… Read Full Bio ↴The Muffs are a rock band based in Southern California, formed in 1991.
After releasing their initial 7" EPs and singles independently and on local labels, The Muffs signed to Warner/Reprise in the early '90s. The band was heavily promoted along with acts such as Mudhoney in the hope of repeating the commercial success of Green Day. Despite the wide exposure afforded by appearing on a wide variety of movie soundtracks ("Clueless" director Amy Heckerling, in particular, had taken a keen interest in their songs) as well as a lucrative Fruitopia commercial, The Muffs were eventually dropped from the label. The Muffs have since continued to release new records on various independent labels.
The Muffs' leader was singer-songwriter Kim Shattuck. The original lineup also included guitarist Melanie Vammen (like Shattuck, a former member of 1980s all-female garage rock outfit The Pandoras), bassist Ronnie Barnett and drummer Criss Crass. Vammen and Crass left after the band's self-titled debut album. Crass was replaced by Jim Laspesa for their 1993 tour with the Goo Goo Dolls, and later by Roy McDonald in 1994. Ironically, McDonald's former band Redd Kross had released a 1987 single, "Play My Song," whose chorus was viewed by many as directed toward The Pandoras, who had recently moved into a hair metal direction: "No metal sluts or punk rock ruts for me, oh no." The Muffs have been a 3-piece since 1995 with members Kim Shattuck, Ronnie Barnett and Roy McDonald.
Lead singer Kim Shattuck died on October 2, 2019, and the band disbanded shortly after.
A character on Mr. Show (HBO, 1995-1999) was named Dr. Shattuck, this was a reference to the lead singer of The Muffs.
All for Nothing
The Muffs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't sit and die for all to see
When I can't get through
Don't you know you're killing me
Am I wise to run away
Are you the kind to always say
Give it a chance
I can't think kind of you
I'm not in my right mind
If I fall asleep
Say goodbye I know you'll keep
Moving on to what's her name
Give it some time it'll be the same
Do it again
You don't want to think it was all for nothing
It was all for nothing
And if you come too late
And take me right away
Then you'll be sad
'Cause I'll be gone forever
You wish you wish
Don't sit and die for all to see
If I can't get through
Don't you know you're killing me
Am I wise to run away
Are you the kind to always say
Give it a chance
You don't want to think it was all for nothing
It was all for nothing
It was all for nothing
The Muffs's song "All For Nothing" is about a struggling relationship that seems to be going nowhere despite efforts to make it work. The song explores an internal conflict between wanting to stay and wanting to leave. The phrases "Am I wise to run away" and "Give it a chance" represent this battle within the singer's mind. The lyrics imply that there is a lack of trust in the relationship with lines like "I'm not in my right mind" and "Do it again." The persistence of holding onto the relationship despite these doubts leads to feelings of frustration, represented by the line "If I can't get through, don't you know you're killing me." The song ends on a bleak note, warning the other person that if they come back at all, it will be too late, and the singer will be gone.
Line by Line Meaning
You wish you wish
You have desires and hopes
Don't sit and die for all to see
Don't remain idle and waste away, drawing attention to yourself in the process
When I can't get through
When I am unable to communicate or connect with you
Don't you know you're killing me
You should be aware that your actions or lack of action are causing me pain and harm
Am I wise to run away
Is it a smart decision for me to leave and avoid this situation
Are you the kind to always say
Are you someone who always speaks their mind and says what they mean
Give it a chance
Let's try and make things work, regardless of past disagreements or issues
I don't want to think it was all for nothing
I don't want to believe that everything we went through and experienced was meaningless or a waste of time
I can't think kind of you
I can't seem to form positive thoughts or feelings about you
I'm not in my right mind
I am not thinking or acting rationally or logically
If I fall asleep
If I die
Say goodbye I know you'll keep
Even if you don't say it, I know you'll be sad and miss me if I go
Moving on to what's her name
Moving on to another person, whose name I can't remember or don't care about
Give it some time it'll be the same
If you wait a bit, you'll realize that the new person or situation isn't any better and it will end up the same as before
Do it again
Let's repeat the same mistakes or patterns as before
You don't want to think it was all for nothing
You don't want to believe that everything we went through and experienced was meaningless or a waste of time
And if you come too late
If you show up after I have died
And take me right away
And try to take me with you immediately
Then you'll be sad
You will feel sorrow or regret
'Cause I'll be gone forever
Because I will have passed away and will never return
It was all for nothing
Everything we went through and experienced was meaningless or a waste of time
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind