"The Other Way" was written by Rivers Cuomo and inspired by conflicting fee… Read Full Bio ↴"The Other Way" was written by Rivers Cuomo and inspired by conflicting feelings about consoling his former girlfriend, Jennifer Chiba, following the apparent suicide of Chiba's then-boyfriend, singer-songwriter Elliott Smith on October 21, 2003. "She left me a distraught voice message," said Cuomo, "but I was in one of my first meditation courses."

"The Other Way" is first documented as having been demoed, acoustically, with Todd Sullivan (the band's A&R representative) in November of 2003 at Weezer's rented office space, in early contention for what would become the band's planned fifth album. Weezer would also rehearse the song a few weeks later at Swing House Studios in West Hollywood with producer Rick Rubin. As of December 2003, the song was worked up to a semi-finished state at Cello Studios. By February of 2004, the song was part of Cuomo's "B-list" of songs in contention for album. "The Other Way" was added to the track list for Make Believe very late in production, with the version recorded in December 2003 being added to the album and receiving last-minute touches around February of 2005, less than a month before the final masters needed to be submitted in time for a spring release. The song features saxophone playing by Jason Freese, the brother of musician Josh Freese, with whom Weezer has collaborated on a number of occasions.

"The Other Way" is only known to have been performed once during the tours in support of Make Believe, at a concert in Illinois on October 3, 2005. The song is not known to have been played again until 2014, when it was performed acoustically during the Everything Will Be Alright in the End Tour.

The Other Way
Weezer Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I want to help you
But I don't know how
I want to soothe you
But I can't speak out

I have many fears about rejection
I have many memories of pain
I have always been a little shy

So I'll turn and look the other way

Other way
Other way
I will turn and look the other way

I want to hold you
But I am afraid
I want to touch you
But I'm not that way

I have many doubts about my motives
I have many fears about my greed
I have always hurt the one that I love
So I'll turn and look the other way

Other way
Other way
I will turn and look the other way

I have many doubts about my motives
I have many fears about my greed
I have always hurt the one that I love
So I'll turn and look the other way

Other way
Other way
I will turn and look the other way
Other way
Other way
I will turn and look the other way
Other way
Other way
I will turn and look the other way

(Other way) the other way
(Other way) the other way

(Other way) the other way
(Other way) the other way

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Weezer's song The Other Way speak about the internal conflicts and insecurities of the singer. He wants to help and soothe a person but doesn't know how to express his feelings. The singer finds it difficult to open up and express himself due to the fear of rejection and the memories of past pain. He admits to being shy and turns the other way as a defense mechanism to avoid emotional vulnerability.

The chorus of the song repeats the line "Other way" multiple times, emphasizing the singer's intention to avoid the situation altogether. Despite wanting to hold and touch the person, he fears his motives and doubts his intentions. He acknowledges that he has hurt the women he loves in the past and holds fears about his breed, indicating previous mistakes or problems that may have stemmed from his personality or past experiences.

Overall, The Other Way is a song about the internal conflicts that prevent someone from being vulnerable and expressing their feelings. The singer's fears, doubts, and shyness cause him to turn away from the potential for love and connection, highlighting the difficulty of overcoming one's insecurities and fears.

Line by Line Meaning

I wan't to help you
I desire to assist you

But I don't know how
But I lack the knowledge to do so

I wan't to soothe you
I want to bring you comfort

But I can't speak out
But I am unable to express myself

I have many fears
I possess numerous anxieties

About rejection
Of being denied or refused

I have many memories of pain
I harbor many experiences of suffering

I have always been a bit too shy
I have consistently been reserved and timid

So I'll turn and look the other way
So I will avoid the situation entirely

Other way
In a different direction

Other way
In an alternate path