The name of the band derived from a friend's suggestion that the band's name should be "something with numbers" (meant in the vein of blink-182 or Sum 41). The band soon signed to small indie label, Below Par Records, and worked towards releasing their first EP, The Barnicles & Stripes, in 2002. Two years later, in 2004, Something with Numbers released their debut album, Etiquette.
The band continued to grow their sound and in 2006 they made their commercial break through, with the release of their second studio album Perfect Distraction in October of that year. Their 'Goodbye Mickey Finn' tour (the tour for the album, also the name of a track from the album) saw them play around the country with up-and-coming bands The Inches and The Lazys. The album featured a range of styles and genres, touching on soul rock and their usual punk rock sound. It featured three songs that were released as singles, the first - and most popular - being, "Apple of the Eye (Lay Me Down)". "Apple of the Eye" peaked at No. 34 on the ARIA Singles Chart, and placed No. 64 on the Triple J Hottest 100, 2006.[1] The second single from the album was "Chase the Chaser", which failed to reach the ARIA Singles Chart; however, it did receive airplay on Australian music network, Channel V. Something with Numbers played at the Sydney Big Day Out on 25 January 2007. Channel V described the show as having the "best mosh of the day". Other notable concert appearances for the band have been along side Lagwagon, Good Charlotte, Millencolin, The Ataris, and Panic! At the Disco.
Twisted
Something With Numbers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I used to know this city like a needle knows its thread
We used to dance together like a pillow and a bed
I could see what was on the outside
But I can’t feel any death
And when I woke up (??) just like I’d never been
I thought this place would stay the same, forever
Feels like I’m moving backwards on a foggy road
Wishing that I could ask somebody for help
But I’m moving backwards on a foggy road
You think that you’re going crazy
Well I’ve got news for you
I was always dreaming with my hometown, it’s true
Feels like I went in your water
Where everything’s so unreal
I’m just another number on the grounding wheel
I thought this place would stay the same, forever
Twisted on the sidewalk by myself
Feels like I’m moving backwards on a foggy road
Wishing that I could ask somebody for help
But I’m moving backwards on a foggy road
Feels like I’m swimming with strangers, with strangers
In water and blood, and I don’t know what I can do or what to say
Everything is new to me
I’m not afraid of the water I told you
It’s over, I’m older
I don’t know what I could do or what to see
Everything is new to me
Twisted on the sidewalk by myself
Feels like I’m moving backwards on a foggy road
Wishing that I could ask somebody for help
But I’m moving backwards on a foggy road.
The song "Twisted" by Something With Numbers is about feeling lost and disconnected in a place that used to be familiar. The lyrics begin with the singer reminiscing about the way he used to know the city "like a needle knows its thread" and how he used to dance through life with ease. However, something has changed and now he is unable to feel any connection to this place that once felt like home. He describes feeling like he's moving backwards on a foggy road and wishing that he could ask somebody for help.
Despite feeling lost and disconnected, the singer still holds onto his memories and dreams of his hometown. He acknowledges that he was always dreaming of this place, but now it feels unreal and new to him. He feels like just another number on the "grounding wheel," suggesting that he feels like he's been reduced to someone who is just going through the motions of life.
The song ends with the singer still feeling lost and disconnected, swimming with strangers and uncertain of what the future holds. Despite this uncertainty, he declares that he is not afraid of the water and that he's ready for whatever may come.
Overall, "Twisted" is a song about the struggle to find meaning and connection in a world that can be overwhelming and confusing. The lyrics capture the feeling of being lost in a place that used to be familiar and the longing for something that seems just out of reach.
Line by Line Meaning
Ha
An expression of amusement or surprise
I used to know this city like a needle knows its thread
I was once intimately familiar with this place
We used to dance together like a pillow and a bed
I was once comfortable and in sync with this place
I could see what was on the outside
I could observe and understand the visible aspects of this place
But I can’t feel any death
I cannot sense any vitality or life in this place
And when I woke up (??) just like I’d never been
When I came to my senses, it was as if I had never been here before
I thought this place would stay the same, forever
I had anticipated that this place would remain unchanged
Twisted on the sidewalk by myself
I am now lost and confused, alone
Feels like I’m moving backwards on a foggy road
I feel like I am regressing and uncertain of my path forward
Wishing that I could ask somebody for help
I desire assistance and guidance
But I’m moving backwards on a foggy road
Despite my longing for help, I am still directionless and adrift
You think that you’re going crazy
You may believe that you are losing your mind
Well I’ve got news for you
I have an important revelation to share with you
I was always dreaming with my hometown, it’s true
I had always idealized and romanticized my hometown
Feels like I went in your water
I feel like I have entered unknown and unsettling territory
Where everything’s so unreal
Where everything feels surreal and disconnected
I’m just another number on the grounding wheel
I am insignificant and powerless in this new environment
Feels like I’m swimming with strangers, with strangers
I feel like I am surrounded by unfamiliar and unknown individuals
In water and blood, and I don’t know what I can do or what to say
In this unfamiliar situation, I feel overwhelmed and unsure of how to act
Everything is new to me
Everything is foreign and unfamiliar to me
I’m not afraid of the water I told you
I am not afraid of taking risks or encountering the unknown
It’s over, I’m older
I have come to the realization that my past experiences will not define my future
I don’t know what I could do or what to see
I am uncertain of my path forward and what choices I should make
Twisted on the sidewalk by myself
I am lost and alienated
Feels like I’m moving backwards on a foggy road
I feel like my progress has halted and I am uncertain of my direction
Wishing that I could ask somebody for help
I wish for guidance and support
But I’m moving backwards on a foggy road
Despite my wishes, I am still directionless and adrift
Contributed by Cameron G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.