Cleaver and Walker began playing together in 2001 as a result of Cleaver’s stage fright when asked to perform a brief run of solo shows. The duo’s first performance was largely unplanned and yet went without incident.. so they agreed to continue and expand. Mark Messerly joined in 2002 as bassist and utility man, and Dawn Burman joined on drums shortly thereafter. The four-piece has released three full-length albums and one EP on their native Cincinnati’s Shake It label. Klug joined the band shortly after Burman's departure in early 2009.
The band is known for its use of "an army of alternately droning and jangling guitars" (Uncut 6/09) to offset the traditional three-minute pop format. Lyrics are typically split evenly between Cleaver and Walker.
Their work has met with critical praise from Rolling Stone and SPIN, both of which gave the band’s second and third albums four stars each, in addition to favorable reviews from Village Voice, NPR, Washington Post, Uncut, and many other press outlets. The “Dean of American Critics” Robert Christgau placed the band’s first two albums (Funeral Dress and Left for Dead) on his Best of the Decade list, and their third album (Wussy) ranked tenth in his best of 2009 Dean’s List.
This Will Not End Well
Wussy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You forgot her. That was bad, but I did something worse.
Bitter memories will lessen as you live.
"Bygones are bygones," she says as she forgives,
But I can tell this will not end well.
I beg your pardon if what I've done has thrown you off your course.
Teacher tells you she'll snatch you from your shoes.
You think about it, and the answer that you chose is "Go to hell."
This will not end well.
If it's now or never, never is the one that's gonna win.
Then there's forever - we're waiting on forever to begin.
Our days are numbered, and the hour is drawing near.
Call me a killjoy, but I don't think I hear those wedding bells.
This will not end will.
The song "This Will Not End Well" by Wussy is a tale of regret, guilt, and the impending feeling of doom. The first verse talks about a mother-daughter banquet at a church where the singer did something worse than forgetting someone. It's not clear what the singer did, but the bitterness seems to have lessened as the person forgives the singer. However, the singer has a feeling that this event is not going to end well or something bad is going to happen.
In the second verse, the singer apologizes for throwing someone off course. It's kindergarten, and they are jumping on a dead and bloated horse. The teacher threatens to snatch their shoes, and the singer's response is to go to hell. It's unclear who the singer is speaking to, but it seems like the person is not receptive to the singer's apologies.
The chorus of the song repeats the same notion that this will not end well. The feeling of doom is impending, and the singer seems to be resigned to that fate. Overall, the song is a melancholic reminder that actions have consequences, and not all relationships can be mended.
Line by Line Meaning
Mother-daughter banquet at the Bethel Baptist Church.
The singer sets the scene of an event taking place at a specific location.
You forgot her. That was bad, but I did something worse.
The singer feels guilt for doing something worse than forgetting someone, even though he acknowledges that forgetting someone is bad.
Bitter memories will lessen as you live.
As time goes on, painful memories will become less intense.
"Bygones are bygones," she says as she forgives,
Someone forgives the singer and wants to leave the past in the past.
But I can tell this will not end well.
Despite the forgiveness, the singer has a premonition that things will not end favorably.
I beg your pardon if what I've done has thrown you off your course.
The singer apologizes for potentially negatively impacting someone's plans or path in life.
It's kindergarten, and you're jumping on a dead and bloated horse.
The situation is hopeless and childish, yet someone is trying to make it work anyway.
Teacher tells you she'll snatch you from your shoes.
The teacher threatens to take the artist's shoes as punishment or an example.
You think about it, and the answer that you chose is "Go to hell."
The artist responds to the teacher's threat with disdain and rudeness.
If it's now or never, never is the one that's gonna win.
If a choice must be made between now or never, then never will be the outcome.
Then there's forever - we're waiting on forever to begin.
Despite a belief that never is the option that will be chosen, there is also a hope for an eternal future.
Our days are numbered, and the hour is drawing near.
The singer feels that time is running out and life is finite.
Call me a killjoy, but I don't think I hear those wedding bells.
The singer is pessimistic about the possibility of a happy ending or marriage in this situation.
This will not end will.
The singer reiterates his belief that the situation will not have a positive outcome.
Contributed by Aiden Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.