Cute Without The 'E'
Taking Back Sunday Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Your lipstick, his collar
Don't bother, angel
I know exactly what goes on

When everything you'll get is everything that you've wanted, princess
(Well, which would you prefer?)
My finger on the trigger, or
(Me face down, down across your floor?)
Me face down, dead across your floor
(Me face down, down across your floor)
Well, just so long as this thing's loaded

And will you tell all your friends
You've got your gun to my head?
This all was only wishful thinking
This all was only wishful thinking
And will you tell all your friends
You've got your gun to my head?
This all was only wishful thinking
This all was only wishful thinking
Let's go

Don't bother trying to explain, angel
I know exactly what goes on when you're on, and
How 'bout I'm outside of your window?
(Well, how 'bout I'm outside of your window)
Watching him keep the details covered
You're such a sucker for a sweet talker, yeah
(You're such a sucker)

And will you tell all your friends
You've got your gun to my head?
This all was only wishful thinking
This all was only wishful thinking
And will you tell all your friends (the only thing)
You've got your gun to my head? (I regret)
This all was only wishful thinking (is that I)
This all was only wishful thinking (I never let you hold me back)

Hoping for the best just hoping nothing happens
A thousand clever lines unread on clever napkins
I will never ask if you don't ever tell me
I know you well enough to know you'll never love me
Hoping for the best just hoping nothing happens (why can't I feel anything)
A thousand clever lines unread on clever napkins
I will never ask if you don't ever tell me (from anyone other than you?)
I know you well enough to know you'll never love me
Hoping for the best just hoping nothing happens (why can't I feel anything)
A thousand clever lines unread on clever napkins
I will never ask if you don't ever tell me (from anyone other than you?)
I know you well enough to know
And all of this was all your fault
And all of this
(It makes things worse)

I stay wrecked and jealous for this
For this simple reason I
Just need to keep you in mind
As something larger than life
I stay wrecked and jealous for this (she'll destroy us all before she's through)
For this simple reason I
Just need to keep you in mind (and find a way to blame somebody else)
As something larger than life
I stay wrecked and jealous for this (she'll destroy us all before she's through)
For this simple reason I




Just need to keep you in mind (and find a way to blame somebody else)
As something larger than life

Overall Meaning

The song “Cute Without the ‘E’” by Taking Back Sunday is a classic early 2000s emo anthem about the turmoil of a bitter break-up. The lyrics are full of intense emotions, vivid imagery, and clever wordplay. The song deals with themes such as jealousy, betrayal, revenge, and regret. The lyrics are written in a poetic and cryptic way, so there are many possible interpretations of the song. However, one common interpretation is that the song is about a man who has been cheated on by his girlfriend, and he is struggling to cope with the pain and anger he feels.


The opening lines of the song, “Your lipstick, his collar, don't bother, angel, I know exactly what goes on,” suggest that the singer has caught his girlfriend cheating on him. He knows that she is seeing someone else behind his back, and he is not happy about it. He feels betrayed and humiliated, and he wants to get revenge. He talks about having a loaded gun and fantasizes about shooting his girlfriend or himself. The lines, “Me face down, down across your floor,” suggest that he is willing to kill himself to prove a point or to make his girlfriend feel guilty.


The chorus of the song, “And will you tell all your friends you've got your gun to my head? This all was only wishful thinking,” suggests that the singer is not actually going to harm himself or anyone else. He is just trying to scare his girlfriend and make her regret what she has done. The lines, “This all was only wishful thinking,” suggest that he knows he is being irrational and that he should let go of his anger and move on.


The second verse of the song, “Don't bother trying to explain, angel, I know exactly what goes on when you're on, and how 'bout I'm outside of your window, watching him keep the details covered,” suggests that the singer is stalking his girlfriend and her new lover. He knows everything they are doing, and he is angry and jealous that he is not the one with her. He accuses her of being a “sucker for a sweet talker” and suggests that she is only interested in men who can charm her.


