It's Not Getting Any Good
The Wrens Lyrics


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while i'm / working to afford to have fun with you i'm distracted
to / stillness by the thinking of you from beach to top mountains
paula this / indistinguished suburb grinds my sleep teeth to ruin & powder
you know it to be / true you heard it held me woke me close whispered how it'll
be soon you said / worry baby sleepy head
cut back to / me young and unpressured in contrast to aunts and to uncles
8 & 10 / older at the cusp of adulthood away walk from play time
i knew then of / those days gold status how they'd look back to fix their hearts worn
and yet here i am write of when i had so many they were of no value when
laid unnumbered end to end / but it's not getting any good
that's a bandage / that we've been using
best of a decade / not while we're here in secaucus bound
let's stop pretending / in never endings
another decade / or until we're out of the hope you found
let's abandon / this house to camden
messed up a decade / let's get away from these home and towns
cause something's missing / we hide by kissing
rest up a decade / we'll need our strength to escape this town




can't tell myself from hopes i've drowned / can't tear myself from this safety town
can't tell each other from stupid clowns

Overall Meaning

The Wrens's song, "It's Not Getting Any Good," seems to be a reflection on the passage of time and the feeling of being stuck in a suburban existence. The singer of the song expresses frustration with the mundanity of their life while also acknowledging the importance of working hard to be able to enjoy moments of fun and escape from the grind. Despite this, they are still distracted by thoughts of someone they care about, imagining travel and adventure together. The chorus serves as a reminder of the cyclical nature of life, with the same problems and frustrations recurring over time and the bandage of denial as a temporary solution.


The song continues to explore various themes, such as childhood memories and the contrast between being young and carefree versus growing up and facing the harsh realities of life. There is a sense of nostalgia for a time before the complications of adult life set in, but also a recognition that the past cannot be relived or reclaimed. The song acknowledges the need for change and escape from the monotony, but also hints at a fear of taking risks and the uncertainty that comes along with it.


Overall, "It's Not Getting Any Good" is a poignant and introspective exploration of the human experience and the struggle to find meaning and fulfillment in the face of the mundane and the unknown.


Line by Line Meaning

while i'm / working to afford to have fun with you i'm distracted
As I'm working hard to earn money to enjoy with you, my thoughts are still preoccupied with you and I'm unable to focus.


to / stillness by the thinking of you from beach to top mountains
My mind is constantly consumed by thoughts of you, even in the most serene and peaceful of settings.


paula this / indistinguished suburb grinds my sleep teeth to ruin & powder
Living in this average and unremarkable suburban area is causing me so much stress and anxiety that it's literally ruining my teeth.


you know it to be / true you heard it held me woke me close whispered how it'll be soon you said / worry baby sleepy head
You know deep down that what I'm feeling is real, and you've comforted me and assured me that things will get better soon.


cut back to / me young and unpressured in contrast to aunts and to uncles 8 & 10 / older at the cusp of adulthood away walk from play time
Looking back to a time when I was young and carefree, in contrast to my older relatives who were on the brink of adulthood and no longer had time for leisure and play.


i knew then of / those days gold status how they'd look back to fix their hearts worn
Even then, I was aware that those carefree days would later become cherished memories that people would look back on with nostalgia and longing.


and yet here i am write of when i had so many they were of no value when laid unnumbered end to end / but it's not getting any good
Despite having many carefree days in the past, I now realize that they were not truly fulfilling and my current situation is not improving.


that's a bandage / that we've been using
Our attempts to ignore or forget our problems by indulging in temporary pleasures is only a short-term solution.


best of a decade / not while we're here in secaucus bound
The best years of our lives are not happening while we're stuck living in a stagnant and unremarkable place like Secaucus.


let's stop pretending / in never endings
We need to stop pretending that our current situation is bearable and that things will improve on their own.


another decade / or until we're out of the hope you found
We may have to wait another ten years or longer until we can escape this place and find a new source of hope and happiness.


let's abandon / this house to camden
We should leave behind this house in Secaucus and move to a more interesting and lively area like Camden.


messed up a decade / let's get away from these home and towns
We've wasted so much time and energy on this decade of stagnation, and it's time to break free from this cycle of boredom and monotony.


cause something's missing / we hide by kissing
We know that something is missing in our lives, but we try to ignore it by using physical intimacy as a distraction.


rest up a decade / we'll need our strength to escape this town
We need to take some time to recharge and prepare ourselves for the challenge of leaving this town and starting anew.


can't tell myself from hopes i've drowned / can't tear myself from this safety town
I'm so entrenched in this stagnant and safe lifestyle that I can't even differentiate myself from the dreams and desires I've given up on.


can't tell each other from stupid clowns
Our attempts to cover up our feelings and hide our dissatisfaction have turned us into ridiculous caricatures of ourselves.




Contributed by John N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Jim Marcucci

Love the versus enough to love this track however the chorus is a mess. Aimless and confusing but overall excellent

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