Waxahatchee, named after Waxahatchee Creek in Alabama where Crutchfield grew up, began in 2010 during the breakup of P.S. Eliot. Crutchfield released her first music as Waxahatchee as a split cassette with Chris Clavin on Plan-It-X Records. Her bedroom-recorded debut album, American Weekend, was released on Don Giovanni Records in 2012.
On June 11, 2012 "Be Good" was the song of the day on NPR as well as one of the best 50 songs of 2012. Her debut album, "American Weekend," was named a top album of 2012 by Dusted magazine.
Subsequent albums include Cerulean Salt (2013), Ivy Tripp (2015), Out in the Storm (2017), Saint Cloud (2020), and the upcoming Tigers Blood (out March 22, 2024)
Never Been Wrong
Waxahatchee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You at your own game, it's embarrassing
I walk around like
This is the last strike
I love being right
Especially with you
Now I wake up early
All your tragic fiction
I always take the bait
But the margin's gigantic
Am I happy or manic
Does it make you feel good
To just blend in with the wall
Everyone will hear me complain
And everyone will pity my pain
You'll play defense
Evading the nonsense
Does it make you feel good
To watch me stumbling in the dark
You're smoking and laughing
Untethered and carefree
I will unravel when no one
Sees what I see
You walk around like
It's your god-given right
And you love being right
You've never been wrong
The lyrics of Waxahatchee's song "Never Been Wrong" are about the dynamic between two people who are playing a psychological game with one another. The singer of the song has spent all of their time learning how to defeat the other person at their own game, but they admit that it's embarrassing. They walk around as if every interaction with the other person is their last chance to win, expressing a love of being right, especially with this individual.
As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the singer is unhappy with this dynamic. They wake up early and wait for the other person to dangle some tragic fiction, which they always take the bait for. The singer wonders if they are happy or manic in this relationship, and what is it about the other person that makes them want to blend in with the wall. The chorus of the song expresses the singer's frustration that while they complain to everyone, the other person is able to play defense and evade the nonsense.
The final verse is a contrast to the way the singer has been behaving throughout the rest of the song. While they have been trying to win a game with the other person, the other person is carefree and laughing, never wrong. The singer, on the other hand, will unravel even when no one sees what they see. The song ends on a note of defeat, with the realization that the other person will always win because they are never wrong.
Line by Line Meaning
I spent all my time learning how to defeat
I dedicated all my time to figuring out how to outsmart you.
You at your own game, it's embarrassing
And now I'm embarrassed because I've been trying to beat you at your own game.
I walk around like
I act like
This is the last strike
I'm acting as though I'm about to give up on this.
I love being right
I take great pleasure in being correct.
Especially with you
Especially when it comes to you.
Now I wake up early
These days, I'm waking up early.
I ruffle, I lie in wait
I'm restless, waiting for something to happen.
All your tragic fiction
I'm paying attention to all the sad and dramatic stories you tell.
I always take the bait
I always fall for your traps.
But the margin's gigantic
The difference between our ways of thinking is extremely large, almost incomprehensible.
Am I happy or manic
I'm questioning whether my extreme moods are happiness or mania.
Does it make you feel good
Does it satisfy you
To just blend in with the wall
To just be another face in the crowd?
Everyone will hear me complain
I'm going to make sure everyone knows how I feel.
And everyone will pity my pain
I want everyone to feel sorry for me and my struggles.
You'll play defense
You'll be on the defensive side
Evading the nonsense
Avoiding my complaints and pointless rants.
Does it make you feel good
Is it satisfying
To watch me stumbling in the dark
To watch me struggle and be lost?
You're smoking and laughing
You're carefree and having a good time.
Untethered and carefree
Free and independent, without any constraints or negativity.
I will unravel when no one
I will completely lose it when nobody
Sees what I see
Understands the situation like I do.
You walk around like
You present yourself as
It's your god-given right
It's your inherent right
And you love being right
And you take great pleasure in being correct.
You've never been wrong
You've always been right.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Katie Crutchfield
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
edblackmoor
I spent all my time learning how to defeat
You at your own game, it's embarrassing
I walk around like
This is the last strike
And i love being right
Especially with you
Now I wake up early
I ruffle, I lie in wait
All your tragic fiction
I always take the bait
But the margin's gigantic
Am I happy or manic
Does it make you feel good
To just blend in with the wall
Everyone will hear me complain
Everyone will pity my pain
You’ll play defense
Evading the nonsense
Does it make you feel good
To watch me stumbling in the dark
You're smoking and laughing
Untethered and carefree
I will unravel when no one
Sees what I see
You walk around like
It's your god-given right
You love being right
You've never been wrong
xscott902x
This is fantastic. Really enjoying listening to Katie's progression as Waxahatchee. Each album is notably different from the last while at the same time maintaining that quintessential Waxahatchee sound that I love.
Andrew Lindner
xscott902x Agreed!
Gabryella Fernandes
Muito bom
kso kso
A gem to be thought back to in years to come 💖
edblackmoor
I spent all my time learning how to defeat
You at your own game, it's embarrassing
I walk around like
This is the last strike
And i love being right
Especially with you
Now I wake up early
I ruffle, I lie in wait
All your tragic fiction
I always take the bait
But the margin's gigantic
Am I happy or manic
Does it make you feel good
To just blend in with the wall
Everyone will hear me complain
Everyone will pity my pain
You’ll play defense
Evading the nonsense
Does it make you feel good
To watch me stumbling in the dark
You're smoking and laughing
Untethered and carefree
I will unravel when no one
Sees what I see
You walk around like
It's your god-given right
You love being right
You've never been wrong
Prabhat P
Ok
Richard Sylvanus
Good job & thanks from December 30, 2022
Samaelthekind
Superb in ever way. Shades of the Breeders and the best of women in Alt Rock through the 90s. I first thought it was some gem I discovered that had been overlooked 20 years ago...imagine my pleasant surprise to find it dated 2017 <3
Catherine Gardner
Love her style. Reminds me of bands I listened to at sixth form and first year at Uni - Pixies/Breeders-esque.
Shantanu Baghel
Thank you NPR for introducing me to this beautiful music