Many of the lyrics on American indie pop band fun.'s second album "Some Nights" are about frontman Nate Ruess' family. For instance, on this track he sings: "My heart is breaking for my sister and the con that she called love, but when I look into my nephew's eyes, man you wouldn't believe the most amazing things that can come from some terrible nights."
The singer explained to Mesfin Fekadu of The Associated Press: "I'm always thinking about, 'Who am I and why did I do something like that?' And I think then it harkens back to my family, and I have such a strong tie to them and it's always therapeutic to sing about them."
While writing for their second long player, the band were listening to Kanye West's "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" album. So influenced were they by its sound and scope, they hired that record's co-producer Jeff Bhasker to produce "Some Nights".
Fun named their album after this track as they feel it best represents not only their entire record, but also where they're at as a band. "I think that the song "Some Nights" just kind of sums up who we are as a band, and while it's über-personal, I think it gives people a lot of stuff to relate to. It's not a love song; it's a song about being an underdog and trying to figure out where you fall into that situation," Ruess told MTV News.
Ruess came up with the title before he wrote the song. He recalled to Billboard Magazine: "I think we were somewhere in Scotland, touring, and I told the guys, 'Hey, check it out. I want to call the album "Some Nights". I had no idea where that came from, but they were like, 'That is a fantastic name for an album!' So I had to start figuring out what that meant for me and write a song about it."
Ruess added that he settled into a lyrical idea about "just being someone different on any given night."
Ruess drew on Paul Simon for the musical part of the song. "I was thinking about Graceland, the Paul Simon album, for some reason," he told Billboard. "I had the chorus for the song and I didn't know what I was going to do with the verse, and I remember writing down, 'This will be the best song you've ever written' and was like, 'Alright. I guess I kind of have to challenge myself...' As soon as I felt it was an entire song I showed it to the guys and they were just like, 'We got it, let's go,' which was really exciting. That was the case for the entire album, too; I never had to explain myself. But ("Some Nights") was the first song that really happened for, and it kind of showed me that we were moving as one for the whole album."
The Civil War inspired music video was directed by Anthony Mandler and features actual Civil War re-enactors. The weather was very much a factor during the shoot. "We look like we're having a grand old time and pounding away at the song, but those takes were few and far between this horrible lightning, crazy monsoon storm," multi-instrumentalist Jack Antonoff explained to MTV News. "So, we're basically in a big field - I guess technically on somewhat of a mountain in upstate New York - during a lightning storm, which arguably could be the worst scenario you could possibly be in a lightning storm." He took a pause, concluding, "I think in a weird way it added to the intensity of the video. Let's go on record saying it was life or death."
The song expresses the anguish of a young man who is a long way from home, as he lies in bed at night thinking of his family members. Producer Jeff Bhasker said of Nate Ruess' songwriting to the New York Times: "He can tackle these really dark subjects and put this pop melody to it."
This was especially successful Down Under reaching #1 in New Zealand and Australia. It also topped the charts in Israel.
Some Nights
fun. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Some nights, I call it a draw
Some nights, I wish that my lips could build a castle
Some nights, I wish they'd just fall off
But I still wake up, I still see your ghost
Oh Lord, I'm still not sure, what I stand for, oh, oh, oh
Most nights, I don't know anymore
Oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, oh
Oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, oh
This is it, boys, this is war, what are we waiting for?
Why don't we break the rules already?
I was never one to believe the hype
Save that for the black and white
Try twice as hard and I'm half as liked
But here they come again to jack my style
That's alright, I found a martyr in my bed tonight
Stops my bones from wondering
Just who I, who I, who I am, oh who am I, mm, mm
Well, some nights, I wish that this all would end
'Cause I could use some friends for a change
And some nights, I'm scared you'll forget me again
Some nights, I always win, I always win
But I still wake up, I still see your ghost
Oh Lord, I'm still not sure what I stand for, oh
What do I stand for?
What do I stand for?
Most nights, I don't know (oh, come on)
So this is it? I sold my soul for this?
Washed my hands of that for this?
I miss my mom and dad for this?
No, when I see stars, when I see, when I see stars, that's all they are
When I hear songs, they sound like a swan, so come on
Oh, come on, oh, come on, oh come on
Well, that is it, guys, that is all
Five minutes in and I'm bored again
Ten years of this, I'm not sure if anybody understands
This one is not for the folks at home
I'm sorry to leave, mom, I had to go
Who the fuck wants to die alone all dried up in the desert sun?
