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'.
bad guy
Set It Off Lyrics
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Ignore the lights til I'm on your side
Because when you take this out on me my weakness
We are the heart of kryptonite
I stole the moon
I made the stars align
And I showed you how to fly
You paint the scene, with the colors of an enemy
All over me, and for your friends to see
I'll do just what you said
And now I'm hanging by my feet
Out of sight and out of reach
I stole the moon
I made the stars align
I showed you how to fly
And you made me the bad guy
I fought for you
I kept you safe at night
I would have risked my life
And you made me the bad guy
You made me the bad guy
You made me the bad guy
Yeah, you made me the bad guy
Guess I forgot, guess I forgot
What's lost is found, what's lost is found
It's so hard to see
Just show me how, just show me how the... with me
And I stole the moon
I made the stars align
I showed you how to fly
And you made me the bad guy
When I fought for you
I kept you safe at night
I would have risked my life
And you made me the bad guy
The lyrics of Set It Off's "Bad Guy" seem to express frustration from the point of view of someone who was once the hero in a relationship, but is now seen as the villain. The first verse implies reckless behavior, as the singer is speeding and ignoring the lights. They seem to be addressing their partner with lines such as "when you take this out on me my weakness" which suggest that their partner knows how to push their buttons, and is perhaps treating them badly. The line "we are the heart of kryptonite" may refer to how their relationship is mutually destroying them, like the fictional character Superman's weakness being kryptonite.
The second verse suggests that the relationship has now become toxic, with the partner painting them as an enemy and turning their friends against them. The line "I'll do just what you said, and now I'm hanging by my feet, out of sight and out of reach" could imply that they feel trapped and manipulated by their partner. The chorus seems to be the singer pleading their case, saying that they have done their best to be a good partner, yet their efforts were met with negativity, and as a result, they are being seen as the "bad guy".
Overall, the song seems to be an emotional lament for a relationship that has gone wrong. It portrays the frustration and sadness of being unfairly blamed for the troubles of a relationship, despite trying one's best to be a good partner.
Line by Line Meaning
I spend the night, yeah, doing ninety in a fifty five
I drove recklessly fast all night long.
Ignore the lights til I'm on your side
I ignored the traffic lights until I reached you.
Because when you take this out on me my weakness
When you blame me for your problems, it hurts me deeply.
We are the heart of kryptonite
Together, we are each other's weakness.
I stole the moon
I did something incredibly difficult or impossible.
I made the stars align
I made everything come together perfectly.
And I showed you how to fly
I helped you accomplish something great.
And you made me the bad guy
You blamed me for your own shortcomings or mistakes.
You paint the scene, with the colors of an enemy
You portray me as someone who is against you.
All over me, and for your friends to see
You publicly shame me in front of your friends.
I'll do just what you said
I followed your instructions to the letter.
And now I'm hanging by my feet
I am in a vulnerable or dangerous position because of you.
Out of sight and out of reach
I feel isolated and alone because of you.
I fought for you
I defended or protected you from harm.
I kept you safe at night
I made sure you were secure and protected during dark times.
I would have risked my life
I was willing to put myself in harm's way for you.
Guess I forgot, guess I forgot
I made a mistake or overlooked something important.
What's lost is found, what's lost is found
We have reconciled after a difficult period.
It's so hard to see
We were blinded to what was really happening.
Just show me how, just show me how the... with me
Please teach me how to fix our relationship.
You made me the bad guy
You unfairly blamed me for everything that went wrong.
Contributed by Evelyn W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.