Third Eye Blind recorded their first demo in 1993. In 1996, the band landed an opening gig for Oasis, prior to which performance, so the legend goes, Third Eye Blind was warned that the crowd might throw food at them. As it turned out, however, they were invited out for an encore, even after Oasis had already played, bringing Liam Gallagher to tears and sparking the friendly rivalry that would form between the two bands. The band was paid double what they were promised for the gig. Afterwards, the band found themselves in a bidding war among record labels, in which they settled on Elektra because they believed it offered the most artistic freedom. Stephan Jenkins' outspoken behavior after signing the deal earned him the title of "the biggest mouth in music" by many critics. Jenkins has spoken out many times against several different artists, including a heated feud with Rob Thomas of the band Matchbox Twenty.
A fourth album, tentatively titled Ursa Major, was released August 2009. Shortly after the band has slated the release of a follow-up album, Ursa Minor. Only Jenkins' lyrics and vocals are left to be finished; all instrumental work is reportedly complete. Recent live performances have revealed a majority of the new tracks being worked on, including "Don't Believe a Word," "Lay Back (and the Water Will Hold You)," "In the Skin," "Summer Town," "Second Born," "(You Really) Don't Like Me Now" aka "Campfire," "Monotov's Private Opera," "Break Me," "Stevie Ray Vaughan," "Red Star," and "Standing Up For You." Other tracks mentioned for the album by Fredianelli are "Away," "A Sharp Knife," "Captain of Emo," "Swimming," and "Jesse 2k." He also confirmed that "Lay Back" was scrapped. A number of previously unreleased recordings were made available, including "Persephone," "Carnival Barker" (an instrumental), and numerous instrumental sessions declined by Jenkins for inclusion on the fourth album.
Blinded
Third Eye Blind Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's what I've become
I let myself in though I know I'm not supposed to but
I never know when I'm done
And I see you fogging up the mirror
Vapor round your body glistens in the shower
And I want to stay right here and go down on you for an hour
In wild dedication, take the moment of hope
And let it run, and never look back at all the damage we have done now
To each other
Cause when I see you, it's like I'm staring down the sun
And I'm blinded
There's nothing left to do
Still I see you
I never believed that things they happen for a reason and
They never go as planned
I wanted to thank you for a vision that was lost that you returned but
You're passed where you understand
Now her appetite is blown, little else is known
Except she's a little angry, grabs a towel and looks away
And the heat fades with the day
And I fall down on what to say
Oh something clean let me be clever
Hey oh well whatever
But that's not what I mean
When where we've been has left us burned
Still I won't turn now from a fight you know I'll never win
So when I see you, you know all the things I've done
Well I'm blinded
Like I'm staring down the sun
When I see you
It's like I'm staring down the sun
Time passes and it tells us what we're left with
We become the things we do
Me I'm a fool, spent from defiance, yeah you got me but
I didn't give up on you
Icarus is not a tee shirt or a swan song, no
He is born again and it's not easy being me
But I can't promise I will mend or bend
When you believe that we are fixed now from our birth
And I've just fallen back to earth
Still you know I'll try again
Cause I believe that we are lucky
We are golden we have stolen manners
In the days we were one
So when I see you, despite all that we've become
I'm still blinded
But I'm staring down the sun
When I see you
I'm blinded
The lyrics to Third Eye Blind's "Blinded" are a raw and emotional exploration of the singer's complicated relationship with someone they care deeply for. The song begins with the singer describing themselves as "just an old friend" who has come to visit the person they care about. Despite knowing they shouldn't let themselves in, the singer admits they "never know when [they're] done." This suggests a sense of desperation and longing that drives the singer's actions.
The second verse is where the song's explicit content begins. The singer describes seeing the person they care about in the shower, and feeling an intense desire to be close to them. The singer uses graphic imagery to convey their desire to "go down on [them] for an hour." While the specific act is sexual, the broader meaning is that the singer wants to connect with this person on a deep and intimate level. They want to stay with them and "let the day just fade away."
The chorus is where the title of the song comes into play. The singer describes being "blinded" by the other person. They feel overwhelmed by their emotions and desires, and unable to see clearly. Despite this, the singer knows that there is nothing they can do. They are powerless in the face of their strong feelings.
The third verse is where the song takes a more philosophical turn. The singer reflects on the idea that "things they happen for a reason" and "never go as planned." They express gratitude for the other person, who has helped them regain a "vision that was lost." However, they acknowledge that they are still struggling to understand everything that has happened between them.
The final chorus is a culmination of the song's themes. The singer still feels "blinded" by the other person, but has come to accept their fate. They believe that they are "lucky" and that they have something special together. Ultimately, the song is a bittersweet reflection on love, desire, and the pain that can come from both.
