The Reasons
The Weakerthans Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

How I don't know how to sing
I can barely play this thing
But you never seem to mind
And you tell me to fuck off
When I need somebody to
How you make me laugh so hard
How whole years refuse to stay
Where we told them to, bad dog
Locked up whining in a word
Or a misplaced souvenir
How the past chews on your shoes
And these memories lick my ear

I know you might roll your eyes at this
But I'm so glad that you exist

How we waste our precious time
Marching in the picket lines
That surround those striking hearts
And the time is never now
And we know who we should love
But we're never certain how

I know you might roll your eyes at this
But I'm so glad that you exist

I know you might roll your eyes at this
But I'm so glad that you exist





I know you might roll your eyes at this
But I'm so glad that you exist

Overall Meaning

The Weakerthans' song "The Reasons" is a tribute to a close friend with whom the singer shares a deep bond. The song explores the difficult, often uncertain nature of relationships, and the ways in which we rely on each other to navigate the complexities of life. The opening verse captures the singer's feelings of insecurity and inadequacy, highlighting their sense of unworthiness in the face of their friend's unwavering support. The line "How I don't know how to sing, I can barely play this thing, but you never seem to mind" speaks to the idea that true friendship transcends skill or talent, and is rooted in a deeper connection that is not based on external factors.


The second verse delves into the theme of time and how easily it slips away from us, emphasizing the importance of being present and cherishing those around us. The line "And the time is never now, and we know who we should love, but we're never certain how" speaks to the uncertainty and fear that often holds us back from fully embracing those we care about. In spite of these challenges, the singer expresses gratitude for their friend and the role they play in their life, recognizing that their presence alone is a source of comfort and joy.


Line by Line Meaning

How I don't know how to sing
I'm not a great singer, but despite that, you still accept and appreciate me.


I can barely play this thing
I'm not very skilled at this particular instrument, but you don't seem to mind that either.


But you never seem to mind
You don't mind my imperfections, and I appreciate that.


And you tell me to fuck off
Sometimes I need tough love, and you're willing to give it to me when necessary.


When I need somebody to
When I'm feeling vulnerable, I know I can rely on you for support.


How you make me laugh so hard
Your sense of humor is one of the things I love most about you.


How whole years refuse to stay
Time is fleeting, and things change quickly even when we wish they wouldn't.


Where we told them to, bad dog
Despite our best efforts, sometimes things don't work out the way we planned.


Locked up whining in a word
Our memories can be painful and feel trapped in our minds.


Or a misplaced souvenir
Our past experiences can leave us feeling lost and unsure of ourselves.


How the past chews on your shoes
Our past experiences can weigh us down and hold us back from moving forward.


And these memories lick my ear
My memories are always with me, and sometimes they're painful reminders of things I'd rather forget.


How we waste our precious time
We often get caught up in things that don't matter and fail to appreciate the important moments in life.


Marching in the picket lines
We get caught up in social causes that don't always have a direct impact on our lives.


That surround those striking hearts
We support those who are fighting for what they believe in, even if it doesn't directly affect us.


And the time is never now
We often procrastinate and put things off, thinking we have more time than we actually do.


And we know who we should love
We know who we want to be with, but it's not always easy to make that happen.


But we're never certain how
Even when we know what we want, it's not always clear how to get it.


I know you might roll your eyes at this
I know I might be cheesy or sentimental, but I mean what I say.


But I'm so glad that you exist
I'm grateful for you, and my life is better because you're in it.




Lyrics © CCS RIGHTS MANAGEMENT CORP
Written by: John K Samson, Jason Tait, John Paul Sutton, Stephen Allan Carroll

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

@phillipo

I’ve described the drums on this song as “Joy with conviction”. I just love how they pound the hell out of them.

@alskndlaskndal

One of the few truly underrated bands. Should have been huge in Canada, the US, and everywhere.

@misplacedfolder4806

100% agree, JOHN K SAMSON has a way with words

@DeaconShadow

@@davidvaillancourt5111 It is pretty funny how much hip hop took over the charts when it took putting 6 acts together to get a tour anyone would pay money to see.

@jeff7764

Few truly underrated bands? Wtf are you talking about lol… dumbest comment I’ve seen on YouTube this month

@cubanb7839

@@jeff7764 cry harder

@C4s3yJon3s

It's huge in my heart, and yet my heart is small

@cloverdalepunk

I'm so glad this band exists

@tcorourke2007

rolls eyes

@generaldisarayhk

Existed. 🙁
R.I.P The Weakerthans

More Comments

More Versions