They began their career in 1991, cutting their first 7" record later that year with the lineup of Joey Vindictive (vocals), Johnny Personality (bass), Billy Blastoff (guitar), Dr. Bob (guitar), P.J. Parti (drums) and Erik Elsewhere (drums). The band would end up releasing 12 albums until July of 1996, when Joey Vindictive revealed that his health issues would prevent the band from going on. Luckily for him, he overcame his ailments to re-form the band in 2000, cutting a new album and overseeing the re-release of a significant part of their catalog. Dr. Bob died in 2003 due to a heroin overdose. Their song "The Invisible Man" was featured in the Ubisoft game Watch Dogs, where it attracted attention to restart the band once more in 2013, releasing a new EP titled Mono-Flexi, and to remaster most of their previous songs as Songbooks coming in volumes starting from I to III.
The Vindictives' website is currently down indefinitely.
You Know Who You Are
The Vindictives Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The Vindictives's song "You Know Who You Are" is a straightforward and scathing criticism of a particular type of person - a wishy-washy, indecisive individual who lacks direction and purpose in their life. Through the use of blunt lyrics, the song emphasizes the sense of frustration and disdain that the singer feels towards these types of people.
The first verse of the song sets up the tone of the song, with the singer describing the wishy-washy people bobbing their heads up and down incomprehensibly. This is a metaphorical way of showing how these types of people lack any real direction or substance to their lives. The singer emphasizes that these individuals are aware of their own indecisiveness and lack of direction, but they are unwilling to change their ways.
The second verse criticizes this type of person for denying the reality of their lives while also acknowledging that they are probably wrong about what they believe. The singer highlights the fact that this is just a phase that they are going through, and in a few years, they will be screaming at their own kids. The final line of the song is a warning that the singer hopes these words will come back and kick them in the head.
In conclusion, "You Know Who You Are" is a scathing critique of individuals who lack direction and purpose in their lives. The song emphasizes the frustration and disdain that the singer feels towards these types of people.
Line by Line Meaning
I can see your wishy-washy heads bob up and down
I notice that you are indecisive and uncertain, constantly swaying back and forth.
you'll never deny it cause you know what I'm talking about
You're aware of your indecisiveness and won't deny it because my words precisely describe you.
just passing thru till you start growing up
I'll move on from you until you mature and gain more clarity.
and when you sing along it's just like getting drunk.
You lose yourself in the moment when you mimic or imitate what others do, and it feels like you're intoxicated.
You block everything everything everything out
You reject or ignore everything around you completely.
you lost everything everything everything now.
As you block everything out, you lose your sense of direction and have nothing left.
Well you deny the things you say you think you do
You contradict yourself by denying what you claim to say and think.
but you're probably wrong it's just a phase that you're going thru
You're likely mistaken, and it's only a temporary phase you're experiencing.
and in a coupla years when you're screaming at your own little kids,
In a few years, when you have children of your own and are furious with them,
I hope these words come back and kick you in the head.
I hope these words return to haunt you and help you realize how you acted in the past.
You know who you are and you know what I'm talking about
You know precisely who you are and can relate to my words.
Contributed by Lucas Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
FooserX
I went through the Narc loop for a few months because I was completely unaware of what was happening. I never considered myself needy, co-dependent, low self esteem...but I came from a place of just really wanting to ride things out because of that amazing honeymoon phase fantasy.
When I finally couldn't take it anymore, I still said let's go to counseling because this isn't right...she agreed...and then discarded me next time we saw each other. Ugh. Completely blind sided.
I lost it, and basically told her to never contact me again until she got her issues under control...and she called the cops on me...
And then for some INSANE reason...I started wanting her back because she obviously ignored me. Utter loss of dignity.
So nuts...no idea why I would want someone who made me walk on eggshells and feel so miserable. Just when I would get to the point of not being able to take things, she would flip flop to that amazing, fun chick I fell in love with....and I'd re-think everything, wondering if I was going crazy....
These videos are just....so beautiful. It's like a candle being lit inside the dark cave I have been waiting in.
Demi Gaines
Thank You For Sharing
I Was Discarded Horribly
Like Trash Know I’m Being Given
The Silent Treatment.It Took Me Being
Discarded.To Realize That A Narcissists Will Not
Activity keep You In His Life If There Is Not Some
Benefit Or Pay Off.
If There’s Value The Narcissists Will Give You
A Degree Of There Attention.
Narcissists Are All About Themselves
They Are Very Selfish..
Unknown Joker
Just wanted to say THANK YOU! When this video came out i was in a very bad palace emotionally, because i recently got a huge discard a couple of weeks after my birthday... My ex sent a so freaking long text message about every single flaw i made in the relationship, every fights/arguments(that i thought was solved) and all. From beggining to end.
I was so incredibly confused by this. Since we left off in not the best terms and partly on my own behalf, but we were (i thought) still caring and wanting the best for each other. Saying that breaking up is simpl y something we had to do, in order to grow individually.
But then after 6 months since we broke contact, she sent that message. Blocked me, everywhere. Even changed her number... I never texted her during these six months... So i don't undertsand why, but whatever.
Although the point i want to make is that YOU WILL get over this person. It took me 6 months to get here. To a MUCH healthier stage in my life. But i have learnt some well earned lessons which you stephanie put's so well in this video. For instance it HAS NOTHING to do with you. Like in my instance if my ex took care of herself and loved herself, she would not spend hours typing a long message about how bad of a boyfriend i was. EVEN IF I WAS (which i cannot say that i wa) why in the hell would i listen to her, if i were that ignorant? She took 1% responsability and put the rest on my back. Rubbing in my face i wasn't "like the other guys she met with".
Someone who treats anyone bad, feels bad themselves. And that don't justify their action, but it helps us understand their position and "emotionally" step back and not taking sh*t like this personally.
Be well and take care!
wood brass and glass
It's amazing to see how out of control, a controlling person acts when you no longer take their "orders" from them.
Kim Lynch
@Sunshine andloveinside i had a woman try to beak into my house! This is the ex husbands girlfriend. I have been divorced for 15 years! He abandoned her and i became her target of abuse. Incessant text messages from all different phone numbers, all hours of the night and day. Never met this young lady. The more i ignore her, the crazier she gets. Police where notified. Not much they can do. Hopfully, it will fall away.
Kim Lynch
Its the tantrums that we so often had delt with. It makes them insane to not give in to their bully tactics. Ignoring the “evil” narc, is the best thing to do. It kills them to NOT be in control. Block, delete and smile.
Eoin O' Dunlaing
Ha ha-so true!
Gerlinde Rosensteiner
@Sunshine andloveinside mine broke into my mother's house.
Diane Farley
@Lauralee Blair Nope! You are not!
Erika K
They feel the need to hurt you and discourage you, because that's what they feel inside, they can't understand themselves. You are strong, powerful and beautiful, this has nothing to do with you. Don't take it personally.
Peter Bahi
Needed this today 🙏
Erupt Sales
Wow, this…
Standing in Faith
Amen!