They Say
The Soft Pack Lyrics
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You don’t need too much to get by these days
But when it comes down to the moon took on their place
And when it comes down to the room take on their place
When you cut the line
They drift away
See what they say?
Well you can’t ship me too far away
You don’t need too much to get by these days
Well isn’t that just great?
And when I look around it looks more like I’m gray
You don’t need too much to survive, they say
You don’t need too much to get by these days
When you cut the line
They drift away
See what they say?
When you cut the line
They drift away
See what they say?
Isn’t that just great?
Take a look around
It looks more like a brick
The Soft Pack's song They Say seems to be a critique on society's standards for what is deemed “necessary” for survival. The repetitive chorus of “You don't need too much to survive, they say / You don't need too much to get by these days” highlights the common notion that one can make do with very little. However, the verses suggest otherwise. Lead singer Matt Lamkin sings about how the things that we perceive as necessities to survive, such as a room to call our own or the moon in the sky, ultimately play a significant role in our lives. When those things are taken away, we drift away from the people around us.
The lines “And when I look around it looks more like I’m gray” and “Take a look around / it looks more like a brick” further emphasize the oppressive feeling of modern life, where individuality is squashed by conformity. The song suggests that modern society is a trap, where people are forced to conform and stripped of their personal identity.
In conclusion, They Say by The Soft Pack portrays a society that is superficial, materialistic and rife with fake ideals of individuality. It presents an ironic insistence on not needing much to survive when in reality, people require more than what is thought to survive.
Line by Line Meaning
You don’t need too much to survive, they say
People say that you can get by with just the bare necessities of life.
You don’t need too much to get by these days
It's believed that in modern times, one doesn't require a lot to live comfortably.
But when it comes down to the moon took on their place
However, when it comes to fulfilling our desire for something unattainable like the moon, people seem to be content with settling for less.
And when it comes down to the room take on their place
Similarly, even if a room isn't exactly what we want, we tend to settle for it anyway.
When you cut the line
When you sever ties or stop providing something that others depend on,
They drift away
people tend to distance themselves.
See what they say?
This prompts us to question their true motives.
Well you can’t ship me too far away
The singer realizes that they can't be removed from their current situation without consequence.
Well isn’t that just great?
They sarcastically comment on the irony of the situation.
And when I look around it looks more like I’m gray
Despite society's emphasis on minimalism, the reality is that life feels drab and colorless when one is deprived of their true desires.
Take a look around
The singer implores listeners to observe their surroundings.
It looks more like a brick
They suggest that the world is more confining and restrictive than people like to admit.
Writer(s): Matthew Dale Lamkin, Brian Hill, Matthew Mcloughlin, David Michael Lantzman
Contributed by Ellie W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.