Raising the Skate
Speedy Ortiz Lyrics

Heaven, have mercy on the hypnic jerk
May God have mercy on the sudden awakening from sleep that makes your muscles twitch

You're blamed for your speech
People tend to criticize your words

Walk around the block again
Stroll around the neighborhood one more time

Wait 'til I feel cool and straight
Hang on until I'm calm and sober-minded again

With the direst (?) on undertaking
With the most desperate feeling about taking a risk

I'm not bossy, I'm the boss
I'm not a pushy person, I'm the one in charge

Shooter, not the shot
I'm the attacker, not the receiver of the blows

Of the (?) fit to execute
Of the one capable of doing the job

I'm chief, not the overthrown
I'm the leader, not someone who has been overthrown

Captain, not a crony
I'm the captain of the ship, not just a buddy of the crew

So if you wanna row, you better have an awfully big boat
If you want to compete with me, you need to have a much better setup

Holding a package from a total stranger
Carrying a parcel given by someone who doesn't know you

Who claims to know me
Who pretends to be familiar with me

No, you never knew me, man
No, you've never really known me

Not even a fraction
Not even a tiny part of me

You just glimpsed your own reflection
You only saw a mirror image of yourself

In a gold sheen (?)
Through a shiny surface of gold, perhaps metaphorically or symbolically

(?) To raise the skate
The exact words are unclear, but it seems to refer to some sort of challenge or defiance

So if you wanna throw, you better have an awfully big stone
If you want to confront me, you need to bring a much stronger argument

(?) For this honor while we wait for (?)
It's not clear what this line means, but it suggests waiting for recognition or appreciation

Dip a toe until it's sunk and freezing
Test the waters slightly until you're completely submerged and chilled

But just because I let you kill time dangling me from the quarry
Although you may have wasted my time playing around with me like a toy

Doesn't mean that I won't land on my feet
It doesn't mean that I won't recover and stand up again

That's cause I'm the boss
That's because I'm in charge

Caller of the shots
The one who decides what happens

Soon, I may (?) smitten me
Soon, I may find myself in love or admiration

Chief, (?)
Similarly to the other lines, the exact words are uncertain, but it may suggest a position of power or respect

I'm raising the skate
I'm raising the bar or challenging myself and others

Look, I'm raising the skate
Look, I'm doing it and I'm proud of it

Oh, oh, oh
A vocalization expressing excitement or emotion