Best known for his wry humor, Snider has been a fixture on the Americana, alt-country, and folk scene since his debut on MCA, entitled Songs for the Daily Planet, named for the bar where Snider used to play regularly in Memphis. On that album were the minor hits "Talkin' Seattle Grunge Rock Blues", a folk song about the early '90's grunge scene, featuring a band that "refused to play", and "Alright Guy", which later became the title cut of Gary Allan's 2001 album.
He released two more albums for MCA, Step Right Up and Viva Satellite, the latter often sparking colorful debate amongst fans for its comparisons to Tom Petty. He moved to John Prine's Oh Boy Records where he made Happy to Be Here, New Connection, Near Truths and Hotel Rooms, and East Nashville Skyline. That Was Me: The Best of Todd Snider 1994–1998 was released on the Hip-O label in August 2005.
Todd Snider's next studio album, The Devil You Know, was released in August 2006. It marked Snider's return to a major label, as he is now recording for New Door Records, a subsidiary of Universal Records.
The Devil You Know was named to several critics' year-end "best" lists, including a No. 33 ranking in Rolling Stone magazine's top 50 albums of the year, a No. 25 ranking by No Depression magazine, and No. 14 by Blender magazine.
Snider's songs "Late Last Night" and "I Believe You" have been recorded by the Oklahoma country-rock band Cross Canadian Ragweed. He co-wrote the song "Barbie Doll" with country star Jack Ingram.
Snider's new album, Peace Queer, is set to be released on October 14th, 2008, and will be available as a free download from Oct. 11 to Oct. 31 at http://www.toddsnider.net/store/product/1/Peace-Queer .
Positively Negative
Todd Snider Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You lie so confidently
I'll sit and listen but I won't believe a word
You'll never get the best of me
Your boy collection waits so patiently and nice
You love them so transparently
I'll let you stay here but remember this advice
[Chorus]
If you think your jaded now
Wait til you see the rest of me
Come over here tonight
And I will let you treat me like
The victim I'm not gonna be
You called this morning and you said that we're at home
My phone has caller ID
Girl I don't care if you're together or alone
You'll never get the best of me
[Chorus]
I see right through you
I see right through you
Your victim I'm not gonna be
You are the worst news that I have ever heard
You lie so confidently
I'll sit and listen but I won't believe a word
You'll never get the best of me
In Todd Snider's song "Positively Negative," the singer addresses someone who is effectively a pathological liar. The lyrics suggest that the listener is constantly lying about various things to the singer, who sees right through them. The line "You lie so confidently" highlights the fact that the listener is skilled at deceiving others, and probably does so without even realizing it. But while the singer is happy to sit and listen to the listener's stories, they would never believe a word they say.
The chorus of the song is an assertion of the singer's strength and resilience: "If you think you're jaded now, wait until you see the rest of me." The singer is not the victim that the listener is trying to make them out to be, and they're not going to let the listener get the best of them. In fact, the listener has met their match in the singer. The singer refuses to be a part of the listener's "boy collection" - likely meaning a collection of people they have deceived - and warns them to remember their advice: they won't be able to get the best of them.
Overall, the lyrics of "Positively Negative" suggest a sense of frustration and anger towards a pathological liar who is constantly trying to deceive the singer. The singer asserts their own strength and resilience, making it clear that they won't be taken in by the listener's lies.
Line by Line Meaning
You are the worst news that I have ever heard
You are the most unpleasant and distressing information that I have ever received.
You lie so confidently
You deceive me with such self-assuredness and conviction.
I'll sit and listen but I won't believe a word
I will hear you out but I won't accept your words as true.
You'll never get the best of me
You won't be able to take advantage of my trust or defeat me.
Your boy collection waits so patiently and nice
You have a group of boys who are waiting for you obediently and kindly.
You love them so transparently
Your love for them is obvious and easily seen through.
I'll let you stay here but remember this advice
I will allow you to remain here, but keep this warning in mind.
You met your match when you met me
You have found someone who is equal in power, strength, or ability when you encountered me.
If you think your jaded now
If you believe that you are bored, tired, or lacking enthusiasm now,
Wait til you see the rest of me
You will be surprised when you experience or confront the other aspects of my personality or character.
Come over here tonight
Come to my place tonight.
And I will let you treat me like
I will allow you to handle me, behave towards me
The victim I'm not gonna be
I refuse to be the person who has been harmed, injured, or killed as a result of a crime, accident, or other event.
You called this morning and you said that we're at home
You phoned me earlier today to say that we are home.
My phone has caller ID
My phone displays the number and, if available, the name of the person calling it.
Girl I don't care if you're together or alone
I don't mind if you're in the company of others or by yourself.
You'll never get the best of me
You will never overpower, control, or defeat me.
I see right through you
I can see your true nature, intentions, or feelings clearly without any doubt or confusion.
Your victim I'm not gonna be
I will not become the helpless or innocent person who has been harmed or mistreated by you.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Todd Daniel Snider
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind