Glenn Mercer and Bill Million formed the band as The Outkids in 1976, and changed their name to The Feelies later that year. The band moved to New York and began receiving critical acclaim for their performances. By the 1978, the band consisted of Mercer, Million, basist Keith DeNunzio and drummer Anton Fier. The band released their debut single "Fa Cé-La", on Rough Trade Records in 1979.
In 1980, the band released their debut album, "Crazy Rhythms" on Stiff Records. Fier and DeNunzio left the band shortly after the release of the album, and the band was put on hiatus as Mercer and Million pursued other projects. The two continued to occasionally perform with other musicians as The Feelies throughout the early 1980's.
The band reformed in 1985 with a lineup consisting of Million, Mercer, Dave Wackerman, Brenda Sauter and Stan Demeski and released "The Good Earth" in 1986. The album was co-produced by R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck. The Feelies toured with Lou Reed and R.E.M. during 1986.
In 1988, the band released "Only Life" on A&M Records, and in 1991, released "Time for a Witness" on the same label. The band disbanded in 1992.
The band reunited in 2008 and toured with Sonic Youth, before beginning a schedule of festival dates throughout 2009 and 2010. The band released their fifth album, "Here Before", on Bar/None Records in 2011.
The Boy With the Perpetual Nervousness
The Feelies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He doesn't have a lot to say
Well this boy lives right next door and he
Never has nothin' to say
It doesn't seem like he does anything
He never helps out in the yard
He lets his mother carry in groceries
The boy next door is into better things
As far as I can see
The boy next door is into bigger things
The boy next door is me, all right
Well he's not like the boys we used to have
Not like them at all, oh no
Those ones made their parents proud
This one beats 'em all
The boy next door is into better things
As far as I can see
The boy next door is into bigger things
The boy next door is me, yeah
The lyrics to The Feelies' song "The Boy With the Perpetual Nervousness" are about a young man who lives next door to the singer of the song. The lyrics describe the boy as quiet and introverted, not someone who participates in yard work or has much to say. However, the singer believes that the boy is into "better" and "bigger" things than what is visible to the outside world. The song suggests that the boy is misunderstood and underestimated by those around him.
The singer's observations of the boy suggest a sense of empathy and understanding for the boy's situation. The song also contains a sense of irony, as the boy who doesn't seem to do much is depicted as being into "better" and "bigger" things, while the boys who make their parents proud are not as important. Overall, the song suggests that people should not judge others based on their outward appearance and behavior, as there may be more to them than meets the eye.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a kid I know but not too well
I am familiar with someone, but not particularly close to them
He doesn't have a lot to say
He is not very talkative
Well this boy lives right next door and he
The person being referred to in the song is a neighbor
Never has nothin' to say
He rarely speaks
It doesn't seem like he does anything
He doesn't appear to be very active
He never helps out in the yard
He doesn't assist with any chores or tasks around the house
He lets his mother carry in groceries
He doesn't offer to help his mother with carrying in the groceries
'Cause he doesn't plan to work too hard
He is not motivated to work very hard
The boy next door is into better things
The neighbor is interested in higher quality or more sophisticated activities
As far as I can see
Based on my observations
The boy next door is into bigger things
The neighbor is interested in more ambitious activities
The boy next door is me, all right
The artist is revealing that they are actually the neighbor being described
Well he's not like the boys we used to have
The neighbor is different from other boys the singer has encountered in the past
Not like them at all, oh no
The difference is significant
Those ones made their parents proud
Other boys the singer has encountered were able to make their parents proud
This one beats 'em all
The neighbor's achievements surpass those of other boys the artist has encountered
The boy next door is into better things
The neighbor is interested in higher quality or more sophisticated activities
As far as I can see
Based on my observations
The boy next door is into bigger things
The neighbor is interested in more ambitious activities
The boy next door is me, yeah
The artist repeats that they are the neighbor being described
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: B. MILLION, G. MERCER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind