The band seemed to get a degree of support from their record label, Island, for their first two LPs, the hard edged "The Buck Pets," and the more melodic follow up "Mercurotones." The band also had opening spots on tour with larger acts such as Jane's Addiction, but in the end The Buck Pets brand of intelligent, crafted, alternative hard rock was probably a few a years too early to see commercial success. However, the band had a large following in the Dallas/Fort Worth and Norman, Oklahoma area who still miss them.
As a coda, the The Buck Pets released the more restrained, melancholy "To The Quick" -- a fine, almost totally ignored LP -- in 1993 on the independent label Restless.
The Bad Sleep Good Or Not At All
The Buck Pets Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm sorry mister, if this is too personal, but
I gotta tell someone, and that's all I know
'Cause she's been havin' to lie about me
So I try to imagine how good it could be, but
Either way it seems like falling is falling
And when it pours you never let me forget
It's more than a shower
And I end up all wet
So I go outside and I take in the rain
But I don't understand and I can't explain
Why I'm confused about a love or a two or three
When two, want to have me, to hold and to keep
But its the other one I can't have
That I think, that I want,
Or maybe just need
Well, don't you ever get tired,
Of saying goodbye
All your world could be as small
As this one room,
If you knew it would be here tomorrow
If you know I won't,
I won't be here tomorrow
I won't be here tomorrow.
The Buck Pets' song "The Bad Sleep Good or Not at All" is a complex exploration of love and desire, tempered by the harsh realities of life. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song, with the singer confessing to a stranger that he has been fixated on a particular poster. This fixation is likely a metaphor for a romantic interest, someone he has been mentally idolizing despite some reservations. He admits that he doesn't know the full story behind his fixation, but he needs to express his thoughts to someone.
The next stanza delves deeper into the singer's romantic confusion. It seems he is caught between two possible love interests - one who wants to be with him, and another he can't have but desires nonetheless. The singer wavers between longing and despair, unsure of how to proceed. This turmoil is further complicated by the presence of rain, which serves to heighten the emotional intensity of the situation. The rain can be seen as a symbol of cleansing or renewal, but in this context, it only adds to the singer's confusion and sense of being overwhelmed.
The final stanza of the song brings a sense of finality to the proceedings. The singer admits that he won't be around much longer, whether because he is leaving or because he is dying is unclear. Whatever the reason, he knows that his time is limited, and this knowledge serves to intensify both his desire and his despair. The final lines leave the listener with a sense of finality, as if the singer has accepted his fate and is ready to move on.
Line by Line Meaning
They stand around while I fondle a poster
Others seem indifferent while I am fixated on something meaningless
I'm sorry mister, if this is too personal, but
I apologize for sharing something intimate
I gotta tell someone, and that's all I know
I have the urge to share despite not fully understanding my own feelings
'Cause she's been havin' to lie about me
Someone has been spreading false information about me
So I try to imagine how good it could be, but
I attempt to visualize a positive outcome
Either way it seems like falling is falling
Regardless of the outcome, failure is a possibility
And the rain, hasn't let up, for over an hour
The storm has been persistent for a long time
And when it pours you never let me forget
During tough times, you remind me of the negative aspects
It's more than a shower
The situation is more intense than a passing rainstorm
And I end up all wet
I am left vulnerable and exposed to the elements
So I go outside and I take in the rain
I face reality directly
But I don't understand and I can't explain
I am struggling to grasp the situation and convey it to others
Why I'm confused about a love or a two or three
I am conflicted about my romantic feelings towards multiple people
When two, want to have me, to hold and to keep
Two individuals desire to be in a relationship with me
But its the other one I can't have
The one I am unable to be with is the one I desire
That I think, that I want,
I believe that I yearn for that individual
Or maybe just need
Perhaps it is not simply a want, but a necessary feeling
Well, don't you ever get tired,
Aren't you exhausted
Of saying goodbye
Saying farewell repeatedly
All your world could be as small
Your life could be confined to a mere room
As this one room,
This restricted space
If you knew it would be here tomorrow
If you were certain of its existence in the future
If you know I won't,
If you recognize that I will not be present
I won't be here tomorrow
I will not be around in the upcoming day
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHARLES C. SAVAGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind