The band formed in 1986 as an underground punk rock act. Their popularity grew during the following decade with the 1992 album It's A Shame About Ray, which was produced, engineered, and mixed by The Robb Brothers (Bruce Robb, Dee, and Joe), followed by a cover of Simon and Garfunkel's "Mrs. Robinson", which eventually became one of the band's most successful singles.
Throughout its various incarnations, recording and touring lineups of the band have included co-founders Ben Deily and Jesse Peretz, John Strohm (Blake Babies), Doug Trachten, Corey Loog Brennan, Byron Hoag, Ben Daughtry, Juliana Hatfield (Blake Babies), Nic Dalton (Godstar, Sneeze, The Plunderers), Dave Ryan, Patrick "Murph" Murphy (Dinosaur Jr), Bill Gibson (Eastern Dark), Mark 'Budola' Newman, Kenny Lyon, Vess Ruhtenberg, Devon Ashley, Karl Alvarez and Bill Stevenson (Descendents), P. David Hazel and various others.
Cited as one of the most important alternative rock groups, The Lemonheads were active until 1997 and went on hiatus, but reformed with a new lineup in 2005 and released The Lemonheads in the following year. The band released its latest album, Varshons, in June 2009.
The Outdoor Type
The Lemonheads Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Always paid the rent
But I never set foot inside a tent
I couldn't build fire to save my life
I lied about being the outdoor type
I never slept out underneath the stars
The closest that I came to that
In the suburbs at night
I lied about being the outdoor type
Too scared to let you know
You knew what you were looking for
I lied until I fit the bill
God bless the great indoors
I lied about being the outdoor type
I've never owned a sleeping bag
Let alone a mountain bike
I can't go away with you on a rock climbing weekend
What if something's on tv, and it's never shown again?
Just is well I'm not invited
I'm afraid of heights
I lied about being the outdoor type
Never learned to swim
Can't grow a beard or even fight
I lied about being the outdoor type
In The Lemonheads' song The Outdoor Type, the singer admits to never having been much of an outdoorsman despite his claims otherwise. The lyrics detail his lack of experience in camping, building fires, and sleeping under the stars. He also expresses his fear of activities like rock climbing and swimming, and admits to lying about his abilities to impress someone he likes. The chorus repeats the line "I lied about being the outdoor type," indicating that the singer knows he has been dishonest about his abilities.
The song is a humorous take on the pressure to be masculine and adventurous, particularly in romantic relationships. The singer feels the need to pretend to be something he is not in order to impress his partner, rather than simply being honest about his preferences and limitations. The line "God bless the great indoors" implies that the singer is more comfortable inside, and perhaps feels that this is not an acceptable trait for a man to possess.
Overall, The Outdoor Type is a lighthearted and relatable commentary on the expectations placed on men to be rugged and self-sufficient.
Line by Line Meaning
Always had a roof above me
I have always had a safe place to stay and never had to rough it outdoors
Always paid the rent
I have always been responsible with my finances and kept a roof over my head
But I never set foot inside a tent
I have never gone camping and stayed in a tent
I couldn't build fire to save my life
I am not skilled in wilderness survival techniques, such as building a fire
I lied about being the outdoor type
I pretended to be someone who enjoys outdoor activities, even though I don't
I never slept out underneath the stars
I have never slept outside and enjoyed the beauty of the night sky
The closest that I came to that
The most similar experience I have had is when my car broke down for an hour in the suburbs at night
Was one time my car broke down for an hour
The closest I have come to sleeping outdoors was when my car broke down for an hour in the suburbs at night
In the suburbs at night
I wasn't even really in a wilderness setting when my car broke down
Too scared to let you know
I was too fearful to admit that I wasn't comfortable with outdoor activities
You knew what you were looking for
You were seeking a partner who enjoys outdoor activities
I lied until I fit the bill
I pretended to be someone I'm not in order to meet your expectations
God bless the great indoors
I am grateful for the comfort and safety of indoor spaces
Never learned to swim
I never learned to swim, another outdoor activity
Can't grow a beard or even fight
I am not manly or rugged, two qualities often associated with outdoorsmen
I lied about being the outdoor type
I have been living a lie and pretending to be someone I'm not for fear of losing you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: TOM MORGAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@daviswall3319
God bless the great indoors !
@Robotman
Here because Tim Downie shared this awesome tune in a story