The Stabilizers were an American pop/rock duo from Erie, Pennsylvania , fou… Read Full Bio ↴The Stabilizers were an American pop/rock duo from Erie, Pennsylvania , founded in the early 1980s by musicians Dave Christenson and Rich Nevens. With Christenson on lead vocals and Nevens on guitars and occasional keyboards, they spent the first few years touring the Pennsylvania area and recording original compositions on a 4-track recorder. Then, in 1985, they were signed to Columbia Records and in 1986, released Tyranny, their first and only album.

The guitar and synth-laced album followed in the style of other 1980s bands such as a-ha, Duran Duran, Tears for Fears and Mr. Mister. The first single from Tyranny was "One Simple Thing," which peaked at number 21 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and number 93 on the Billboard Hot 100, helped by the band's performance of the song on American Bandstand. Two music videos were released to promote the album: "One Simple Thing", which was directed by David Fincher who would go onto greater success directing the feature films Alien³, Se7en and Fight Club and "Tyranny," helmed by renowned music video director David Hogan.

The "Tyranny" single failed to chart, and for the next five years, the band disappeared from view. Then, in 1991, an unreleased track from the Tyranny sessions, "Maybe This Time," surfaced on the soundtrack to the film If Looks Could Kill, but that was the last anyone would hear from the band.

Years active: 1981–1991.

You Pull Me Down
Stabilizers Lyrics

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Every day - I wake up out of breath
Things you said - can't be forgotten yet
So maybe you were right - maybe I've been swept away
As this rising tide is fed by another wave - another wave

You pull me down - as I begin to drown
You pull me down
You pull me down - until I can't be found

You pull me down

I can't run away - I've got no place to go
So I look inside - and I see you there alone
If you could ride along - with all my highs and lows

You might find a man - you thought you'd never know
You never know

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Stabilizers' song "You Pull Me Down" describe the aftermath of a failed relationship, where the singer is unable to move on from the pain and hurt caused by their ex-partner. The first verse is particularly poignant, as it highlights the feeling of waking up each day with a sense of suffocation, burdened by the things their partner said. The lyrics suggest that the singer is struggling to let go of the relationship, despite the fact that it has ended, and that their ex-partner may have been right in causing them to question themselves and their beliefs. The metaphor of the rising tide being fed by another wave suggests that the singer's emotions are building up, leading to a sense of drowning.

The chorus of the song, which repeats the line "You pull me down," reinforces this sense of being trapped and unable to escape the pain caused by the relationship. The repetition of the phrase, accompanied by the sombre tone of the music, creates a sense of inevitability and hopelessness. The second verse introduces the idea of self-reflection, with the singer looking inward and seeing the reflection of their ex-partner. The lyrics suggest that the singer is unable to separate their own identity from that of their ex-partner, and that they are unable to move on from the relationship because they cannot imagine a life without their ex-partner in it.

Overall, "You Pull Me Down" is a deeply emotive song that explores the psychological aftermath of a relationship breakdown. It highlights the complexity of human emotions and the difficulty of breaking free from a past love. Through its poignant lyrics and evocative music, it captures the pain and sorrow of a heartbreak that is unable to forget.

Line by Line Meaning

Every day - I wake up out of breath
Every day I wake up feeling anxious and overwhelmed, like I'm suffocating.

Things you said - can't be forgotten yet
I can't forget the hurtful things you said to me, they continue to echo in my mind.

So maybe you were right - maybe I've been swept away
Maybe you were right about me being weak and easily influenced, as I feel helpless and swept away by your words and actions.

As this rising tide is fed by another wave - another wave
The overwhelming feeling of despair and hopelessness continues to rise and consume me, like waves crashing on the shore one after another.

You pull me down - as I begin to drown
Your negative words and actions weigh me down, making me feel like I'm drowning in a sea of emotions.

You pull me down
You constantly bring me down, not allowing me to rise above and move on from this negativity.

You pull me down - until I can't be found
You drag me down so low that I lose myself and can't recognize who I am anymore.

I can't run away - I've got no place to go
I feel trapped and stuck in this negative cycle we've created, with nowhere to escape and find peace.

So I look inside - and I see you there alone
When I try to find a way out, I realize that you too are suffering and alone in your own pain and negativity.

If you could ride along - with all my highs and lows
If you could understand and support me through the ups and downs of life, then maybe we could break free from this cycle together.

You might find a man - you thought you'd never know
If you can be there for me and help me grow and heal, you might discover a side of me that you never thought was possible.

You never know
You never know what could happen if we work together and support each other through this.

Contributed by Madelyn T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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