Overall, “Cute Without the ‘E’” is a powerful and emotional song that captures the angst and turmoil of a bitter break-up. The lyrics are open to interpretation, but they suggest that the singer is struggling to cope with his girlfriend's infidelity and he is considering violent revenge. However, the chorus suggests that he knows this is not the right way to handle things and that he needs to move on and let go of his anger.


Line by Line Meaning

Your lipstick, his collar
I can see that you've been with someone else


Don't bother, angel
Don't bother trying to explain, I know the truth


I know exactly what goes on
I know what you're up to


When everything you'll get is everything that you've wanted, princess
You're getting everything you want, but at what cost?


(Well, which would you prefer?)
(Which one do you want?)


My finger on the trigger, or
I have control over the situation


(Me face down, down across your floor?)
(Are you going to kill me?)


Me face down, dead across your floor
I'm going to die at your hands


(Me face down, down across your floor)
(Are you going to kill me?)


Well, just so long as this thing's loaded
As long as everything is in place


And will you tell all your friends
Are you going to talk about it?


You've got your gun to my head?
Are you using me for your own gain?


This all was only wishful thinking
You were only using me for your own fantasy


This all was only wishful thinking
You were only using me for your own fantasy


Let's go
Let's move on from this


How 'bout I'm outside of your window?
I know what's going on even when I'm not there


(Well, how 'bout I'm outside of your window)
(What would you do if I was?)


Watching him keep the details covered
I see him trying to hide something


You're such a sucker for a sweet talker, yeah
You fall for people who say what you want to hear


And all of this was all your fault
You caused all of this


It makes things worse
This only adds to the problem


Hoping for the best just hoping nothing happens
I'm trying to hope for the best but expecting the worst


A thousand clever lines unread on clever napkins
I have all these ideas that were never shared


I will never ask if you don't ever tell me
I won't know if you don't tell me


I know you well enough to know you'll never love me
I know that you'll never truly care for me


And find a way to blame somebody else
Blaming someone else is easier than taking responsibility


As something larger than life
Imagine you as something bigger or more important than you really are


I stay wrecked and jealous for this
I'm still upset and envious of the situation


For this simple reason I
Because of this one thing, I


Just need to keep you in mind
I can't forget about you


She'll destroy us all before she's through
You'll cause chaos and destruction




Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Shaun Cooper, Adam Lazzara, John Nolan, Mark O'Connell, Edward Reyes

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Ives

I love blasting this song on my stereo and singing to it, it just makes me feel exhilarated. Taking Back Sunday, one of my favorite bands ever.
“Cute Without The ‘E’ (Cut From The Team)” broke down the floodgates for post-hardcore and emo, elevating in it popularity in what seemed like overnight.

LYRICS

[Intro]
Your lipstick, his collar
Don't bother, angel
I know exactly what goes on

[Verse 1]
When everything you'll get is everything that you've wanted, princess
(Well, which would you prefer?)
My finger on the trigger, or
(Me face down, down across your floor?)
Me face down, dead across your floor
(Me face down, down across your floor)
Well, just so long as this thing's loaded

[Chorus]
And will you tell all your friends
You've got your gun to my head?
This all was only wishful thinking
This all was only wishful thinking
And will you tell all your friends
You've got your gun to my head?
This all was only wishful thinking
This all was only wishful thinking
Let's go

[Verse 2]
Don't bother trying to explain, angel
I know exactly what goes on when you're on, and
How 'bout I'm outside of your window?
(Well, how 'bout I'm outside of your window)
Watching him keep the details covered?
You're such a sucker for a sweet talker, yeah
(You're such a sucker)

[Chorus]
And will you tell all your friends
You've got your gun to my head?
This all was only wishful thinking
This all was only wishful thinking
(The only thing I regret is that I
I never let you hold me back)
And will you tell all your friends
You've got your gun to my head?
This all was only wishful thinking
This all was only wishful thinking

