Discography:
1995 - Sleater-Kinney (Chainsaw)
1996 - Call the Doctor (Chainsaw)
1997 - Dig Me Out (Kill Rock Stars)
1999 - The Hot Rock (Kill Rock Stars)
2000 - All Hands on the Bad One (Kill Rock Stars)
2002 - One Beat (Kill Rock Stars)
2005 - The Woods (Sub Pop)
2015 - No Cities to Love (Sub Pop)
2019 - The Center Won't Hold (Mom+Pop)
2021 - Path of Wellness (Mom+Pop)
Good Things
Sleater-Kinney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
when i heard your name the other day
couldn't say it
couldn't make it go away
it's a hard place
can't be friends we can't be enemies
it's just too much
i feel the weight crushing down on my face
the hardest part is things already said
getting better worse i cannot tell
why do good things never wanna stay
some things you lose some things you give away
broken pieces
try and make it good again
is it worth
it will it make me safe today?
it's a dumb song
but i'll write it anyway
it's an old mistake
but we always make it why do we
this time it'll be alright
this time it'll be okay
The lyrics to Sleater-Kinney's Good Things describe the confusion and complications of a relationship that has undergone a shift. The singer confesses that hearing the person's name still stirs up intense emotions and that they are caught in an uncomfortable place between friendship and enmity. The weight of the situation is affecting them heavily and they are struggling to make sense of it all.
The second verse delves into the idea of fixing a broken relationship, questioning whether it's worth the effort and if it will provide any safety or stability. The singer acknowledges that they are repeating an old mistake, but they can't seem to help it.
The chorus laments the fleeting nature of good things, wondering why they never seem to last. The lyrics capture the emotional rollercoaster of a relationship falling apart and the sadness of losing something good.
Overall, the song's lyrics explore the complexities of relationships, the struggles of letting go, and the transient nature of happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
got this feeling
I have an intense emotion that I can't quite explain
when i heard your name the other day
The feeling intensified when your name came up in conversation
couldn't say it
I couldn't express this feeling
couldn't make it go away
I couldn't get rid of this feeling no matter how hard I tried
it's a hard place
This situation is difficult
can't be friends we can't be enemies
We're in a weird middle ground where we're neither friends nor enemies
it's just too much
The situation is overwhelming
i feel the weight crushing down on my face
I feel an immense pressure bearing down on me
the hardest part is things already said
The most difficult part is the things we've already discussed
getting better worse i cannot tell
I'm not sure if the situation is improving or getting worse
why do good things never wanna stay
Why is it that good things don't seem to last?
some things you lose some things you give away
Some things you lose by force, while other things you willingly let go of
broken pieces
Things are broken and need to be fixed
try and make it good again
We're attempting to repair what's broken
is it worth
Is it worth the effort to fix things?
it will it make me safe today?
Will it guarantee my safety from harm?
it's a dumb song
I recognize that this song may seem silly or meaningless
but i'll write it anyway
Despite that, I'm going to write this song
it's an old mistake
We've made this same mistake in the past
but we always make it why do we
We continue to make this mistake, but I'm not entirely sure why
this time it'll be alright
Despite everything, I have hope that things will work out this time
this time it'll be okay
I truly believe that this time things will turn out okay
Contributed by Samuel P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.