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't Bother
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't Bother" is a melancholic and introspective piece that touches on themes of loneliness and inadequacy. The lyrics depict a struggling narrator who is unable to find a solution to their problems despite everyone else seemingly having one. The line "If ignorance is bliss, well then I'm the king" suggests that the singer is aware of their own ignorance and is struggling to find a way out of their situation.

The song's chorus, with its repetition of the line "Don't bother the boy, it's just that way" can be seen as both a plea for understanding and empathy, as well as a resigned acceptance of the singer's predicament. The final lines of the song, "Always waking up with a brand new scar and nobody can tell that I just can't win, over and over" convey a sense of hopelessness and despair, as the singer seems to be trapped in a cycle of pain and uncertainty.

Overall, "Don't Bother" is a poignant and relatable song that captures the feeling of helplessness that can often accompany difficult times.

Line by Line Meaning

Things are looking Better already
I am trying to convince myself that things are improving.

At least I tell myself they are
I am not necessarily sure that things are better, but I am telling myself they are.

Everybody has a solution
Other people think they know how to solve 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 very ignorant and unaware of what I should do.

Someone shook up my world again
Something has happened that has disrupted my life.

If I could paint a smile on my broken face
I wish I could hide how broken I am feeling and appear happy to other people.

And nobody can tell that I just can't win
I feel like I am constantly losing and struggling, but other people can't tell.

over and over
These problems keep happening repeatedly.

If I run away
I am considering running away from my problems.

Would it matter anyway?
I am questioning whether it would make a difference if I ran away or not.

What would they say
I am worried about what other people would think if I ran away.

Don't bother the boy, It's just that way
I am afraid that other people will dismiss my problems as just the way things are.

Everything is breaking in pieces
My life feels like it is falling apart.

Maybe nothing has changed at all
Despite my efforts, I feel like my problems are still the same.

Strawberries and blood And a long walk home
I have gone through a traumatic experience and am feeling lost and hurt.

Who will pick me up when I fall?
I feel alone and like I have no one to turn to for help.

Pictures of people that I don't know
I feel disconnected from others and like I don't belong anywhere.

Things no one can remember
I feel like my experiences and feelings are not important or memorable to anyone else.

Always waking up with a brand new scar
I feel like I am constantly getting hurt and carrying emotional scars.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
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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