My heart is breaking for my sister and the con that she called, "Love"
And then I look into my nephew's eyes
Man, you wouldn't believe the most amazing things that can come from
Some terrible nights
(Alright, come on)
Oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, oh
Oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, oh
The other night, you wouldn't believe
The dream I just had about you and me
I called you up, but we both agreed
It's for the best you didn't listen
It's for the best we get our distance, oh
For the best you didn't listen
It's for the best we get our distance, oh
In "Some Nights", fun. lead singer Nate Ruess addresses the confusion and disarray of contemporary life, but with the more compassionate message of searching for meaning where it seems impossible to find. The chorus taps into Ruess' personal insecurities, leaving him asking himself, "What do I stand for?" With his repeated statement of "Most nights, I don't know," Ruess successfully voices a doubt shared by many of our generation.
He sings about declaring war, breaking rules, believing hype, martyrdom, selling his soul, dying alone, desert dehydration, and love cons. This is all just a preface for when the circle of the song lands back on that question of self-worth. The music is catchy, but noticeably wearier than their previous tracks such as "We Are Young," with which "Some Nights" is often compared. The track stands on its own and speaks to a new era of vulnerability.
One interpretation of the lyrics is that the verses represent the singer's internal struggle and the heartbreak he has experienced, while the chorus represents his outward attempts to move past his pain and figure out his place in the world. The repeated question of "What do I stand for?" highlights the idea that searching for a sense of purpose can be a lifelong endeavor.
Line by Line Meaning
Some nights, I stay up cashing in my bad luck
Sometimes I stay up late, feeling sorry for myself and dwelling on my misfortunes
Some nights, I call it a draw
Sometimes I feel like neither good nor bad things are happening in my life and it's just okay
Some nights, I wish that my lips could build a castle
Sometimes I wish I had the power to make my dreams come true through just talking
Some nights, I wish they'd just fall off
Sometimes I feel like my words are meaningless and I wish I didn't have to speak at all
But I still wake up, I still see your ghost
Despite everything, I can't stop thinking about you and the impact you've had on my life
Oh Lord, I'm still not sure, what I stand for oh oh oh
I'm still unsure of my values, beliefs, and who I am as a person
What do I stand for? Oh what do I stand for?
I'm asking myself what my purpose is and what I should strive for in life
Most nights, I don't know anymore
Most of the time, I'm lost and uncertain about my direction in life
This is it, boys, this is war, what are we waiting for?
We should stop hesitating and start fighting for what we want in life
Why don't we break the rules already?
We should stop following the norm and do what we really want
I was never one to believe the hype
I never trusted what others said just because of their reputation
Save that for the black and white
Leave those superficial things for others and focus on the meaningful parts of life
Try twice as hard and I'm half as liked
Even if I work twice as hard as others, people still don't appreciate me as much
But here they come again to jack my style
People keep copying my ideas and it's frustrating
That's alright, I found a martyr in my bed tonight
It's okay, I found comfort in feeling sorry for myself
Stops my bones from wondering
It prevents me from pondering about my existence and what I should do next
Just who I, who I, who I am, oh who am I, mm, mm
I'm trying to figure out who I am and what makes me unique
Well some nights, I wish that this all would end
Sometimes I feel like giving up and ending it all to escape my problems
'Cause I could use some friends for a change
I feel lonely and want some companionship for once
And some nights, I'm scared you'll forget me again
Sometimes I fear that you'll forget about me and our memories together
Some nights, I always win, I always win
Some nights, I feel confident and successful in everything I do
So this is it? I sold my soul for this?
Is this all there is to life? Did I sacrifice my values for nothing?
Washed my hands of that for this?
Did I trade something important for something that doesn't really matter?
I miss my mom and dad for this?
Do I regret pursuing this path that made me leave my loved ones behind?
No, when I see stars, when I see, when I see stars, that's all they are
I realize that everything is temporary and meaningless in the grand scheme of things
When I hear songs, they sound like a swan, so come on
When I listen to music, it feels like a beautiful experience, so let's enjoy it
Well that is it, guys, that is all
That's all there is to this situation
Five minutes in and I'm bored again
I'm already tired of this situation and it's only been a short while
Ten years of this, I'm not sure if anybody understands
I've been dealing with this for a decade and no one seems to truly comprehend my struggles
This one is not for the folks at home
This one isn't for those who haven't gone through similar experiences
I'm sorry to leave, mom, I had to go
I'm sorry for leaving you, mom, but I had to follow my own path
Who the fuck wants to die alone all dried up in the desert sun?
