Set Your Goals released their first EP, Set Your Goals, on Straight On Records in May 2004. After signing with Eulogy Recordings, they re-released the EP under the name Reset on April 11, 2006 with vinyl released by Panic Records. Their first full length album, Mutiny was released on July 11, 2006. Set Your Goals released an acoustic version of their track Echoes on the Punk Goes Acoustic 2 compilation.
A cover of The Police's Message in a Bottle can be found on their MySpace and a cover of Lil' Jon's Put Yo Hood Up can be found on Punk Goes Crunk, released on Fearless records. In May 2008, they released a new song called The Fallen.
Set Your Goals performed as the backing band for Vinnie Caruana for a select number of The Movielife shows in the US and UK.
Set Your Goals reached a buy-out agreement with Eulogy Recordings in August of 2008. The band parted on bad terms, with co-vocalist Jordan Brown issuing the following statement on AbsolutePunk.net:
"These were not sent as bragging rights. Please do not buy Eulogy records, do not buy Set Your Goals merch from Eulogy's e-store. John has made an untraceable amount of money off of SYG's music and will continue to do so. We have never seen a dime. I have always said from day one that i don't do any of this for money, and i do not. But it does not sit well with me the amount of money he has kept from us (and many other bands). I could care less [sic] about seeing any of that money for myself, but i would rather it be with somebody or another band who deserves it more than John Wylie does. We cannot regain control of our Mutiny cd; the reset songs we will get back in another 3 years. For now he continues to milk Set Your Goals for what he can."
Following the previous statement, co-vocalist Matt Wilson hinted that their upcoming album may be self-released. However, in March 2009, the band announced their signing with Epitaph Records. Their second album, This Will Be the Death of Us, was released on July 21, 2009.
http://www.myspace.com/setyourgoals.
An Old Book Misread
Set Your Goals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With ignorance from past generations.
How many times and with how many rhymes?
How many twisted endings for you, for you to realize?
It's not for you to say what every heart should pay.
Another body and soul that isn't your own.
Get off my back, this was never salvation for me.
So, keep it away.
I don't feel a thing, can't make believe I do.
It's something I don't need.
It's something that you do and I respect you.
Turning that page, turning that page in an old book misread.
Twenty something rows back, now offer up your souls
At the drop of a single white robe.
All things foretold but, do you really know what?
Mans worst creation has got you, you in its hold.
I refuse to stand, I refuse to stand for organized crime.
Organized crime comes in more forms than one,
And your god is no exception.
I don't feel a thing, can't make believe I do.
It's something I don't need.
It's something that you do, and I respect you.
Turning that page, turning that page in an old book misread.
If I'm not being clear this right here is about
My disgust with the way I was almost brought up.
I'm taking it back, my piece of mind.
We'll leave it at that.
In '83 a lamb was led for many years until it's head began to swell.
It did explode with reasons to think on it's, to think on it's own.
I don't feel a thing, can't make believe I do.
It's something I don't need.
It's something that you do, I respect you.
Turning that page on an old book misread.
I don't feel a thing, can't make believe I do.
It's something I don't need.
It's something that you do, and I respect you.
Turning that page, turning that page in an old book misread.
An old book misread.
The lyrics of Set Your Goals's song "An Old Book Misread" touch on themes of religion and spirituality, challenging the idea that there is only one true path to enlightenment. The song speaks to the frustration of being told what to believe and how to live by past generations and organized religion, and the feeling of freedom that comes with breaking away from those constraints.
The first verse speaks to the way false hope and ignorance have been handed down through the generations, leading to twisted endings and a lack of realization. The lyrics assert that it is not up to any one person to dictate what others should pay, and that everyone has their own body and soul to answer for. The singer rejects the idea that salvation can be found in someone else's beliefs or teachings and demands that they be left alone to find their own way.
The second verse takes aim at organized religion and the way it can control and manipulate people. The lyrics suggest that people are led to offer up their souls blindly, without truly understanding what they are getting themselves into. The singer refuses to stand for what they see as organized crime, which can come in many forms, including religion. The final lines of the song suggest a personal transformation, as the singer takes back their piece of mind and turns the page on an old book misread.
Line by Line Meaning
False hope handed down, spun all around,
Misleading beliefs passed from generation to generation.
