The 88 is a power pop band which formed in 2003 in Los Angeles, California,… Read Full Bio ↴The 88 is a power pop band which formed in 2003 in Los Angeles, California, United States. The band consists of Keith Slettedahl (vocals, guitar), Adam Merrin (keyboards), Todd O'Keefe (bass guitar) and Anthony Zimmitti (drums).

The group has released five albums since their formation: "Kind of Light" (2003), "Over and Over" (2005), "Not Only...But Also" (2008), "This Must Be Love" (2009) and "The 88" (2010). Additionally, the group provided the soundtrack to the 2012 film "The Lorax". The group's song "At Least It Was Here" is the theme song from the American sitcom "Community".

Hide Another Mistake
The 88 Lyrics

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Over and over
They just say no sir
And now it's a big blur
I hid it up my sleeve

You gotta believe me
Hey I need it badly
And they never see me

Those sentimental fools

And I got the west coast sunshine
But it don't mean a thing

I'm getting over like I knew that I would
I'm feeling older than a younger man should
But one of these days I'll finally make good
And hide another mistake

I'm out on the sidewalk
I'm put in a headlock
I tried but I can't stop
I put it in my shoe

And I got the west coast sunshine
But it don't mean a thing

I'm getting over like I knew that I would
I'm feeling older than a younger man should
But one of these days i'll finally make good
And hide another mistake

This is a model tongue
This is the start of what's already done
This is the part that you eat when there's nowhere to turn

I'm getting over like I knew that I would
I'm feeling older than a younger man should
But one of these days i'll finally make good
And hide another mistake

I'm getting over like I knew that I would
I'm feeling older than a younger man should

But one of these days i'll finally make good
And hide another mistake

Overall Meaning

The 88's song "Hide Another Mistake" seems to be about a person who is struggling with addiction or some other vice that they are trying to keep hidden from others. The person in the song keeps doing things that they know they shouldn't and trying to cover them up, but they can't seem to shake their bad habits. The first verse seems to imply that the person keeps getting caught or called out on their behavior (they say "no sir" over and over), but they continue to hide it up their sleeve. The second verse talks about how the person is feeling desperate and needs whatever it is they're addicted to badly, and they're frustrated with others who don't understand them. The chorus repeats the idea that the person knows they're making mistakes but they're determined to "hide another mistake" and keep going.

The middle section of the song is a bit more abstract and seems to be describing the cycle of addiction or bad habits. "This is a model tongue" could be a reference to the idea of presenting a polished and put-together version of oneself to the world, while "this is the start of what's already done" implies that the person is constantly living with the consequences of their actions. "This is the part that you eat when there's nowhere to turn" could be a metaphor for the idea that when someone feels trapped or overwhelmed by their problems, they start to consume or internalize them.

Overall, the song seems to capture the feeling of being stuck in a cycle of destructive behavior and the desperation to keep it hidden from others, even as it takes its toll on the individual.

Line by Line Meaning

Over and over
Repeatedly facing the same situation

They just say no sir
Being denied what is wanted

And now it's a big blur
Unclear memory of the past events

I hid it up my sleeve
Concealing something

You gotta believe me
Asking for trust and understanding

Hey I need it badly
Expressing a strong desire for something

And they never see me
Going unnoticed by others

Those sentimental fools
Referring to people who are overly emotional

And I got the west coast sunshine
Having a good environment but not being satisfied

But it don't mean a thing
Being unimportant or irrelevant

I'm getting over like I knew that I would
Successfully handling the situation as anticipated