chorus calls for the burning down of bridges and never crossing them again as a symbol of the singer's mistrust of others.
The final verse shows the singer contemplating the possibility of forgiveness and wondering if it's worth it to let someone back in, knowing they will most likely hurt them again, leading to the repetition of the chorus. The song ends with the singer declaring that, ultimately, they would rather drown than let someone in who will hurt them.
Overall, the lyrics showcase the singer's pain and distrust resulting from prior heartbreak and betrayal. The repeated call for burning bridges and never crossing them again emphasizes the depth of their hurt and desire to protect themselves from future pain.
Line by Line Meaning
Thanks for treating me like every boy you meet
I appreciate you treating me the same way you treat every other boy you come across
So please come in and take a seat
Now that you're here, please take a seat
Here's the part where I learn and you will teach
This is the part where I learn from you
On how to treat people like a piece of meat
Specifically how to treat people like objects rather than living beings
I want a genuine, not a replica
I want something real, not a fake imitation
Lethal medicine, a pin to the cornea
Something that can cause harm or take someone down, like a stab in the eye
A sight for sore eyes
Someone who is pleasant to look at
While other guys consume the lie, I'll run and hide
While other guys fall for the deception, I'll avoid it completely
No doors exist in my fortress
No external doors are present in the place where I protect myself
The only entrance is the one I bear
I'm the only one who can let anyone in
You're nothing more than a temptress
You are simply trying to lure me in
I fell victim to a heartless stare
I was caught off guard by a cold, unfeeling expression
Burn the bitch down
Destroy everything associated with this situation
I never will cross that bridge again
I will never go through that same situation again
I cannot trust you easily
I struggle to trust you easily
Or think that I'm the only one
Or believe that I am the only person you are interested in
I never let people in
I rarely allow people to get close to me
And I have you to remind me why
You serve as a reminder of why I am so guarded
Fail me, slit my throat so lightly
Even if someone were to deceive me or hurt me, it wouldn't be enough to really damage me
Pick me up and drop me right into my grave
I would rather die than go through another bad situation
And now I wonder, sit alone and ponder
Now, I sit alone and think about what is happening
Should I even bother when I see your face?
Is it even worth engaging with you when I see you?
The itch I couldn't scratch
The persistent desire or craving that I could never satisfy
But I come crawling back but no
Even though I have this desire, I won't give into it
I'd much rather burn the bitch down
I would prefer to destroy everything associated with this situation
Go ahead and burn the bitch down
Feel free to destroy everything associated with this situation
I'd rather drown
I would prefer to die than go through another bad situation
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Cody Carson, Brandon Hall Paddock
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind