Recording mostly live, the band released its debut, Almost Killed Me, on French Kiss Records in March 2004 and Separation Sunday a year later. In April 2006 the band signed to Vagrant Records and entered the studio on the 1st of May to begin work on their third record, Boys and Girls in America. Released in October, it was one of the most critically acclaimed records of 2006 and reached a much larger audience than its predecessors.
The band released their fourth album, Stay Positive, recorded again with Boys and Girls in America producer John Agnello. Nicolay left the group and on May 4, 2010 the band released their fifth studio album, Heaven Is Whenever, recorded with producer Dean Baltulonis.
On July 15, 2008, Stay Positive was released. It debuted at #30 on the Billboard 200. It debuted on the UK Album Chart at #15 on July 20, the third-highest new entry. It ranked #1 on the UK Indie Chart. The album was named the best of 2008 by Entertainment Weekly. The song "Constructive Summer" was number 56 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Best Songs of 2008.
Their seventh album, Thrashing Thru the Passion, was released in 2019. Among its songs, "Entitlement Crew" and "Confusion in the Marketplace," were considered standouts.
Soft In The Center
The Hold Steady Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah, sure the stars are in the sky, but the money's still down on the ground
Man, if money didn't matter then I might tell you something new
You can't tell people what they want to hear if you also want to tell the truth
And I'm just trying to tell the truth, kid
I'm just trying to tell the truth
You'll get the ones you love the best
You won't every girl
You'll love the ones you get the best
I know bodies of water freeze over, I'm from a place with lots of lakes
But sometimes they get soft in the center and the center is a dangerous place
It's been a long cold winter and now you're standing on unsafe ice
You could probably do anything if you could just go and get yourself right
You gotta get yourself right, kid
I'm gonna give you some advice
You can't get every girl
You'll get the ones you love the best
You won't every girl
You'll love the ones you get the best
Kid, you can't kiss every girl
You gotta trust me on this one
You gotta trust me on this one
I know what you're going through
I had to go through that too
I know what you're going through
I had to go through that too
You can't get every girl
You'll get the ones you love the best
You won't every girl
You'll love the ones you get the best
You can't get every girl
You'll get the ones you love the best
You won't every girl
You'll love the ones you get the best
I know what you're going through
Soft In The Center by The Hold Steady is a song that deals with the dangers of desire and the importance of self-awareness. The lyrics talk about the idea that it is impossible to have everything in life, but it is possible to have what truly matters. The song opens with lines that imply a certain degree of hopelessness. The hospital is letting the singer go, but the city is still there, with all its harshness and indifference. The second line furthers this sense of disappointment by stating that although the stars are in the sky, the real power lies in money, which is still on the ground.
The next verses serve as a sort of advice, particularly to a young man who might be struggling with the concept of desire. The singer is telling the young man that he cannot have everything and that he should focus on what matters most. The idea that the center is a dangerous place is used as a metaphor to explain that too much of something is often not good. The young man is advised to take care of himself before pursuing anything else so that he can be in a position to enjoy what he has. The final verse expresses empathy with the young man, acknowledging that the singer, too, has gone through the same experience of navigating desire and the pursuit of happiness.
Overall, Soft In The Center is a song that delivers a message of self-awareness and prioritization. It urges listeners to be mindful of their desires and to focus on what truly matters to them. The song's wistful quality combined with the steady rhythm and earnest delivery of the lyrics gives it a sentimental and relatable quality, making it a fan favourite among The Hold Steady's repertoire.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, the hospital's going to let you go, but the city's gonna stick around
You may get discharged from the hospital, but your surroundings will still be the same.
Yeah, sure the stars are in the sky, but the money's still down on the ground
Although the beauty of nature exists, the reality of economics still governs the world.
Man, if money didn't matter then I might tell you something new
If wealth was not important, I could enlighten you with a new understanding.
You can't tell people what they want to hear if you also want to tell the truth
You cannot satisfy everyone by telling them what they want to hear and still uphold honesty.
And I'm just trying to tell the truth, kid
I am simply attempting to convey the truth, my friend.
You can't get every girl
You cannot end up with every girl you desire.
You'll get the ones you love the best
You can have the ones you love the most.
You won't every girl
You will not obtain every girl that you want.
You'll love the ones you get the best
You will cherish the ones that you do end up with.
I know bodies of water freeze over, I'm from a place with lots of lakes
Being from a location with many lakes, I understand how bodies of water can freeze over.
But sometimes they get soft in the center and the center is a dangerous place
Sometimes, lakes can become dangerous when the center is not as solid as the perimeter.
It's been a long cold winter and now you're standing on unsafe ice
After a prolonged cold winter, you may stand on frozen water that is not safe to walk on.
You could probably do anything if you could just go and get yourself right
If you can address your concerns and improve your mental state, you can likely accomplish anything.
You gotta get yourself right, kid
You must take care of yourself, my friend.
I'm gonna give you some advice
I have counsel to offer you.
Kid, you can't kiss every girl
It is not feasible to romantically engage with every girl we encounter.
You gotta trust me on this one
Please believe me on this matter.
I know what you're going through
I understand what you are experiencing.
I had to go through that too
I have encountered that same predicament in the past.
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: CRAIG FINN, TAD JASON KUBLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind