True Story
Unsung Zeros Lyrics


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Three hours and one ticket later
After plying in a barn
In a used auto lot
Where it was so cold
I could not
Fret the notes just right
We headed back to our hometown
Where we'll dream of better things to come
Dream of better things to come
Ten minutes after finishing
We're packed up to go home
And face another day
Cause once again
We were not paid enough
To cover food or rent
Or anything we need




To make these road trips not a dream
I'll dream of better things to come

Overall Meaning

In the opening lines of Unsung Zeros's song 'True Story', the lead singer shares the struggles of a budding musician. After playing in a barn on a used auto lot for three hours and receiving just one ticket, the guitarist returns to his hometown with a sense of dissatisfaction. The cold weather had made it difficult for him to fret the chords just right, which adds to his frustration. The singer and his bandmates then pack up their instruments and belongings in just ten minutes to head back to their regular lives, where they face the harsh reality of not making enough money to cover basic needs such as food and rent. Despite the disappointment, the band dreams of a better tomorrow and hopes that their hard work and sacrifice will eventually pay off.


The song is about the struggle of being a struggling musician and the immense effort it takes to make a living from music. The pressure to make ends meet keeps musicians from living their dreams, and even when things seem to be going well, they're often not. The lyrics describe the feelings of uncertainty and anxiety that many young musicians face when breaking into the music industry. It is an honest and touching account of the struggles behind the glamour of the industry, which is not often talked about.


Line by Line Meaning

Three hours and one ticket later
We spent three hours and money to travel to play a show where we did not get paid enough.


After plying in a barn
We performed in a place that was far from ideal, not suited for an enjoyable show.


In a used auto lot
We played at a venue that was low-end and not well maintained.


Where it was so cold
The venue was not equipped with proper heating and we had to perform in cold temperatures.


I could not
It was difficult to play our instruments as the cold made it hard to press the strings correctly.


Fret the notes just right
We couldn't produce the ideal sound as required and make it difficult for the attendees to enjoy the music.


We headed back to our hometown
After playing the show, we started our journey back home.


Where we'll dream of better things to come
Despite the disappointment, we still hold on to hope that future shows will be better and more rewarding.


Ten minutes after finishing
It took us almost no time after the concert had ended to pack up our things and get ready to leave.


We're packed up to go home
We quickly packed up our equipment and got ready to leave for our next gig or day job.


And face another day
We know that we'll be back to the daily routine after the disappointments of the show.


Cause once again
As we've come to expect, we were not paid enough for our performance.


We were not paid enough
Our performance was not valued as much as we would have liked and didn't make enough money for our band.


To cover food or rent
The money earned was not enough to support our basic necessities such as food and rent.


Or anything we need
We were barely able to make ends meet and our expenses were left uncovered.


To make these road trips not a dream
We are struggling traveler musicians and need a lot of money to go on road trips and ensure that our dreams are possible.


I'll dream of better things to come
Despite the disappointments and financial struggles, we continue to hold on to hope and keep working towards a brighter future.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Abkco Music Inc.
Written by: ANDREW ROSE, DAVID SKINNER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

New Name

I agree, this version is better. Sounds more in the moment, inspired.

C Mitchell

Takes me back to Mt. Dora High....

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