In 1973, Lance Loud was the "gay son" featured on the first reality TV show, An American Family (which later was parodied by Albert Brooks' Real Life).
After the show, he moved to NYC inspired by his obsession of Andy Warhol and The Velvet Underground. In NYC, he cemented The Mumps' lineup and was one of the crowd favorites of early Punk clubs such as Max's Kansas City and CBGBs, paving the way for the release of their first single "Crocodile Tears" in 1975. After another single much critical praise, the band failed to secure a major label contract, and many recordings of the act languished in obscurity. However, several successful Punk, Power Pop, and Metal bands cite The Mumps as a major influence.
In 1993, the first retrospective was released (Fatal Charm), followed by another in 2005 (How I Saved The World).
Not Again
The Mumps Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Not a hundred, no a thousand times or more
Didn't I tell you?Certainly, I could see
Even if you didn't write the history
Didn't want to catch you, swallowing the key
Couldn't you have seen it was only me?
Not again, not again, not again
I just had to fall on an open book
Not again, not again, not again
I look out of my window hoping that maybe someday, maybe one day
There won't be any reason for me to say
Oh No!
I can feel the weakness, hit me like a blow
Castles start to crumble
No No No!
Not again, not again, not again
Not again, not again, not again
Didn't I tell you? Yes, I admit it is so
But it's not the sort of thing I want to know
Didn't I tell you? Yes, but it's incomplete
Cause the changers always stuck on repeat
Bodies in the closet, bodies in the bed
Some would say the bodies are in your head
Not again, not again, not again
I'm gonna take some spackle, fill in all the cracks
Bury all the mamas with broken backs
Not again, not again, not again
I look out of my window hoping that maybe someday, maybe one day
There won't be any reason for me to say
Oh No!
Sorry for complaining, didn't wanna whine
Can't believe the promise to work out fine
Not again, not again, not again
Not again, not again, not again
Not again, not again, not again
Not again, not again, not again (on out)
In The Mumps's song "Not Again," the lyrics delve into themes of repetition, frustration, and disappointment. The singer expresses their exhaustion with a situation or a person who keeps repeating the same mistakes or behaviors, as indicated by the recurring refrain of "not again." The opening lines, "Didn't I tell you? I've heard it all before," suggest that the singer has already warned or advised the subject numerous times, possibly regarding a past event or a pattern of behavior. Despite the singer's attempts to communicate their knowledge and insight, it seems their words have fallen on deaf ears.
The lyrics convey a sense of frustration and resignation, with the singer feeling trapped in a cycle of disappointment. They express a desire to avoid encountering the same situation again, as seen in the line "Couldn't you have seen it was only me?" The repeated refrain of "not again" reinforces their weariness and reluctance to go through the same experience once more. The line "Even if you didn't write the history" suggests that the subject may not be fully aware of the consequences of their actions or is unwilling to learn from their past mistakes.
In the second verse, the singer's desperation is further emphasized, with the imagery of a crumbling castle symbolizing a collapse of stability. The line "I look out of my window hoping that maybe someday, maybe one day" reflects a longing for a future where the pattern of disappointment and repetition will cease. However, the line "There won't be any reason for me to say, oh no!" indicates their skepticism and lack of hope in this possibility.
Overall, "Not Again" is a song that conveys frustration, weariness, and a longing for change and avoiding repetitive cycles. The lyrics capture the singers' exasperation with a situation or person who continually repeats the same actions or mistakes, despite their attempts to communicate knowledge and warnings.
Line by Line Meaning
Didn't I tell you?I've heard it all before
I've already warned you about this countless times
Not a hundred, no a thousand times or more
I've told you repeatedly, more times than I can even count
Didn't I tell you?Certainly, I could see
I definitely saw this coming, just like I predicted
Even if you didn't write the history
Regardless of whether or not you are responsible for what happened
Didn't want to catch you, swallowing the key
I didn't want to find you holding the secret to our problems
Couldn't you have seen it was only me?
Could you not recognize that I was the one trying to help?
Not again, not again, not again
I can't bear to go through this once more
I didn't want to listen didn't want to look
I purposely avoided hearing the truth or seeing the reality
I just had to fall on an open book
I ended up experiencing the painful truth firsthand
I look out of my window hoping that maybe someday, maybe one day
In my moments of reflection, I yearn for a future where things will be different
There won't be any reason for me to say
I won't have any cause to express my dissatisfaction
Oh No!
An exclamation of disappointment or despair
I can feel the weakness, hit me like a blow
I am overcome by vulnerability, as though struck with a powerful force
Castles start to crumble
Everything that appeared strong and secure begins to collapse
No No No!
An emphatic rejection of the current situation
Didn't I tell you? Yes, I admit it is so
I acknowledge that I previously informed you about this
But it's not the sort of thing I want to know
Even though I am aware, I would rather not have this knowledge
Didn't I tell you? Yes, but it's incomplete
I did warn you, but my previous explanations were not comprehensive
Cause the changers always stuck on repeat
Because the circumstances keep repeating, never changing
Bodies in the closet, bodies in the bed
Figurative reference to hidden secrets and unpleasant truths
Some would say the bodies are in your head
It is insinuated that these issues are merely figments of your imagination
I'm gonna take some spackle, fill in all the cracks
I will attempt to fix all the underlying problems and mend the damages
Bury all the mamas with broken backs
Metaphorically referring to resolving past mistakes and burdens
Not again, not again, not again
I cannot bear going through this once more
Sorry for complaining, didn't wanna whine
Apologies for expressing discontent, I didn't intend to be overly negative
Can't believe the promise to work out fine
I can't place my faith in the assurance of a positive outcome anymore
Not again, not again, not again
I cannot endure this repeated disappointment
Not again, not again, not again (on out)
A repetition of the anguish and frustration, continuing until the end
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: KRISTIAN ROBERT HOFFMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind