1.) An American alterna… Read Full Bio ↴There are two bands charting as The Rentals:
1.) An American alternative rock band fronted by Matt Sharp, former bass player for Weezer. The Rentals have released four LPs, Return Of The Rentals (1995), Seven More Minutes (1999), Lost in Alphaville (2014), Q36 (2020) and four EPs, The Last Little Life EP (2007), The Story of a Thousand Seasons Past (2009), It's Time to Come Home (2009), and The Future (2009). The 2009 EPs make up the musical end of the Songs About Time project, which also includes daily photos and weekly short films entitled Resilience (2011).
Band members on Return Of included Patrick Wilson (also of Weezer) on drums, Rod Cervera (guitar), Tom Grimley (moog), Petra Haden (violin, vocals), and Cherielynn Westrich (vocals, moog). Petra's triplet sister, Rachel Haden, appears as an additional vocalist. After Sharp left Weezer, Wilson's studio replacement on the drums was Kevin March and Mike Fletcher was the band's most frequent touring drummer. Maya Rudolph, of Saturday Night Live fame, also briefly toured with the band as a keyboardist. They are known for their quirky Moog-driven melodies. The single "Friends of P" off their first album was a modern rock radio hit, peaking at #7 on Billboard's Modern Rock Chart and #92 on the Billboard Hot 100. After touring for Seven More Minutes the band disbanded.
Yet on October 24, 2005, the tenth anniversary of the band's formation, Matt Sharp announced he was bringing back The Rentals after a six year absence. The new lineup includes founding member Rachel Haden on bass/vocals, Sara Radle on vocals/multiple instruments, Ben Pringle (from Nerf Herder and now Yearbook Pictures) on synths/multiple instruments, Lauren Chipman on viola/synth/vocals, and Dan Joeright on drums. Sharp stated on his website that "there are no current plans" for ex-Rental Cherielynn Westrich "to be involved in the future of The Rentals."
Sharp states: The essential elements of The Rentals will be there. Our fascination with vintage synthesizers, violas, violins, female harmonies and all the rest will continue. But, I'm guessing, we'll most likely veer off the path that would lead us into the realm of becoming our own tribute band.
2.) A late '70s Boston area Punk band featuring Jeff Hudson, Jane Hudson, and Pseudo Carol. As a trio, they released the songs "Gertrude Stein", "Low Rent", "New York", "I Got A Crush On You" and "Elephants".
In 1980, Jeff & Jane joined The MANHATTAN PROJECT, followed by the Electro-Punk act simply known as Jeff & Jane Hudson in 1981.
Getting By
The Rentals Lyrics
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I know a girl, lives off the coast of Spain
Twenty-one, in the prime of her life
Friends are the most important thing she's got
And she don't need much to get by
It's been a long, long time since I felt that way
Maybe all the way back to high school
But lately I've felt like an old fat man
With her, I lie and say, "I'm a young fool."
And we don't really care about much, no
We don't need to lie (We don't need to lie)
We got nothing in common that I can see
We drink on, we drink on, we drink on
And get by
Well, she don't care too much for vegetables
And she hates rude American men
Questions if I'm balding, and I deny
And she laughs, and she laughs with her friends
Aw, but I don't really care too much, no
I don't need to lie (I don't need to lie)
We got nothing in common that I can see
We drink on, we drink on, we drink on
And get by (I get by)
Getting by (Getting by)
We get by (We get by)
Getting by
Yeah, yeah, yeah
She don't really care about me, no
There's no reason to lie (We don't need to lie)
We got nothing in common, and we both agree (Getting by)
To drink on, and drink on, and drink on
And, yeah, we don't really care about much (Getting by)
We don't really care too much (Getting by)
We don't really care about much (Getting by)
We drink on, we drink on, we drink on and get by
We're getting by
The Rentals’ song Getting By is about a young woman who lives off the coast of Spain and is in the prime of her life at the age of twenty-one. She values her friends the most and doesn't need much more to get by. The singer admits to feeling like an old, fat man but lies to her saying he’s a young fool. They don't have much in common, but they drink and get by. She doesn't care much for vegetables and hates rude American men. The singer doesn't care too much about the differences between them because they both agree to drink on and get by.
Line by Line Meaning
Kawaba, kawaba, kawaba, hey!
Cheery phrase used to set the tone of the song
I know a girl, lives off the coast of Spain
The singer has a friend who lives off the coast of Spain
Twenty-one, in the prime of her life
The friend is a young adult in the prime of her life
Friends are the most important thing she's got
The friend values her relationships with others above all else
And she don't need much to get by
The friend is content with a simple life
It's been a long, long time since I felt that way
The singer hasn't felt as carefree as the friend in a long time
Maybe all the way back to high school
The last time the singer felt carefree was in high school
But lately I've felt like an old fat man
The singer feels old and fat compared to the young and carefree friend
With her, I lie and say, "I'm a young fool."
The singer lies to the friend and pretends to be carefree like her
And we don't really care about much, no
Neither the singer nor the friend care about worldly possessions or stressors
We don't need to lie (We don't need to lie)
There's no need to lie to each other or anyone else
We got nothing in common that I can see
The singer and friend have little in common besides enjoying each other's company
We drink on, we drink on, we drink on
The singer and friend drink to enhance their enjoyment of life
And get by
Drinking helps them cope with life's challenges
Well, she don't care too much for vegetables
The friend dislikes vegetables
And she hates rude American men
The friend has a dislike for rude American men
Questions if I'm balding, and I deny
The friend teasingly questions the singer's hairline
And she laughs, and she laughs with her friends
The friend finds humor in teasing the singer
Aw, but I don't really care too much, no
The singer doesn't mind being teased by the friend
I don't need to lie (I don't need to lie)
The singer is comfortable being honest with himself and the friend
We got nothing in common that I can see
The singer and friend still don't have much in common besides enjoying each other's company
We drink on, we drink on, we drink on
Drinking continues to be a part of their lifestyle
And get by (I get by)
Drinking helps the singer cope with life's challenges
Getting by (Getting by)
Staying afloat in life with the help of drinking
We get by (We get by)
The singer and friend continue to navigate life together
Getting by
Staying afloat through life's ups and downs
She don't really care about me, no
The friend's affection towards the singer is strictly platonic
There's no reason to lie (We don't need to lie)
Honesty and transparency are still valued in their relationship
We got nothing in common, and we both agree (Getting by)
Neither the singer nor the friend are deluding themselves about their lack of similarities
To drink on, and drink on, and drink on
Drinking together remains a cornerstone of their friendship
And, yeah, we don't really care about much (Getting by)
Neither the singer nor the friend are weighed down by societal expectations or aspirations
We don't really care too much (Getting by)
They are contented with a simple life
We don't really care about much (Getting by)
They don't need much to be happy
We drink on, we drink on, we drink on and get by
Drinking is a way for them to cope with the challenges of life and continue getting by
We're getting by
They are able to stay afloat through the ups and downs of life
Lyrics © DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MATTHEW KELLY SHARP
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind