The Red Hot Valentines were a pop-punk/emo band from Champaign, Illinois. T… Read Full Bio ↴The Red Hot Valentines were a pop-punk/emo band from Champaign, Illinois. They formed in 1999, with Jeff Johnson (lead vocals, guitar), Tobin Kirk (backing vocals, guitar), David Gerkin (backing vocals, bass), Eric Humbert (drums), and Jason Searby (keyboards). They released two full-length albums and three EPs. Jason Searby left the band in 2001 for college shortly after recording their first album, and was replaced by Tyson Markley of The Amazing Kill-O-Watts, who left the band in 2003 to raise his kids. The band went on without a keyboardist, and started to go in a new musical direction, as they were tired of playing the catchy pop that they had been known and loved for. By the end of 2004, they had broken up. Their last show was on November 20, 2004. Jeff Johnson and Tobin Kirk each got married and moved away from the band's central Illinois homeland. Eric has since gone on tour with Fall Out Boy as a drum tech and is currently playing with the band EndeverafteR.

Most of the band relocated to Nashville, but the full lineup played a reunion concert in Bloomington on July 7, 2013.

Don
The Red Hot Valentines Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Things are looking Better already
At least I tell myself they are
Everybody has a solution
Why can't I find one on my guitar
If ignorance is bliss, Well then I'm the king
Someone shook up my world again
If I could paint a smile on my broken face
And nobody can tell that I just can't win

over and over

(chorus)
If I run away
Would it matter anyway?
What would they say
Don't bother the boy, It's just that way

Everything is breaking in pieces
Maybe nothing has changed at all
Strawberries and blood And a long walk home
Who will pick me up when I fall?
Pictures of people that I don't know
Things no one can remember
Always waking up with a brand new scar
And nobody can tell that I just can't win

Over and over
(chorus)

Overall Meaning

The Red Hot Valentines' song "Don" talks about the struggles of the singer who is trying to find solutions to his problems. The song starts with the singer telling himself that things are looking better already, but deep down he knows that's not true. He feels like everybody else has a solution to their problems but he can't seem to find one even with his guitar. The line "If ignorance is bliss, well then I'm the king" suggests that the singer is aware that he's probably better off not knowing some things but he just can't help it.

The chorus of the song is a reflection of the singer's frustration with his situation. He wonders if running away would make any difference or if it's better to just stay and face his problems. He's afraid of what people might say if he does run away and decides to stay despite everything falling apart around him. The line "Don't bother the boy, it's just that way" shows that people have given up or don't care about the singer's situation.

The second verse talks about the singer's despair and his self-harm as a way of coping. He feels like everything is breaking into pieces and nothing has changed at all. The line "Strawberries and blood and a long walk home, who will pick me up when I fall?" suggests that the singer is hurting himself by cutting himself and he's worried about who will be there to help him back up. The song ends with the singer talking about waking up with a brand new scar, which shows that he's been struggling for a while.

Line by Line Meaning

Things are looking Better already
Despite feeling low, I am trying my best to see the positive side of things.

At least I tell myself they are
I am trying to convince myself that things are getting better.

Everybody has a solution
Everyone seems to have an answer to my problems.

Why can't I find one on my guitar
I am struggling to find a solution to my problems through music.

If ignorance is bliss, Well then I'm the king
I am feeling a sense of apathy and resignation towards my situation.

Someone shook up my world again
Something has happened to disrupt my already unstable life.

If I could paint a smile on my broken face
I wish I could hide my pain and present a more positive image of myself.

And nobody can tell that I just can't win
Despite my efforts, I still feel like I am constantly failing.

over and over
This cycle of feeling helpless and defeated is recurring.

If I run away
I am considering escaping my problems by leaving the situation altogether.

Would it matter anyway?
I am unsure if anyone would even care if I left.

What would they say
I am concerned about other people's opinions of me.

Don't bother the boy, It's just that way
I feel like people see me as a lost cause and don't want to waste their time helping me.

Everything is breaking in pieces
My life is falling apart and I can't seem to fix anything.

Maybe nothing has changed at all
Despite my efforts, things are still terrible and I am still struggling.

Strawberries and blood And a long walk home
I experienced a traumatic event and am struggling to cope with it.

Who will pick me up when I fall?
I am feeling alone and unsupported in my struggles.

Pictures of people that I don't know
I am surrounded by unfamiliar people and feeling disconnected from them.

Things no one can remember
My experiences and struggles seem insignificant and unimportant to others.

Always waking up with a brand new scar
I am constantly experiencing new emotional pain and trauma.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: LAUREN CHRISTY, GRAHAM EDWARDS, SCOTT SPOCK, SHAKIRA ISABEL MEBAREK RIPOLL, LEISHA G. HAILEY, HEATHER REID

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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