[Bridge]
Hoping for the best just hoping nothing happens
A thousand clever lines unread on clever napkins
I will never ask if you don't ever tell me
I know you well enough to know you'll never love me
(Why can't I feel anything from anyone other than you?)
Hoping for the best just hoping nothing happens
A thousand clever lines unread on clever napkins
I will never ask if you don't ever tell me
I know you well enough to know you'll never love me
(Why can't I feel anything from anyone other than you?)
Hoping for the best just hoping nothing happens
A thousand clever lines unread on clever napkins
I will never ask if you don't ever tell me
I know you well enough to know you'll never love me
And all of this was all your fault
And all of this
(It makes things worse)

[Outro]
I stay wrecked and jealous for this
For this simple reason I
Just need to keep you in mind
As something larger than life
(She’ll destroy us all before she’s through
And find a way to blame somebody else)
I stay wrecked and jealous for this
For this simple reason I
Just need to keep you in mind
As something larger than life
(She’ll destroy us all before she’s through
And find a way to blame somebody else)
I stay wrecked and jealous for this
For this simple reason I
Just need to keep you in mind
As something larger than life



Francisco Flor

Your lipstick, his collar
Don't bother, angel
I know exactly what goes on
When everything you'll get is everything that you've wanted, princess
(Well, which would you prefer?)
My finger on the trigger, or
(Me face down, down across your floor?)
Me face down, dead across your floor
(Me face down, down across your floor)
Well, just so long as this thing's loaded
And will you tell all your friends
You've got your gun to my head?
This all was only wishful thinking
This all was only wishful thinking
And will you tell all your friends
You've got your gun to my head?
This all was only wishful thinking
This all was only wishful thinking
Let's go
Don't bother trying to explain, angel
I know exactly what goes on when you're on, and
How 'bout I'm outside of your window?
(Well, how 'bout I'm outside of your window)
Watching him keep the details covered
You're such a sucker for a sweet talker, yeah
(You're such a sucker)
And will you tell all your friends
You've got your gun to my head?
This all was only wishful thinking
This all was only wishful thinking
And will you tell all your friends (the only thing)
You've got your gun to my head? (I regret)
This all was only wishful thinking (is that I)
This all was only wishful thinking (I never let you hold me back)
Hoping for the best just hoping nothing happens
A thousand clever lines unread on clever napkins
I will never ask if you don't ever tell me
I know you well enough to know you'll never love me
Hoping for the best just hoping nothing happens (why can't I feel anything)
A thousand clever lines unread on clever napkins
I will never ask if you don't ever tell me (from anyone other than you?)
I know you well enough to know you'll never love me
Hoping for the best just hoping nothing happens (why can't I feel anything)
A thousand clever lines unread on clever napkins
I will never ask if you don't ever tell me (from anyone other than you?)
I know you well enough to know
And all of this was all your fault
And all of this
(It makes things worse)
I stay wrecked and jealous for this
For this simple reason I
Just need to keep you in mind
As something larger than life
I stay wrecked and jealous for this (she'll destroy us all before she's through)
For this simple reason I
Just need to keep you in mind (and find a way to blame somebody else)
As something larger than life
I stay wrecked and jealous for this (she'll destroy us all before she's through)
For this simple reason I
Just need to keep you in mind (and find a way to blame somebody else)



