Jeff Heiskell, the singer, and later members Dave Jenkins and Paul Noe formed the totally unknown but great Doubters Club that recorded for the Disgraceland label in 1995 and then broke up when Jenkins and Noe ran off to Nashville to form a (terrible) mod-rock band that failed (miserably). Jeff reformed the Judybats in 2000 with the album "'00" and subsequently rocked Knoxville, Chicago, Baltimore, and all points in-between on numerous small tours promoting their album and their later EP "Six Pack of New Tracks".
Currently, Jeff is working with Heiskell, a band formed with Mike Hairrell (percussion), Doug Hairrell (guitar), and Rob Bell (bass), all members of The second iteration of the Judybats.
Being Simple
The Judybats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They don't break like glass but they bruise easily
This one you bruise
Words will not be spoken never knowing what they mean
Sticks and stones hurt my bones, your promises have broken me
Each one you break
[Chorus:]
Simple is forgetting
I simply can't forget
I want to be good but good is being simple
Simple is forgetting
And I simply can't forget
Eyes are always open even when they sleep
Mine are mostly closed while yours are wandering
You look where you please
[Chorus]
I want to be great but greatness is giving
Giving leaves me empty
Oh great emptiness
Souls cannot be taken, they're large and they're loud
Yours merely whispers lately; seems it's shrinkin'
I wish it would speak
[Chorus]
I want to be great but greatness is giving
Giving leaves me empty
Oh great emptiness
The Judybats' song "Being Simple" is a poignant exploration of love and heartbreak. The opening lines, "Hearts cannot be broken, they're small squishy things / They don't break like glass but they bruise easily / This one you bruise," introduce the theme of vulnerability and how easily one's heart can be hurt, even without being shattered like glass. The verses continue to explore the idea of hurt, with the singer feeling broken by their partner's promises and being unable to forget the pain they've caused.
The chorus, with its repeated refrain of "And I want to be good but good is being simple / Simple is forgetting / I simply can't forget," speaks to the desire to move on and forget the pain, but feeling unable to do so. The singer recognizes that simplicity is key to letting go of the hurt, but they can't help but dwell on it.
The final verse shifts focus to the partner's soul, which the singer notes is shrinking and becoming quieter. They long for their partner to express themselves more fully, to speak more openly and honestly about their feelings. The chorus repeats once more, emphasizing the singer's frustration at their inability to move on and leave the pain behind.
Overall, the song captures the complexity and difficulty of moving on from heartbreak, and the tension between the desire to be good and kind versus the struggles of forgetting and letting go.
Line by Line Meaning
Hearts cannot be broken, they're small squishy things
The heart is not physically fragile like glass but can be emotionally bruised easily
They don't break like glass but they bruise easily
The heart is emotionally sensitive and easily hurt
This one you bruise
You have hurt my heart
Words will not be spoken never knowing what they mean
Words can be spoken without truly understanding their significance
Sticks and stones hurt my bones, your promises have broken me
Physical pain is temporary, but broken promises can hurt deeply and have lasting effects
Each one you break
You have broken promises and caused me pain
And I want to be good but good is being simple
I want to be a good person, but sometimes being simple and uncomplicated is the best approach
Simple is forgetting
Being simple can mean forgetting or letting go of complicated emotions and thoughts
I simply can't forget
I am struggling to let go of my feelings and memories
Eyes are always open even when they sleep
One can be aware and observant even when seemingly resting
Mine are mostly closed while yours are wandering
I am not as alert and attentive as you are
You look where you please
You are free to observe and explore as you wish
I want to be great but greatness is giving
I aspire to be great, but true greatness involves giving of oneself
Giving leaves me empty
Although giving can be fulfilling, it can also lead to feeling depleted or drained
Oh great emptiness
The feeling of emptiness that can follow giving or self-sacrifice
Souls cannot be taken, they're large and they're loud
The soul is a powerful and resilient part of a person that cannot be easily destroyed or taken away
Yours merely whispers lately; seems it's shrinkin'
Your soul seems to be losing strength and vitality, becoming weaker over time
I wish it would speak
I wish your soul would become stronger and more vocal, expressing itself more fully
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DAVE JENKINS, ED WINTERS, JEFF HEISKELL, JOHNNY SUGHRUE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@manxuberglider8
I’ve loved this song since it was on the radio in 1994. I remembered them from MTVs 120 Minutes. This is an all time masterpiece. Well, 26 years later sounds great as ever. Pandemic listening, 4/1/20.
@fv6125
It was in the Billboard Modern Rock charts in 1993
@darold1966
Yes. Yes! Darn good - as always. Yum!
@modernchampionmusic81
😂pandemic
@dr4782
This song is perfect 1990s melancholia.
@sangeli1901
Don’t You know it!
@madhatter38m
Saw these guys 8-9 times back in the day in Knoxville. Such a great band to go to college with. His range was utterly amazing
@sadcore327
Beautiful song. I miss 1994 with every cell of my being.
@PinkGlamGirl
sadcore same♡♡♡♡
@JNugent74
This came out in the summer of 1993.