An acclaimed live band, The Outlets attained success in the greater Boston music scene but failed to gain national attention, despite modest critical acclaim including a recommendation from Billboard. They are best known for the single "Knock Me Down", a regional hit. David Alex Barton reunited The Outlets in the late 1990s. The band reunited again in 2005. Barton's son plays in the bands Call of Decency and Altitude Zero, bands which originated at the Fenn School.
Barton's brother, Rick went on to be a founding member of Dropkick Murphys[[/artist], though he has subsequently left the group. He is currently on tour with his new band Everybody Out. Walter Gustafson's post-Outlets resume includes several tours drumming for Gang Green as well as stints with The Freeze and Nervous Eaters. Today he plays with Mung and Con-Sole.
Barton boys' cousin, Somerville, MA guitarist/songwriter Bill Trudell cowrote many Outlets songs and helped define The Outlets' early sound. Trudell released a collection of songs entitled ''Pleasure Package'' in June 2008.
I'm A Mess
The Outlets Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm not like I used to be
This all seems real to you
Tell me how's it feel today
Lulo Paloo oh
It's all coming back
Just got to knock the train off the track
I said, I'm messed up can't you tell?
Nothing wrong
Nothing's wrong with me
Nothing's wrong with me
Wrong with me, hey
You don't believe me
Don't look right for you
Looks like you're messed up too
I can't tell you what to do
It's all he wants
Tell me again
My heads all messed up
I can't turn our lives around
I might as well be dead instead
Nothing's wrong
Nothing's wrong with me
Nothing's wrong with me
Wrong with me, hey
Nothing's wrong
Nothing's wrong with me
Nothing's wrong
Nothing's wrong with me
Nothing's wrong
Nothing's wrong with me
Nothing's wrong with me
Wrong with me
You say
You say there's something wrong with me
Nothings wrong
It's just a song to me
You say
You say there's something wrong with me
Nothing's wrong
It's just a song to me
'Cause I'm not what you think
It's time that you think
I'm not what you think
It's time that you think
I'm not what you think
Like you think
About what you think
'Cause I'm not what you think
It's time that you think
I'm not what you think
It's time that you think
I'm not what you think
I don't know
About what you think
The lyrics of "I'm A Mess" by The Outlets express a sense of disillusionment and frustration with trying to communicate who the singer has become. The singer feels that they have changed significantly, and yet those around them are still seeing them in the same way they always have. The repeated refrain of "nothing's wrong with me" could be interpreted as a defense mechanism, an attempt to convince both themselves and others that they are not struggling or lost.
The chorus is notable for how it changes throughout the song. At first, the repetition of "nothing's wrong with me" seems almost manic, a desperate assertion of control over a situation that the singer feels they cannot change. As the song progresses, however, the chorus becomes more introspective. The lines "I'm not what you think / It's time that you think" imply that perhaps the singer is not sure who they are themselves, and that they are struggling to reconcile their internal and external identities.
Line by Line Meaning
I keep trying to get the point across
I am attempting to make you understand my situation
I'm not like I used to be
I have changed from my previous self
This all seems real to you
You believe that my reality is true
Tell me how's it feel today
Explain to me your current emotional state
Lulo Paloo oh
A nonsensical phrase used for stylistic effect
It's all coming back
Memories and feelings are resurfacing
Just got to knock the train off the track
I need a major change to occur
You say you know me well
You claim to have a deep understanding of me
I said, I'm messed up can't you tell?
I have communicated that I am not emotionally stable
Nothing wrong
I see nothing problematic
Nothing's wrong with me
I am not defective
Nothing's wrong with me
I am not broken
Wrong with me, hey
I am not in a poor emotional state
You don't believe me
You do not find my statement to be truthful
Don't look right for you
Your perception of me seems incorrect
Looks like you're messed up too
It appears that you are also suffering emotionally
I can't tell you what to do
It is not my place to advise you
It's all he wants
He desires a specific outcome
Tell me again
Please repeat yourself
My heads all messed up
I am overwhelmed with emotion
I can't turn our lives around
I am unable to improve our situation
I might as well be dead instead
Death seems like a preferable alternative to my current state
You say there's something wrong with me
You believe that I have a problem
Nothing's wrong
I do not see any issues
It's just a song to me
These thoughts and emotions are merely a song to me
'Cause I'm not what you think
Your perception of me is incorrect
It's time that you think
You need to reconsider your thoughts about me
Like you think
The way you currently perceive me
About what you think
You need to think again about your beliefs regarding me
I don't know
I am uncertain
About what you think
Regarding your perception of me
Lyrics © WHIRLED MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: BARTON DAVID ALEX
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@thomaslynes3843
This song is a masterpiece. The guitar hook in this song ranks with the greatest. The Outlets never forgot there roots and always played this song live. Thanks for posting, Awsome !
@sthlng2180
Heard this on ''The Hallow'' and it's one of those awesome songs I end up finding somewhere. It's great!
@aircooledGR
me too!
@willyruedas
de la pelicula los hijos del diablo