Sublime with Rome performed their first gig together in February 2009 near Gaugh's home in Nevada, followed by an appearance at Cypress Hill's Smokeout Festival in San Bernadino that October. On April 20, 2010, the band embarked on their first-ever US tour with dates going into that fall. After positive reaction on the road, Sublime with Rome released a debut album on Fueled By Ramen records in July 2011.
In December 2011, Bud Gaugh revealed in an interview that he would be leaving Sublime With Rome and KROQ's Accoustic Christmas would be his last show. He saying he wanted to go home and spend more time with his family. He later went on to say "It was really good for the first few months, after that, it just felt wrong. Not playing the songs but playing them with the name Sublime, without Brad." When asked if he saw the band reuniting in the future Gaugh replied "No, I am done with SWR. I would be into playing music with Eric Wilson, however." He was replaced by Josh Freese.
Paper Cuts
Sublime with Rome Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And that's the only opinions of me
You loose me up, then shake me, go and waste away
What other options you give me, oh
But I'm just wasting away
And that's the only option for me
Well I'm just wasting away
You said destroy
I said let's not make things worser
That's the only thing I see
You build me up to knock it down
You stay above the rest
But I can only escape from you
Well I'm just wasting away
Well that's the only option for me
Well I'm just wasting away
Well that's my only remedy
Shoot it up
The battle's on
Let it take
Let it now
And I will be
The only thing
They set myself aside
For what you tryin' to be
Big city, suicide, living clear
That's the only way for me
I can't break the mold here
And if you judge me, they better see you
Well I'm just wasting away
And that's the only remedy
Well I'm just wasting away
Well that's the only remedy
The lyrics to Sublime with Rome's song "Paper Cuts" offer a look into a relationship that is causing the singer a great deal of pain. The first verse depicts how the singer's lover is still hung up on their ex and sees the singer as a substitute, rather than a valued partner. The singer is aware of this dynamic but feels helpless in the situation. The second verse talks about how the singer and their lover have different perspectives on how to handle issues in their relationship. The lover prefers to destroy, while the singer wants to find a solution that doesn't make things worse. The chorus "I'm just wasting away, that's the only option for me" highlights the feeling of hopelessness that the singer feels because they do not see a way out of the situation.
The bridge of the song brings in a reference to a battle and the idea of being set aside. It is a bit ambiguous, but it could be interpreted as the singer feeling like they are in a battle for their relationship and that their lover is disregarding them. The lines "For what you tryin' to be, big city, suicide, living clear, that's the only way for me" could mean that the singer feels like they need to change themselves drastically to fit into their lover's life, but ultimately it will lead to self-destruction. The chorus repeats another two times to emphasize the fact that, from the singer's perspective, wasting away is their only remedy.
Line by Line Meaning
I shake me up, I wake it down my lover's ex
I am trying to forget my lover's ex and move on, but it's not easy.
And that's the only opinions of me
People only see me as someone trying to get over a painful breakup.
You loose me up, then shake me, go and waste away
You give me hope and then take it away, leaving me feeling hopeless and lost.
What other options you give me, oh
I don't know what else to do or where else to turn for help.
But I'm just wasting away
I am slowly deteriorating and losing hope.
And that's the only option for me
I feel like I have no other choice but to give up.
You said destroy
You want to ruin everything and make it worse than it already is.
I said let's not make things worser
I am trying to prevent things from getting worse than they already are.
That's the only thing I see
I can't see any other way of dealing with this situation.
You build me up to knock it down
You give me hope only to take it away from me again.
You stay above the rest
You think you are better than everyone else and you act like it.
But I can only escape from you
I need to get away from you in order to move on and find my own path.
Shoot it up
I want to numb the pain with drugs, but I know it's not the answer.
The battle's on
I am fighting a battle within myself to overcome this pain and move forward.
Let it take
I need to let go and let life take its course.
Let it now
I need to accept the reality of the situation and move forward.
And I will be
I am the only one who can change my situation.
The only thing
The only thing I have control over is my own actions and decisions.
They set myself aside
I need to put my own needs and goals first, regardless of what others think.
For what you tryin' to be
I can't keep trying to be someone I'm not, just to please someone else.
Big city, suicide, living clear
The fast-paced city life and constant pressure make me feel like I want to give up.
That's the only way for me
The only way I can survive is to stay focused and clear-headed.
I can't break the mold here
I can't conform to society's expectations and stay true to myself.
And if you judge me, they better see you
If you judge me for being different or doing things differently, then you are the one who is wrong.
Well I'm just wasting away
I feel like I am slowly deteriorating and losing hope.
And that's the only remedy
I see giving up as my only solution to the pain and hopelessness I am feeling.
Well I'm just wasting away
I am slowly deteriorating and losing hope.
Well that's the only remedy
Giving up is the only way out of the pain and hopelessness I am feeling.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BUD GRAUGH, ERIC WILSON, ROMAN RAMIREZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
DANNY MAC
this is one of the most true sublime tune on this album. alot of them are reminders of sublime but this totally grabs the punks side of sublime.
Peter Sewchok
(continued) when brad was around, they were pushing the envelope. caress me down, what i got, and summertime were something new. and the unreleased songs "at it again" and "angelo" were something new, too. they were looking at playing electronic dancehall with live instruments, showing a big influence from stuff like born jamericans and king yellowman. brad is gone, and can't be replaced. but the other guys seem to have forgotten the musically ground that they were breaking into with brad.
Erica Clarke
i remember walking into hot topic and this song was playing and i had to know the name of it and i still love it
xfridge79x
i love sublime with rome!...first cd i ever remembered everysingle word to!!!
Peter Sewchok
(continued) for the kids reading this: i'm not "hatin". i'm a 32 year old fan that liked the original sublime when brad was still alive. my 40 ounces shirt is ripped, sweat yellow, and about 16 years old. i think sublime with rome is a nice little tribute thing, and it's cool that the kids will be able to go and see "sublime". what i really wish, to tell the truth, is that these guys would really pick up where they left off and do some new experimental, interesting music. we now have pepper
George Siriani
I Love this song!!!!!! Fucking good!!
assmane999
Sweet. Sublime lives on!!!
CahDe1
@MustBeEnVy Word man. Brad would be proud. As a totally bias douchebag I can say I am also proud. I was scared of this whole situation, but then I saw Sublime w/ Rome live and knew they found a good frontman. The cd just confirmed it. Rome is an amazing guitarist. His lyrics aren't the best, but I think he has a good voice with awesome cadence. Bud and Eric have also improved in the years. All in all, Sublime w/ Rome = win.
frankburton666
sounds like sublime style to me,quit being fucking haters!they are keeping the sound alive...sublime forever...
Kurt Ancient
Killer riffs