Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Donnas
Studio albums
The Donnas (1997)
American Teenage Rock 'n' Roll Machine (1998)
Get Skintight (1999)
Turn 21 (2001)
Spend the Night (2002)
Gold Medal (2004)
Bitchin' (2007)
Fall Behind Me
The Donnas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She got too close and she caught it
Had a point but she forgot it
When you skip steps on the way up
The gaps have a way of catching up
And you can't cover that with makeup
Your gonna fall behind me
'Cause your not ready baby
And you got nothing on me
And you got nothing on me)
Now that I'm getting to know her
Part of me wants to show her
Who she's really screwing over
Cause she's got nothing real
Taking everything she can steal
Just like it was her last meal
[Repeat: x2]
Your gonna fall behind me
Your gonna cry and beg for mercy
'Cause your not ready baby
And you got nothing on me
How long is she gonna be around
And how long do we have to watch her dumb it down
'Cause when its cheap it fades fast
And how long does she think it's gonna last?
Your gonna fall behind me
Your gonna cry and beg for mercy
'Cause your not ready baby
And you got nothing on me
Your gonna fall behind me
Your gonna cry and beg for mercy
'Cause your not ready baby
And you got nothing on me
And you got nothing on me
And you got nothing on me
And you got nothing on me
The Donnas's song "Fall Behind Me" features lyrics that tell a story of envy, deceit, and ultimately triumph. The singer cannot believe that someone has fallen for a trap that she herself may have set for them. The chorus is a taunt, warning the victim, now left behind, that they should never have been competing in the first place. In the second verse, the singer is getting to know the victim, and is nearly compelled to offer some kindness or teach a lesson, but ultimately decides to let the victim continue to suffer the consequences of their naivety. The bridge raises questions about how long the victim will be allowed to hurt others and lie her way through life.
The song is rife with symbolism and metaphor. The "gaps" mentioned in the first verse could be interpreted as short cuts taken by the victim, who can now no longer hide her mistakes. The image of "covering that with makeup" is a reference to attempts to hide flaws or imperfections. The chorus, with its repetition and bold threats, suggests that the victim has no chance of ever catching up to the singer. The theme of female sabotage is a recurring one in The Donnas's work, and "Fall Behind Me" is no exception. The song is a warning to others to stay out of their way.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't believe she bought it
I am surprised that she fell for it
She got too close and she caught it
She got too involved and it backfired on her
Had a point but she forgot it
She had a good argument but she lost sight of it
When you skip steps on the way up
When you don't do things the right way to succeed
The gaps have a way of catching up
Mistakes and shortcomings will eventually come back to haunt you
And you can't cover that with makeup
You can't hide your flaws and failures with surface-level fixes
Your gonna fall behind me
I am more successful and talented than you
Your gonna cry and beg for mercy
You will realize your own inferiority and plead for forgiveness
'Cause your not ready baby
You don't have what it takes to keep up with me
And you got nothing on me
You can't measure up to my abilities and potential
Now that I'm getting to know her
As I am getting to know her better
Part of me wants to show her
I want to demonstrate to her
Who she's really screwing over
How she is actually hurting herself
Cause she's got nothing real
Her life lacks authenticity and purpose
Taking everything she can steal
She is trying to take advantage of everything she can
Just like it was her last meal
As if she were trying to make the most of the last time she will ever have this opportunity
How long is she gonna be around
How much longer will she remain a factor
And how long do we have to watch her dumb it down
How much time do we have to tolerate her becoming less competent
'Cause when its cheap it fades fast
When something is acquired recklessly or easily, it doesn't last
And how long does she think it's gonna last?
How long does she believe she can sustain this facade
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ALLISON ROBERTSON, BRETT ANDERSON, MAYA FORD, TORRANCE CASTELLANO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind