Referred to by some as ”19th Century Indie pop”, The Brobecks began in Clearfield, Utah. They have released 4 studio albums, their most popular being Violent Things.
SPIN Magazine has referred to them as ”Adorable, intelligent indie-pop.”
BAND MEMBERS INCLUDE:
2003- Present
Dallon Weekes (Frontman/Bass/Songwriting)
2003-2007
Michael Gross (Frontman/Guitar/Songwriting)
2003-2005
Matt Glass (Drums/Production)
Bryan Szymanski (Keyboard)
2003-2004
Casey Durrans (Guitar)
2003-2003
Scott Jones (Frontman/Guitar)
2005-2007
Dave Chisholm (Keyboard/Songwriting)
Nate Leslie (Drums)
2008-2009
Josh Rheault (Keyboard)
Conner Doyle (Guitar)
Drew Davidson (Drums)
2009-2009
Ryan Seaman (Drums)
Small Cuts
The Brobecks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To cover up small cuts,
Hid' 'neath the bandages,
Under her sleeve.
She just wants attention.
We all want attention.
She just wants it more than,
Goodnight,
Sleep tight,
Don't let anyone bite you.
She will leave you deaf and bewildered.
Oh how she floats like a butterfly,
Stings like a killer.
All of the good kids,
Will darken their eyelids,
Cover in make-up,
And uncomfortable dress.
They just want attention.
We all want attention.
A beautiful kiss and a sin to confess.
Goodnight,
Sleep tight,
Don't let anyone bite you.
She will leave you deaf and bewildered,
Oh how she floats like a butterfly,
Stings like a killer.
It doesn't take much,
To cover up small cuts,
Hid' 'neath the bandages,
Under her sleeves.
Oh...
The Brobecks's song Small Cuts is about the desperate need for attention that some people have and the lengths that they will go to in order to get it. The singer describes how it doesn't take much to hide the small cuts under one's sleeve, and yet this is enough to get people to pay attention to them. The use of the phrase "small cuts" is interesting because it can be interpreted both metaphorically and literally - either as physical cuts on the skin or emotional wounds that need to be hidden. The singer also suggests that the person seeking attention may be exaggerating their struggles, pretending to be more wounded than they really are in order to get more attention.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the idea that everyone wants attention, but some people want it more desperately than others. The repeated lines "Goodnight, sleep tight, don't let anyone bite you" create a sense of vulnerability and fear, as if the singer is warning the listener to be careful of those who seek attention at any cost. The image of someone who "floats like a butterfly, stings like a killer" is interesting because it suggests that the person seeking attention may seem harmless or even beautiful, but in reality they can be dangerous.
Overall, Small Cuts is a powerful commentary on the need for human connection and the lengths that some people will go to in order to get it. It is a warning to be wary of those who seem too desperate for attention and to remember that everyone has their own struggles, whether or not they choose to hide them.
Line by Line Meaning
It doesn't take much,
Covering up emotional pain doesn't require much effort.
To cover up small cuts,
Hiding emotional scars at the surface level doesn't require elaborate efforts either.
Hid' 'neath the bandages,
Emotional scars are often hidden to avoid judgment or stigma associated with them.
Under her sleeve.
It's possible to hide emotional pain and scars behind clothing or fake smiles in public.
She just wants attention.
The girl craves attention, which is a common human desire.
We all want attention.
The need to be seen and validated by others is a universal human desire, not just confined to one person or gender.
She just wants it more than,
However, the girl's need for attention might be more pronounced than some others.
She'd have you believe.
The girl may try to play it cool or act indifferent about her need for attention.
Goodnight,
Wishing someone a pleasant sleep at the end of the day.
Sleep tight,
Wishing someone a good sleep and sweet dreams with a sense of comfort and safety.
Don't let anyone bite you.
Metaphorically warning someone to be careful about who they interact with in the world, who might 'bite' them emotionally.
She will leave you deaf and bewildered.
The girl might confuse or hurt someone who gets too close to her emotional scars.
Oh how she floats like a butterfly,
The girl can appear light and graceful, like a butterfly.
Stings like a killer.
But she can also hurt someone's soul at a deep level, like a deadly insect sting.
All of the good kids,
The song labels some people as 'good kids', suggesting some are seen as 'bad' or less desirable.
Will darken their eyelids,
Those good kids might use makeup or other methods to appear more attractive or interesting.
Cover in make-up,
Good kids might attempt to cover up perceived flaws, both physical and emotional.
And uncomfortable dress.
Good kids might try on personas or styles that don't match their true selves, in the pursuit of acceptance and attention.
A beautiful kiss and a sin to confess.
Good kids might make mistakes or act out of character in their quest for attention or love, and they might feel guilt or shame afterward.
Contributed by Aaron T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.