Line by Line Meaning
Just an old friend coming over now to visit you and
I am someone you used to know coming to see you
That's what I've become
This is my new identity
I let myself in though I know I'm not supposed to but
I enter your space without permission
I never know when I'm done
I don't have boundaries
And I see you fogging up the mirror
I see you in the steam of the shower
Vapor round your body glistens in the shower
The hot water causes your skin to shine
And I want to stay right here and go down on you for an hour
I want to perform oral sex on you for an extended period of time
Or stay, and let the day just fade away
Let time pass without doing anything, just existing together
In wild dedication, take the moment of hope
Fully embrace the opportunity to be together
And let it run, and never look back at all the damage we have done now
Accept our past mistakes and move forward
To each other
As a couple
Cause when I see you, it's like I'm staring down the sun
Seeing you is so intense it's like staring at the sun
And I'm blinded
I can't see anything else clearly
There's nothing left to do
There is no hope for resolution
Still I see you
You are still on my mind
I never believed that things they happen for a reason and
I don't believe in fate
They never go as planned
Things don't always work out how we want them to
I wanted to thank you for a vision that was lost that you returned but
Thank you for restoring something I had lost faith in
You're passed where you understand
You are beyond my comprehension
Now her appetite is blown, little else is known
She's not interested in anything else
Except she's a little angry, grabs a towel and looks away
She's upset and turns away
And the heat fades with the day
The passion we once had is gone
And I fall down on what to say
I'm at a loss for words
Oh something clean let me be clever
I want to say something smart and witty
Hey oh well whatever
I don't know what to say
But that's not what I mean
I need to express my true feelings
When where we've been has left us burned
Our past has caused a lot of pain
Still I won't turn now from a fight you know I'll never win
Even though I will lose, I won't back down from a confrontation
So when I see you, you know all the things I've done
You are aware of all my mistakes
Well I'm blinded
I can't see past my own flaws
Like I'm staring down the sun
Trying to face my issues head-on
Time passes and it tells us what we're left with
Time shows us what we have left after everything has changed
We become the things we do
Our actions define who we are
Me I'm a fool, spent from defiance, yeah you got me but
I made mistakes and resisted change
I didn't give up on you
I still care about you
Icarus is not a tee shirt or a swan song, no
We can't just wear our problems on our sleeves and expect them to go away
He is born again and it's not easy being me
We can start over, but it's hard to change who we are
But I can't promise I will mend or bend
I can't guarantee I will change
When you believe that we are fixed now from our birth
If you believe we are born a certain way and can't change
And I've just fallen back to earth
I have come back to reality
Still you know I'll try again
Even with the odds against me, I will make an effort
Cause I believe that we are lucky
I think we are fortunate to have each other
We are golden we have stolen manners
We are special and have valuable qualities
In the days we were one
When we were together and everything was perfect
So when I see you, despite all that we've become
Even though things have changed between us
I'm still blinded
I can't see past my own issues
But I'm staring down the sun
Trying to face my problems head-on
When I see you
Whenever I think of you
I'm blinded
I'm unable to focus on anything else
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Stephan Jenkins, Tony Friedianelli, Arion Salazar
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jason Giambi
Turned 36 today.
Wife and 3 kids later,
Global pandemic,
Working from home,
Man, things really change hur?...
But I’ll tell you one thing for sure,
I miss the old days...staying up late, skating at the corner store, smoking weed, crush on girl, best friends and not a care in the world.
I’m thankful to still be here.
Peace ✌️
Steel Broys WWE
Just an old friend coming over now to visit you and
That's what I've become
I let myself in though I know I'm not supposed to but
I never know when I'm done
And I see you fogging up the mirror
Vapor round your body glistens in the shower
And I want to stay right here and go down on you for an hour
Or stay, and let the day just fade away
In wild dedication, take the moment of hope
And let it run, and never look back at all the damage we have done now
To each other
'Cause when I see you, it's like I'm staring down the sun
And I'm blinded
There's nothing left to do
Still I see you
I never believed that things they happen for a reason and
They never go as planned
I wanted to thank you for a vision that was lost that you returned but
You're pa**ed where you understand
Now her appetite is blown, little else is known
Except she's a little angry, grabs a towel and looks away
And the heat fades with the day
And I fall down on what to say
Oh something clean let me be clever
Hey oh well whatever
But that's not what I mean
When where we've been has left us burned
Still I won't turn now from a fight you know I'll never win
So when I see you, you know all the things I've done
Well I'm blinded
Like I'm staring down the sun
When I see you
It's like I'm staring down the sun
Time pa**es and it tells us what we're left with
We become the things we do
Me I'm a fool, spent from defiance, yeah you got me but
I didn't give up on you
Icarus is not a tee shirt or a swan song, no
He is born again and it's not easy being me
But I can't promise I will mend or bend
When you believe that we are fixed now from our birth
And I've just fallen back to earth
Still you know I'll try again
'Cause I believe that we are lucky
We are golden we have stolen manners
In the days we were one
So when I see you, despite all that we've become
I'm still blinded
But I'm staring down the sun
When I see you
I'm blinded
Matt
I had no idea Blinded had a video. Such a great song from a criminally overlooked and underrated album. Out of the Vein is my favorite 3EB album.
Coincapital
Third eye blinds best songs are the most underrated in fact i consider the band underrated
Chris Martin
Unfortunately we live in a world now where most alternative rock is underrated. Sucks because so much great music came from third eye blind and the 90s in general.
javamoss
I bought this album when it first came out in 2003 (been a fan since their debut album, also bought Blue), loved this song like crazy AND TODAY IS THE FIRST TIME WATCHING THIS VIDEO! Wtf?? I too had no idea there was a video to this.. lol.
MatteoGeno
HAH SAME *MATT*! And I’ve been a fan since I was 10 years old! I love this album as well!
P121463S
IMO - Blinded is a good song as well a few others - but to me Vein was a disappointment from the 1st two
Beck
This band wrote real poetry, a lot of which went greatly slept on.
Lucas J
One of the best ever written songs. A shared human experience. Thank you for an awesome childhood, third eye blind. 🙏🏻
Van Griffin
Brings back exceptional memories. Legit song. Killer album.
Altstreamer
This album release was the soundtrack to the most emotionally tumultuous time of my life... dealing with a divorce, a custody battle for my 2 year old daughter and meeting a new partner who I would go on to marry and have kids with.. and am still with today. This album was played loud in the car on many occasions back then, and it did more than help me through difficult times; it became a part of me and it will always remain a part of me.