There's No 'I' in Team
Taking Back Sunday Lyrics


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Well I can't regret
Can't you just forget it?
I started something I couldn't finish
And if we go down, we go down together
Best friends means
Well best friends means

And I've got a twenty-dollar bill
That says you're up late night starting
Fist fights vs. Fences in your backyard
Wearing your black eye like a badge of honor
Soakin' in sympathy
From friends who never loved you
Nearly half as much as me

Broken down in bars and bathrooms
All I did was what I had to
Don't believe me when I tell you
"It's just what anyone would do"
Take the time to talk about it
Think a lot and live without it
Don't believe me when I tell you
"It's something unforgivable"

Well I can't regret
Can't you just forget it?
I started something I couldn't finish
If we go down, we go down together
Best friends means
Well best friends means

You never knew
Well I never told you
Everything I know about breaking hearts
I learned from you, it's true
I've never done it with the style and grace you have
But I've made long term plans
Based on these mistakes

Broken down in bars and bathrooms
All I did was what I had to
Don't believe me when I tell you
"It's just what anyone would do"
Take the time to talk about it
Think a lot and live without it
Don't believe me when I tell you
"It's something unforgivable"

Is this what you call tact?
I swear you're as subtle as a brick in the small of my back
So let's end this call
And end this conversation
There's nothing worse...
(That's right he said, that's right he said it)
That you always had it way too easy

Broken down in bars and bathrooms
All I did was what I had to
Don't believe me when I tell you
"It's just what anyone would do"
Take the time to talk about it
Think a lot and live without it
Don't believe me when I tell you
"It's something unforgivable"

Best friends means I pulled the trigger
Best friends means you get what you deserve
Best friends means I pulled the trigger
Best friends means you get what you deserve
Best friends means I pulled the trigger
Best friends means you get what you deserve
Best friends means I pulled the trigger
Best friends means you get what you deserve
Best friends means I pulled the trigger
Best friends means you get what you deserve





Best friend means I pulled the trigger!
Best friend means you get what you deserve!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Taking Back Sunday's "There's No 'i' In Team" tell the story of a broken friendship, where one person has betrayed the other. The singer of the song is angry and hurt, but also somewhat regretful for the role they played in the disintegration of the friendship. The lyrics alternate between recriminations and reflections on what it means to be a true friend.


The chorus repeats the phrase "best friends means," which could be interpreted as the singer trying to define what true friendship really means. However, by the end of the song, the phrase takes on a more sinister tone, as the singer declares that "best friends means I pulled the trigger" and "you get what you deserve." It's unclear whether these lines are meant to be taken literally as a confession of murder or metaphorically as a declaration of blame.


Throughout the song, there are references to violence ("fist fights vs. fences in your backyard," "wearing your black eye like a badge of honor") and self-destructive behavior ("broken down in bars and bathrooms"). The singer seems to be grappling with their own role in the friendship's downfall, questioning whether what they did was justified or if they should have handled things differently.


Line by Line Meaning

Well I can't regret
I am incapable of feeling regret


Can't you just forget it?
Is it not possible for you to forget what happened?


I started something I couldn't finish
I began something that I was unable to complete


And if we go down, we go down together
If we fail, we fail collectively


Best friends means
True friends are characterized by


Well best friends means
In essence, true friends mean


And I've got a twenty-dollar bill
I possess a twenty-dollar banknote


That says you're up late night starting
It indicates that you stay up at night instigating


Fist fights vs. Fences in your backyard
Engaging in physical confrontations in your backyard


Wearing your black eye like a badge of honor
Proudly displaying a blackened eye as a token of bravery


Soakin' in sympathy
Seeking sympathy from others


From friends who never loved you
From individuals who never truly cared for you


Nearly half as much as me
Not even close to the amount of care and affection that I have for you


Broken down in bars and bathrooms
In moments of emotional distress, I found myself in bars and bathrooms


All I did was what I had to
All I did was what was necessary


Don't believe me when I tell you
Please do not trust my words when I say to you


"It's just what anyone would do"
"It's a standard response to the situation that anyone would have"


Take the time to talk about it
Spend some time discussing the matter


Think a lot and live without it
Reflect on the issue and try to live without it affecting you


"It's something unforgivable"
"It's an action that cannot be forgiven"


You never knew
You were unaware


Well I never told you
I never disclosed to you


Everything I know about breaking hearts
Every knowledge I have of heartbreak


I learned from you, it's true
I learned it from you, it's a fact


I've never done it with the style and grace you have
I have never executed it with your level of class and elegance


But I've made long term plans based on these mistakes
However, I have formed future decisions based on those blunders


Is this what you call tact?
Is this what you refer to as diplomacy?


I swear you're as subtle as a brick in the small of my back
I promise you are as discreet as a brick on my lower back


So let's end this call
Thus, let us conclude this call


And end this conversation
And finish this discussion


There's nothing worse...
There is nothing more unpleasant


(That's right he said, that's right he said it)
As he mentioned before, he did say it


That you always had it way too easy
That you consistently had it too straightforward


Best friends means I pulled the trigger
True friends mean I was the one who took action


Best friends means you get what you deserve
Authentic friends signify that you receive what you merit


Best friend means I pulled the trigger!
A true friend implies I initiated the action


Best friend means you get what you deserve!
A genuine friend means you receive what you deserve!




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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@EMOleexJay

the best part is "Everything I know about breaking hearts I learned from you" that line has stuck with me for years.

@paddiecorley1108

This is him basically telling the guy from Brand New to get over the fact that he slept with his girlfriend?

Damn he seems like a really swell guy

@doublecup616

i want to disagree so badly.. but honestly it lines up

@jf13579

LMFAO. When you say it like that homes....

@briancrandall85

Paddie Corley they weren't actually together and it was just making out

@GhostDragon94

Paddie Corley
Guy from Brand New - that's Jesse
And this song is back when he was still there. Least the one guy sounds a lot like him. But very sure Jesse is the one singing in the song too

@lululu174

GhostDragon94 it isnt

20 More Replies...

@afreakinrpggamer

This song makes seventy seven times 7 so much sadder

@aldencoley6841

It is the flip side of the tune (or maybe 7x7 is if it was made after idk lol)

@bendodd5167

I'm the exact opposite

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