With ignorance from past generations.
The ignorance and lack of knowledge of previous generations.
How many times and with how many rhymes?
How many times must we be tricked and how many different ways?
How many twisted endings for you, for you to realize?
How many negative outcomes must occur for you to understand?
It's not for you to say what every heart should pay.
You cannot dictate what every person should believe or follow.
Another body and soul that isn't your own.
Another person's life and soul that you cannot control.
Get off my back, this was never salvation for me.
Stop trying to force your beliefs onto me, it will not save me.
So, keep it away.
Leave me alone and keep your beliefs to yourself.
I don't feel a thing, can't make believe I do.
I cannot force myself to believe something I do not feel.
It's something I don't need.
These beliefs are not necessary for me to live my life.
It's something that you do and I respect you.
I acknowledge that these beliefs are important to you and I respect that.
Turning that page, turning that page in an old book misread.
Moving forward and rejecting outdated and false beliefs.
Twenty something rows back, now offer up your souls
Many generations ago, people were willing to give up their freedom for their beliefs.
At the drop of a single white robe.
They were easily swayed by religious figures or symbolism.
All things foretold but, do you really know what?
Many things were predicted or prophesied, but do we really understand them?
Mans worst creation has got you, you in its hold.
Religion, which was created by man, has a strong hold on people.
I refuse to stand, I refuse to stand for organized crime.
Rejecting the harmful and manipulative aspects of organized religion.
Organized crime comes in more forms than one,
Manipulation and harm can come in many different forms.
And your god is no exception.
Religious figures and beliefs can also be used to manipulate and harm people.
If I'm not being clear this right here is about
This song is about my frustration with the way I almost grew up.
My disgust with the way I was almost brought up.
Feeling disgusted about being close to following harmful beliefs.
I'm taking it back, my piece of mind.
Taking control and finding my own beliefs.
We'll leave it at that.
That is all I want to say on the matter.
In '83 a lamb was led for many years until it's head began to swell.
Using a metaphor to describe blindly following beliefs until it causes harm.
It did explode with reasons to think on it's, to think on it's own.
After experiencing harm, questioning and finding one's own beliefs.
Turning that page on an old book misread.
Rejecting outdated and false beliefs and finding new ones.
An old book misread.
The outdated and false beliefs that have been rejected.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Eden Boles
personally.... im a christian but i dont care what anyone believes.. i love this song so much <3 everyone can have their own opinion. some christians "hate" on athiests but bottom line is we cant force you to believ anything... believe what you want :)
Janoy Cresva
@Joeywolf1 I honestly wish I could go back and rephrase the way I've put this, and I'm damned tired of doing so. I agree with you, and I respect you for your view on us. I have a great respect for people who can be Christian, who hold such a high belief in something they can barely see. I personally have never had a burning bush experience and I've never felt God come into my life in any way. But you're exactly right, people on both sides of the debate are often wrong in their judgments. Props.
Janoy Cresva
This song has successful put into words what I've been trying to say my entire life. It seems us atheists are (for the most part) the better man(men) in this battle, because as the song says, "I respect you," whereas Christians would NEVER say they respect us. Thank you Set Your Goals, for basically summarizing why religion is such a fallacy.
Tyler Sautner
Lmao!
HyperHadoken
dudes, im catholic but not so extremely into it. I believe in god but i annoyed with the extremely religious people. but set your goals is just fucking amazing no matter what. =)
Nick Rochford
Just live your life the way YOU want to live it. Religion was created as a form of guidance to help live you life by. Its good to have different views and to share some as well. Most religious are unfortunetly Organized groups which could almost seem cult-like. Putting faith and love into a FICTIONAL book isnt what i want in life but it may be for others. SYG simply wants people to realize there are other ways to live your life without being biased or disrepectful to others beliefs.
Notorious P.I.G
Fair point good sir. But that's the beauty of music, open to interpretation. In saying that, I think you are right.
Jayson Barker
I refuse to stand for organized crime
paraguayaX303
Jayson Barker it comes in more forms than one!
Janoy Cresva
I'm actually from the northerneast. But it's pretty rare where I'm from to find a competent and intelligent person of the Christian faith. Around here, most commonly the older folks, people are so naive and ignorant to anyone elses belief but their own. It's good to see it's not the same everywhere.