Within the alternative world, Seven Mary Three have often been compared to … Read Full Bio ↴Within the alternative world, Seven Mary Three have often been compared to the mainstream-sounding, garage/arena rock of post-Ten Pearl Jam, but the group insists that their refusal to alienate themselves from the rest of the world makes them different. Instead, Seven Mary Three offer songs concerning self-discovery and true outsiders isolated from society. Based in Virginia (where the bandmates attended the College of William and Mary), Seven Mary Three signed to the Mammoth label after releasing a self-produced album, Churn, in 1994. The album -- particularly its gritty lead single, "Cumbersome" -- generated a healthy buzz in Florida, and radio stations in Orlando began devoting significant airtime to the band. Seven Mary Three relocated to the Orlando area and re-recorded their old songs, which were packaged alongside two new cuts to round out the band's proper debut, 1995's American Standard. With "Cumbersome" enjoying national success, the album went platinum and won the group a contract with Atlantic Records. Rock Crown followed in 1997, and a year later Seven Mary Three returned with their third LP, Orange Ave. Neither record enjoyed as much recognition as American Standard, but the band continued to release albums into the following decade, issuing The Economy of Sound in 2001 and Dis/Location three years later. Seven Mary Three signed with New York's Icon Records in late 2007, and the following year saw the release of their sixth effort, DAY&NIGHTDRIVING. Steve Huey, All Music Guide

Needle Can
Seven Mary Three Lyrics

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I don't want to spend the rest of my life
Starin' at a man, Looking down a line
What's he say? ot my style?
Just a stylized version of an obsolete file

I don't want to spend the rest of my time
Lookin' for the words I'm never going to find
You read them in a book and apply them to your life

But how can I be as pretty as she writes?

I know I'm all right. Because
The needle can't burn what the needle can't find

She don't want to spend the rest of her heart
Waste it on a job, and never get a start
Part of her says she should be herself
And part of her says she should be with someone else

I don't want to spend the rest of my life
Looking for a girl I'm never gonna find.
Starin' back at me when I come home at night
But how can she be as pretty as I write?

It will be hard, but I know I'm all right,
Because the needle can't burn
What the needle can't find
And the money won't save what the money
Can't buy

And part of me is safe

And part of me is lies
So be mine tonight.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Seven Mary Three's "Needle Can" are reflective of the singer's discontentment with their current state and their yearning for something more. The first two stanzas depict the singer's frustration with conformity and the futility of searching for meaning in books and other external sources. They assert their individualism by stating that they don't want to spend the rest of their life looking for a girl, but instead want to find something genuine and true.

The chorus, "The needle can't burn what the needle can't find," serves as a metaphor for the singer's desire to rise above the mundane and discover their own path. The needle represents societal expectations or limitations, and the idea is that if one can't be contained or limited they will be free to pursue their own truth. The final stanza shifts the focus to a woman who is conflicted between being true to herself and being with someone else. The singer empathizes with her and offers a powerful plea to "be mine tonight."

Overall, the song is an exploration of individuality and the search for authenticity in a world that often feels stifling and superficial.

Line by Line Meaning

I don't want to spend the rest of my life Starin' at a man, Looking down a line What's he say? ot my style? Just a stylized version of an obsolete file
I don't want to waste my life working a job I don't enjoy and following instructions that don't align with my values. It's like trying to decipher outdated code without any personalization or understanding.

I don't want to spend the rest of my time Lookin' for the words I'm never going to find You read them in a book and apply them to your life But how can I be as pretty as she writes?
I don't want to waste my time searching for advice or guidance that isn't tailored to me. Even if I find it, I can't live up to the idealized version of someone else's life.

I know I'm all right. Because The needle can't burn what the needle can't find
I'm confident in myself because the things that could harm me cannot exist if I refuse to acknowledge them or let them control me.

She don't want to spend the rest of her heart Waste it on a job, and never get a start Part of her says she should be herself And part of her says she should be with someone else
She doesn't want to pour her heart into a career that doesn't make her happy and miss out on an opportunity to find love. She's torn between being independent and being in a relationship.

I don't want to spend the rest of my life Looking for a girl I'm never gonna find. Starin' back at me when I come home at night But how can she be as pretty as I write?
I don't want to waste my life searching for a perfect partner that doesn't exist. Even if I find someone, reality can never match the idealized version I've created in my head.

It will be hard, but I know I'm all right, Because the needle can't burn What the needle can't find And the money won't save what the money Can't buy
It will be difficult to live life on my own terms, but I will be okay as long as I don't give power to external forces that don't align with my values. Money cannot buy happiness, and material wealth cannot save me from internal struggles.

And part of me is safe And part of me is lies So be mine tonight.
I'm divided internally between what I need to do to feel secure and the things I want to believe about myself to feel happy. Despite this, I long for companionship.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG Rights Management
Written by: JASON ROSS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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