There are two American bands named The Kicks. The first one, from Arkansas,… Read Full Bio ↴There are two American bands named The Kicks. The first one, from Arkansas, has been inactive since 2004. The second one, from Tennessee, was also known as The Four Kicks.

I) The Kicks (inactive) were a pop punk band from Little Rock, Arkansas.
They formed in 2000 under their original name, Ashtray Babyhead, and gathered a local fanbase.
They were compared to The Ataris and blink-182, but never experienced the success of either of those two bands.
The band changed their name to The Kicks and were signed to XS Records. Their Self-Titled debut album was released in 2002.

After touring with such bands as Nada Surf, The Donnas, and Dashboard Confessional, The Kicks moved to TVT Records, underwent a lineup change, and released "Hello Hong Kong" in 2003.

The band has been inactive since 2004.

II) The Kicks (2009-present) were previously known as the Four Kicks. They are based in Nashville, Tennessee, and play classic rock / British invasion songs.

12 Steps
The Kicks Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Turn your face up to the sun
You've just begun,
You've just begun
So head out in the wind
To put yourself,
12 steps from them...

Tell me what you want

Tell me what you need
Tell me all the lies that are in your head
But I think I would stay away...

Tell me what you want
Tell me what you need
Tell me all the lies that are in your head
But I think I would stay away (from dad)
Now you know it's right
Now you know it's right

When your world came crashing in
You lost yourself
Somewhere out there
So you see we're just the same
We picked up our paths
In fields of pain

Tell me what you want
Tell me what you need
Tell me all the lies that are in your head
But I think I would stay away...

Tell me what you want
Tell me what you need
Tell me all the lies that are in your head
But I think I would stay away (from dad)
Now you know it's right
Now you know it's right
Now you know it's right

It's played out now
Played out now

Why don't you
Tell me what you want
Tell me what you need
Tell me all the lies that are in your head
But I think I would stay away...

Tell me what you want
Tell me what you need
Tell me all the lies that are in your head
But I think I would

Stay away
Stay away

Overall Meaning

The Kicks' song "12 Steps" talks about finding oneself after a breakdown in life. The song starts by encouraging the listener to turn their face up to the sun and head out in the wind, as they have just begun. These lines symbolize a fresh start or a new beginning for the listener. However, the lyrics also indicate that the listener has to put some distance between themselves and others in their life. The line "To put yourself, 12 steps from them," implies that the listener needs space to heal and recover from their past experiences.

As the song progresses, the lyrics ask the listener to be honest about what they want and need and to tell all the lies that are in their head. This honesty may help the listener to move forward and make better decisions for themselves. However, the lyrics also caution the listener to stay away from their dad, as he may not be able to provide the support they need to heal.

The chorus repeats itself twice, emphasizing the importance of identifying what the listener wants and needs. It also highlights the fact that the listener now knows what is right for them, indicating that they have made progress in their healing journey.

Overall, "12 Steps" is an uplifting song that encourages listeners to embrace new beginnings, be honest about their needs, and distance themselves from those who do not support their growth.

Line by Line Meaning

Turn your face up to the sun
Look towards the positive aspects of life

You've just begun
There is a new beginning

So head out in the wind
Take a chance and put yourself out there

To put yourself,
Get out of your comfort zone

12 steps from them...
Create some distance from negative people or influences

Tell me what you want
Be honest about your desires

Tell me what you need
Be honest about your needs

Tell me all the lies that are in your head
Confess the false thoughts you tell yourself

But I think I would stay away...
Despite wanting to help, it may not be the best decision

Now you know it's right
You have gained clarity and understand what you need to do

When your world came crashing in
In times of chaos