Originated from a surf rock group called the Crossfires, the Turtles delved into many genres such as breezy pop, psychedelic music, and folk rock. A precursor to the bubblegum pop of the late 60s and early 70s as well as a foil to the more self-consciously hip and "serious" acts of the era, the Turtles produced at least a dozen memorable, radio-friendly chart singles. Yet they remain best known for 1967's "Happy Together", which was their only chart-topping single.
The Turtles wound down their career in 1970.
The two prominent singers - Howard Kaylan ("Eddie") and Mark Volman ("Flo" a.k.a. "Phlorescent Leech") - collaborated with Frank Zappa for a short but very intensive period of one and a half years (between 1970-72) and were the cornerstone of what was known to be the Zappa "Vaudeville" band; two of the most famous achievements of that period being the albums Fillmore East – June 1971 and 200 Motels, the soundtrack of the film by the same name.
I Get out of Breath
The Turtles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To the age of twenty-five
I've searched my soul to find myself
But I'm still unrecognized
One-way streets, walls of concrete
Two restless feet's all I've got
Oh Lord, I'm so afraid
And I get out of breath
Watching the world spin so fast
My future becomes my past
My mind gets hung so bad
That I get out of breath
It's all right for the successful
To tell you take your time
Have patience, understanding
While the suicide rates climb
I work all day to try and pay back
Debts that won't go down
I can't say that I'm lost
No, I just ain't been found
And I get out of breath
Watching the world spin so fast
My future becomes my past
My mind gets hung so bad
That I get out of breath
People spend more time
Asking forgiveness than being good
Everyone's out stealing
Or home planning how they could
Double standards make good mandirs
That strip us of our pride
Our morals have decayed
Yeah, and this I can not buy
And I get out of breath
Watching the world spin so fast
My future becomes my past
My life gets hung so bad
That I get out of breath
The song "I Get Out of Breath" by The Turtles deals with the struggles of finding oneself in a fast-paced and often seemingly morally corrupt world. The lyrics speak of the search for identity and purpose, and the fear of time slipping away without achieving those goals. The first verse sets the tone for the rest of the song, describing the lifelong search for self-discovery that has yet to yield results. The second verse is particularly poignant, painting a vivid picture of a frustrated yet determined individual trying to pay off debts that never seem to go away. The lyrics go on to highlight the struggles of living in a society with double standards and decaying morals, where asking for forgiveness is more common than striving to do good.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the feeling of being overwhelmed and unable to keep up with the fast pace of life, using the metaphor of getting out of breath. The repetition of this line emphasizes the weight of the emotions being expressed and creates a sense of urgency. The song speaks to anyone who has ever felt like they're running on a treadmill, unable to catch up to their own expectations, let alone the expectations of others.
Overall, "I Get Out of Breath" is a powerful and relatable song that speaks to the struggles of navigating life in a complex and often unforgiving world.
Line by Line Meaning
From the first cry of a babe
Since birth, I have been searching for my true identity
To the age of twenty-five
Until now, at my current age of 25
I've searched my soul to find myself
I have tried to discover my true self through introspection
But I'm still unrecognized
But I still do not know who I really am
One-way streets, walls of concrete
My life's path seems predetermined and blocked by obstacles
Two restless feet's all I've got
All I have is my own two feet to move forward
Oh Lord, I'm so afraid
I am filled with fear
For third of my life is shot
Because I am 25, one-third of my life has already passed
And I get out of breath
I feel overwhelmed and suffocated
Watching the world spin so fast
As the world moves quickly, I struggle to keep up
My future becomes my past
My plans for the future quickly become memories of the past
My mind gets hung so bad
My thoughts become jumbled and confused
That I get out of breath
To the point where it is difficult to breathe or function normally
It's all right for the successful
Those who have achieved success may not understand my struggles
To tell you take your time
They may advise me to be patient and take my time
Have patience, understanding
To be patient and empathetic
While the suicide rates climb
Meanwhile, the number of suicides is increasing
I work all day to try and pay back
I spend all day trying to repay my debts
Debts that won't go down
Debts that seem to never decrease despite my efforts
I can't say that I'm lost
I do not feel lost, but I do not feel found either
No, I just ain't been found
I still have not discovered my true self or purpose
People spend more time
People spend more energy and effort
Asking forgiveness than being good
Seeking forgiveness for their actions rather than trying to do good
Everyone's out stealing
It seems like everyone is taking from each other
Or home planning how they could
Or sitting at home, devising schemes to take advantage of others
Double standards make good mandirs
Hypocrisy is praised and accepted
That strip us of our pride
This behavior diminishes our self-respect and dignity
Our morals have decayed
Our values as a society have deteriorated
Yeah, and this I can not buy
I cannot accept or agree with this way of life
My life gets hung so bad
My life becomes stuck and stagnant
That I get out of breath
Making it difficult to function or move forward in life
Writer(s): Steve Barri, P. F. Sloan
Contributed by Katherine L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.