Misery by Design
The Reputation Lyrics


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If you want,
I'll stay far away from you.
Hold my tongue or slice it up.
If that's what you want,
Then I'll stay far away from you
Ground the things we set
Aloft and burned them through.
A wasted premise: "we",
Drove until it died then passed it on.
But if it's really all that simple for you to destory
Me

Then it looks to me like you are right where you wanted
To be
And it looks to me like it's not everything you thought
It would be.
So enjoy it, doll, you're free.
Enjoy it, doll, you're free.

If it's all the same
Then I'll stay far away from you
I've apologized for long enough
So what'd you expect?
Cause I can't feel that sorry for
Any guy who called me a s***.
You've learned to play the victim perfectly
If everythings my fault your not to blame.
For all your simpering diatribes of how I've caused you
So much pain...

It looks to me like you are right where you wanted to
Be




And it looks to me like it's not everything you thought
It would be.

Overall Meaning

In The Reputation's song Misery by Design, the lyrics display a constant push and pull between two people who seem to have a toxic relationship. The first stanza starts with the singer offering to exit the situation completely; she is willing to hold back and refrain from saying anything more, or even burn the bridge entirely if that is what is desired. She is willing to give the control to the other person if that is what they want, so they can have the "freedom" they desire. However, she hints that she knows that this other person does not have everything they wanted, and that maybe they are not as satisfied as they thought they would be. She urges them to enjoy it, but it is clear that things are not as good as they might seem.


The second stanza showcases a more angry and jaded persona. She is tired of apologizing and is no longer sorry for anything that has happened between them. The other person seems to twist things and make her out to be the bad guy and plays the victim in every situation. The singer is no longer buying it and realizes that the other person is thriving in their current position. The line "It looks to me like you are right where you wanted to be" shows that the other person has manipulated the situation into something that benefits them, and they have no intention of changing. Though the singer is hurt, she knows that it is on the other person to feel the consequences of their actions.


Line by Line Meaning

If you want,
I am willing to make sacrifices to keep away from you.


I'll stay far away from you.
I will distance myself from you if that is your wish.


Hold my tongue or slice it up.
I will keep quiet, or I will say what I need to say regardless of the consequences.


If that's what you want,
I will respect and follow your desires.


Then I'll stay far away from you
I would rather keep away from you than be near and cause any conflict.


Ground the things we set
Destroying everything we built together.


Aloft and burned them through.
Reducing everything to ashes.


A wasted premise: "we",
Our relationship was a failure from the start.


Drove until it died then passed it on.
We drove our relationship till the end, then let it go.


But if it's really all that simple for you to destroy
If you find it easy to completely break me.


Me
It would not be a challenge or a big deal for you.


Then it looks to me like you are right where you wanted to be
You got what you wanted - to hurt me easily.


And it looks to me like it's not everything you thought it would be.
It might not be as satisfying to hurt someone as you thought it would be.


So enjoy it, doll, you're free.
You can revel in your freedom, but you might not find true happiness.


If it's all the same
If we are indifferent and it does not matter anymore.


Then I'll stay far away from you
It is best to maintain distance from each other.


I've apologized for long enough
I have already said sorry too many times.


So what'd you expect?
What more can you expect me to do?


Cause I can't feel that sorry for
I cannot keep apologizing to someone who will not accept my efforts.


Any guy who called me a s***.
I refuse to be treated terribly by someone and still apologize.


You've learned to play the victim perfectly
You know how to portray yourself as the wronged party very well.


If everythings my fault your not to blame.
You refuse to accept your share of the responsibility.


For all your simpering diatribes of how I've caused you so much pain...
Your complaining about how much I have hurt you is unjustified.


It looks to me like you are right where you wanted to be
You got what you wanted by shifting blame and playing the victim.


And it looks to me like it's not everything you thought it would be.
It might not be as satisfying as you thought it would be.




Contributed by Aiden B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Jo Taylor

my fav band ever.

benjames1984

This is amazing.

MrTeknotronic

This is one of my most favorites. Dictionaries not so much...

Thomas Jones

Still here in 2021

Road fool memories for life.

Devon Hill

💯💯💯

Kicktherancor 321

Same bro. I can't believe they're not on Spotify

Fifty BMX

Road fools 10 ! :D

Shad0wmoses

im didnt even ride but i skated. my brother and friends rode bikes and this was one of my favorite videos. and this part was great.

noddylloyd

Amazing!!

hacTheGameCat

Yep, what brought me here sooo many times! Those sound tracks are so perfect!

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