Mr.RespectfulJosh

Your lipstick, his collar
Don't bother, angel
I know exactly what goes on
When everything you'll get is everything that you've wanted, princess
(Well, which would you prefer?)
My finger on the trigger, or
(Me face down, down across your floor?)
Me face down, dead across your floor
(Me face down, down across your floor)
Well, just so long as this thing's loaded
And will you tell all your friends
You've got your gun to my head?
This all was only wishful thinking
This all was only wishful thinking
And will you tell all your friends
You've got your gun to my head?
This all was only wishful thinking
This all was only wishful thinking
Let's go
Don't bother trying to explain, angel
I know exactly what goes on when you're on, and
How 'bout I'm outside of your window?
(Well, how 'bout I'm outside of your window)
Watching him keep the details covered
You're such a sucker for a sweet talker, yeah
(You're such a sucker)
And will you tell all your friends
You've got your gun to my head?
This all was only wishful thinking
This all was only wishful thinking
And will you tell all your friends (the only thing)
You've got your gun to my head? (I regret)
This all was only wishful thinking (is that I)
This all was only wishful thinking (I never let you hold me back)
Hoping for the best just hoping nothing happens
A thousand clever lines unread on clever napkins
I will never ask if you don't ever tell me
I know you well enough to know you'll never love me
Hoping for the best just hoping nothing happens (why can't I feel anything)
A thousand clever lines unread on clever napkins
I will never ask if you don't ever tell me (from anyone other than you?)
I know you well enough to know you'll never love me
Hoping for the best just hoping nothing happens (why can't I feel anything)
A thousand clever lines unread on clever napkins
I will never ask if you don't ever tell me (from anyone other than you?)
I know you well enough to know
And all of this was all your fault
And all of this
(It makes things worse)
I stay wrecked and jealous for this
For this simple reason I
Just need to keep you in mind
As something larger than life
I stay wrecked and jealous for this (she'll destroy us all before she's through)
For this simple reason I
Just need to keep you in mind (and find a way to blame somebody else)
As something larger than life
I stay wrecked and jealous for this (she'll destroy us all before she's through)
For this simple reason I
Just need to keep you in mind (and find a way to blame somebody else)



All comments from YouTube:

A fellow Dokutah

Taking Back Sunday, Brand New, The Used, AFI, Blink182, Sum41, Good Charlotte, My Chemical Romance, Chiodos, Allasana, Underoath, Finch, Silverstein, Hawthorn Heights, Bayside, all define my high school years..

wiisalute

For me it was Good Charlotte in 4th grade and Sum 41, Linkin Park when I was in middle school and Simple Plan

Bud N’ Ellie

Cuz those bands were popular back then

A fellow Dokutah

@Bud N’ Ellie What's the point you're trying to make?

ilikemyself

Yeah I was def like... yeah yeah yeahs and senses fail. Modest mouse.. etc. Def brand new, I still listen to every brand new album lol.

Diego Latigo

alakaline trio, cauterize, american hi-fi, american head charge, foo fighters, papa roach, the starting line, system of a down, infinities end, puddle of mudd, kid rock, red hot chili peppers, the ramones, the clash, stiff little fingers, sex pistols, the adicts, buzzcocks, joy division, the beatles, oasis, weezer, radiohead, rage against the machine, goldfinger, sublime, u2, yellowcard, blur, ac/dc, kiss, styx, poison, guns n' roses, aerosmith, sugar ray, matchbook romance, senses fail, saosin, dashboard confessionals, jet, metallica, nirvana, motley crue, disturbed, led zeppelin, staind, beck, the ataris, the killers, the bravery, the good life, porno for pyros, the stone roses, audioslave, story of the year, deep purple, mc5, ram jam, spiderbait, the cure, the animals, fountains of wayne, velvet revolver, the aquabats, me first and the gimme gimmes, new found glory, p.o.d., creed, lynyrd skynyrd, drowning pool, less than jake, unwritten law, mad caddies, nofx, green day, rancid, the offspring, the suicide machines, lagwagon, millencolin, suicidal tendencies, pennywise, the all-american rejects, the mighty mighty bosstones, mxpx, reel big fish, stone temple pilots, soundgarden, pearl jam, smashing pumpkins, eels, the heavy, our lady peace, the smiths, the replacements, the who, motorhead, mest, noise ratchet, pantera, slipknot, mudvayne, korn, adam and the ants, snow patrol, the doors, the stooges, scorpions, eagles, queen, the rolling stones, slr whitestar, lustra, the yardbirds, smash mouth, chumbawamba, spin doctors, eve 6, new radicals, switchfoot, incubus, semisonic, jane's addiction, megadeth, x, matchbox twenty, third eye blind, the byrds, the guess who, black sabbath, nazareth, rush, slayer, whitesnake, asia, skid row, avenged sevenfold, alien ant farm, godsmack, jimmy eat world, iron maiden, alice in chains, deftones, def leppard, bon jovi, david bowie, nickelback, venom, children of bodom, 4 non blondes, no doubt, the cranberries, patti smith group, fleetwood mac, vertical horizon, silverchair, wings, the dan band, finger eleven, the hollies, arctic monkeys, keane, coldplay, maroon 5, the white stripes, the calling, goo goo dolls, ben folds five, bloodhound gang, candy butchers, gin blossoms, cream, etc.

22 More Replies...

WHALE BOY

Perfect blend of emo and punk, one of the best bands of the 2000s

Ives

I love blasting this song on my stereo and singing to it, it just makes me feel exhilarated. Taking Back Sunday, one of my favorite bands ever.
“Cute Without The ‘E’ (Cut From The Team)” broke down the floodgates for post-hardcore and emo, elevating in it popularity in what seemed like overnight.

LYRICS

[Intro]
Your lipstick, his collar
Don't bother, angel
I know exactly what goes on

[Verse 1]
When everything you'll get is everything that you've wanted, princess
(Well, which would you prefer?)
My finger on the trigger, or
(Me face down, down across your floor?)
Me face down, dead across your floor
(Me face down, down across your floor)
Well, just so long as this thing's loaded

[Chorus]
And will you tell all your friends
You've got your gun to my head?
This all was only wishful thinking
This all was only wishful thinking
And will you tell all your friends
You've got your gun to my head?
This all was only wishful thinking
This all was only wishful thinking
Let's go

[Verse 2]
Don't bother trying to explain, angel
I know exactly what goes on when you're on, and
How 'bout I'm outside of your window?
(Well, how 'bout I'm outside of your window)
Watching him keep the details covered?
You're such a sucker for a sweet talker, yeah
(You're such a sucker)

[Chorus]
And will you tell all your friends
You've got your gun to my head?
This all was only wishful thinking
This all was only wishful thinking
(The only thing I regret is that I
I never let you hold me back)
And will you tell all your friends
You've got your gun to my head?
This all was only wishful thinking
This all was only wishful thinking

[Bridge]
Hoping for the best just hoping nothing happens
A thousand clever lines unread on clever napkins
I will never ask if you don't ever tell me
I know you well enough to know you'll never love me
(Why can't I feel anything from anyone other than you?)
Hoping for the best just hoping nothing happens
A thousand clever lines unread on clever napkins
I will never ask if you don't ever tell me
I know you well enough to know you'll never love me
(Why can't I feel anything from anyone other than you?)
Hoping for the best just hoping nothing happens
A thousand clever lines unread on clever napkins
I will never ask if you don't ever tell me
I know you well enough to know you'll never love me
And all of this was all your fault
And all of this
(It makes things worse)

[Outro]
I stay wrecked and jealous for this
For this simple reason I
Just need to keep you in mind
As something larger than life
(She’ll destroy us all before she’s through
And find a way to blame somebody else)
I stay wrecked and jealous for this
For this simple reason I
Just need to keep you in mind
As something larger than life
(She’ll destroy us all before she’s through
And find a way to blame somebody else)
I stay wrecked and jealous for this
For this simple reason I
Just need to keep you in mind
As something larger than life

Eddie Forehand

The song that started it all for me! You guys have been my favorite band every since.

Laura Loyland

Eddie, I just found out about this band and song and I love it. Gonna get the CD soon. But my favorite band is the Offspring.❤

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