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'.
Swan Song
Set It Off Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You cut to the bone
Pick up the phone
To hear my swan song
I'll admit I'm impressed
By your vanishing act
Place your bets on your best guess
Draw the curtains
Take the stage
Smoke and mirrors underway
Hold your breath here comes the turn
This is where we all got burned
Promises are broken
Tell me are you happy now
Drowning in the hourglass
I guess our time ran out
You don't even bother anymore
You cut to the bone
Pick up the phone
To hear my swan song
You don't even bother anymore
You left me alone
I'm on my own
Tell me where we went wrong
Should I turn on the floodlights
To shine in your eyes
Just to get you to speak
And explain why you let it die
This new chapter in your life
Read it over once or twice
Burn the pages not the bridge
Sew your wounds without a stitch
Promises are broken
Tell me are you happy now
Drowning in the hourglass
I guess our time ran out
I hope you're listening
You don't even bother anymore
You cut to the bone
Pick up the phone
To hear my swan song
You don't even bother anymore
You left me alone
I'm on my own
Tell me where we went wrong
Tell me where we all went wrong
Tell me where, tell me where
Abandon the people who shaped who you are
Selfish and thoughtless, you drown in the dark
I hope that you realize the damage you've done
You could not see light even staring at the sun
Promises are broken
Tell me are you happy now
Drowning in the hourglass
I guess our time ran out
You don't even bother anymore
You cut to the bone
Pick up the phone
To hear my swan song
You don't even bother anymore
You left me alone
I'm on my own
Tell me where we went wrong
Tell me where we went wrong
Tell me where we went wrong
You don't even bother anymore.
The lyrics to Set It Off's song Swan Song express the emotions of a person who has been abandoned by someone they cared about deeply. The first verse conveys the sense of the singer's loneliness and the desperation to get in touch with the person who has hurt them. They mention the image of the swan song, which refers to the mythical song a swan sings just before it dies. The singer is aware that their relationship is dying, and they need to express their feelings to the other person before it is too late. The second verse reveals a sense of confusion and betrayal. The singer feels like they've been played and taken for granted. They wonder when the other person will come back and question whether they will return at all. Ultimately, the song is a plea for the other person to recognize the damage they've done while asking them to take responsibility for their actions.
The third verse offers a set of suggestions the singer poses as alternatives to the current situation. They offer options to try and fix what has gone wrong in the relationship. While some preparations like turning on the floodlights might be considered drastic, they show the singer's readiness to try anything to save the relationship. But ultimately, all these options fail, and the singer concludes that it is time to move on. They come to this conclusion after realizing that their partner has abandoned them leaving them alone to deal with the aftermath of the relationship.
Overall, the song's emphasis is on the end of the relationship and the pain of being left by someone you thought you could trust. The song is a mix of emotions ranging from desperation, confusion and even anger towards the other person for abandoning them.
Line by Line Meaning
You don't even bother anymore
You have stopped making an effort in our relationship.
You cut to the bone
Your actions have hurt me deeply.
Pick up the phone
To hear my swan song
You are only interested in hearing my sadness and pain.
I'll admit I'm impressed
By your vanishing act
I am surprised by how swiftly and completely you have disappeared from my life.
Place your bets on your best guess
Of when you're coming back
No one knows when or if you will return.
Draw the curtains
Take the stage
Smoke and mirrors underway
Hold your breath here comes the turn
This is where we all got burned
You used deception and trickery to hurt and disappoint us.
Promises are broken
Tell me are you happy now
Drowning in the hourglass
I guess our time ran out
You have broken your promises, and our time together is now over. Are you satisfied with this outcome?
You left me alone
I'm on my own
Tell me where we went wrong
You abandoned me, and now I am left to deal with the aftermath. Please explain what caused our relationship to fail.
Should I turn on the floodlights
To shine in your eyes
Just to get you to speak
And explain why you let it die
I am desperate to hear from you and understand why you allowed our relationship to end.
This new chapter in your life
Read it over once or twice
Burn the pages not the bridge
Sew your wounds without a stitch
You are starting a new phase of your life, but don't forget the lessons of the past. Do not burn any bridges, and heal your emotional wounds without harming others.
Tell me where we all went wrong
I am seeking answers for what led to the end of our relationship.
Abandon the people who shaped who you are
Selfish and thoughtless, you drown in the dark
I hope that you realize the damage you've done
You could not see light even staring at the sun
Your selfish and inconsiderate behavior is harming those who helped you become who you are. You are blinded by your own darkness and cannot see the harm you are causing.
I hope you're listening
I hope you are paying attention to my words and feelings.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Austin Kerr, Cody Carson, Dan Claremont, Erik Ron, Max Danzinger, Zach Dewall
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Robin The Wendigo
You don't even bother anymore
You cut to the bone
Pick up the phone
To hear my swan song
I'll admit I'm impressed
By your vanishing act
Place your bets on your best guess
Of when you're coming back
Draw the curtains
Take the stage
Smoke and mirrors underway
Hold your breath here comes the turn
This is where we all got burned
Promises are broken
Tell me are you happy now
Drowning in the hourglass
I guess our time ran out
You don't even bother anymore
You cut to the bone
Pick up the phone
To hear my swan song
You don't even bother anymore
You left me alone
I'm on my own
Tell me where we went wrong
Should I turn on the floodlights
To shine in your eyes
Just to get you to speak
And explain why you let it die
This new chapter in your life
Read it over once or twice
Burn the pages not the bridge
Sew your wounds without a stitch
Promises are broken
Tell me are you happy now
Drowning in the hourglass
I guess our time ran out
I hope you're listening
You don't even bother anymore
You cut to the bone
Pick up the phone
To hear my swan song
You don't even bother anymore
You left me alone
I'm on my own
Tell me where we went wrong
Tell me where we all went wrong
Tell me where, tell me where
Abandon the people who shaped who you are
Selfish and thoughtless, you drown in the dark
I hope that you realize the damage you've done
You could not see light even staring at the sun
Promises are broken
Tell me are you happy now
Drowning in the hourglass
I guess our time ran out
You don't even bother anymore
You cut to the bone
Pick up the phone
To hear my swan song
You don't even bother anymore
You left me alone
I'm on my own
Tell me where we went wrong
Tell me where we went wrong
Tell me where we went wrong
You don't even bother anymore.
SET IT OFF NEEDS MORE ATTENTION
When I was a young boy
My father took me into the city
To see a marching band
He said, "Son, when you grow up
Would you be the savior of the broken
The beaten and the damned?"
He said, "Will you defeat them
Your demons, and all the non-believers
The plans that they have made?"
"Because one day I'll leave you
A phantom to lead you in the summer
To join the red parade."
Kyle Farsing
I feel like this band doesn't get the attention they deserve. Every. Single. Song is perfect. It's probably the label not giving them enough attention. Damn... It's a shame
DarKnight7
You're Goddamn right !
Dustox4
I love these guys :) one of my favourite bands and they deserve more recognition :( xxx
Jasmine Leigh
I agree 100%. They are a perfect band and people don't seem to get that.
Scarlette Artist
Tell me about it, like why worry shouldve been #1 worldwide, it was absolutly brilliant and amazing.
D4WGO
All my favorite bands had a baby.
They named it Set it Off
edit: 4 years later and i still get replies on this haha! It just goes to show how strong of a force music is :DD
Angge Gutierrez
Is Hollywood Undead and My Chemical Romance there?
D4WGO
Angge Gutierrez YES.
Angge Gutierrez
:D
Random Fangirl
+saChiKo UsawaI love Hollywood Undead and My Chemical Romance! Can you be my sister?!?!