Who would ever want to die alone, with nothing left to offer and nothing left to give?
My heart is breaking for my sister and the con that she called, "Love"
I feel heartbroken for my sister who fell for a deceitful version of love
But when I look into my nephew's eyes
But when I see the innocence and potential in my nephew's eyes
Man, you wouldn't believe, the most amazing things, that can come from
You wouldn't believe how much positivity and love can come from difficult situations
Some terrible nights, ah
Some of the worst, most painful nights of my life
The other night, you wouldn't believe
Recently, I had a dream that seemed impossible
The dream I just had about you and me
A dream about what could have been between us
I called you up, but we'd both agree
I tried to reach out to you, but ultimately we both know it wouldn't work
It's for the best you didn't listen
It's better that you didn't hear what I had to say
It's for the best we get our distance, oh
It's better if we keep our distance and move on from each other
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Andrew Dost, Jack Antonoff, Jeff Bhasker, Nate Ruess
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tan Tan
ang ganda tlaga nang kanta
@johnsonalzona1133
Some nights, I stay up cashing in my bad luck
Some nights, I call it a draw
Some nights, I wish that my lips could build a castle
Some nights, I wish they'd just fall off
But I still wake up, I still see your ghost
Oh Lord, I'm still not sure what I stand for, oh-oh
(Oh-ooh-woah) what do I stand for?
(Oh-ooh-woah) what do I stand for?
Most nights, I don't know anymore
Oh, oh-ooh-woah
Oh-ooh-woah, oh
Oh, oh-ooh-woah
Oh-ooh-woah, oh
This is it, boys, this is war
What are we waiting for?
Why don't we break the rules already?
I was never one to believe the hype
Save that for the black and white
Try twice as hard, and I'm half as liked
But here they come again to jack my style
That's alright (that's alright)
I found a martyr in my bed tonight
She stops my bones from wondering just who I am, who I am, who I am
Oh, who am I? Mmm, mmm-mmm
Well, some nights, I wish that this all would end
'Cause I could use some friends for a change
And some nights, I'm scared you'll forget me again
Some nights, I always win (I always win)
But I still wake up, I still see your ghost
Oh Lord, I'm still not sure what I stand for, oh-oh
(Oh-ooh-woah) what do I stand for?
(Oh-ooh-woah) what do I stand for?
Most nights, I don't know
so this is it?
I sold my soul for this?
Washed my hands of that for this?
I miss my mom and dad for this?
No, when I see stars, when I see-
When I see stars, that's all they are
When I hear songs
They sound like a swan, so come on
Oh come on, oh come on, oh come on
Well, this is it guys, that is all
Five minutes in, and I'm bored again
Ten years of this, I'm not sure if anybody understands
This one is not for the folks at home
Sorry to leave, Mom, I had to go
Who the fuck wants to die alone all dried up in the desert sun?
My heart is breaking for my sister
And the con that she called "love"
And then I look into my nephew's eyes
Man, you wouldn't believe
The most amazing things
That can come from
Some terrible nights
Oh, oh-ooh-woah
Oh-ooh-woah, oh
Oh, oh-ooh-woah
Oh-ooh-woah, oh
The other night, you wouldn't believe
The dream I just had about you and me
I called you up, but we both agree
It's for the best you didn't listen
It's for the best we get our distance, oh
For the best you didn't listen
It's for the best we get our distance, oh
@okeydokeygivemeyourgnocchi1481
Edit- anyone who is looking for an updated list go to viva la vida and check comments.
Most nostalgic songs
Fun- Some Nights
Fun- we are young- the Lumineers
Olw city- Fireflies
The Lumineers- Ho Hey
Avicii- Wake me up
Passenger- Let her go
Gym class heroes- Stereo hearts
American authors- best day of my life
Pibull- Timber
The black eyed peas- I’ve got a feeling
Avicii- Hey brother
Sam smith- Stay with me
Lukas graham- 7 years
Bastille- Pompeii
OneRepublic- Counting Stars
The wanted- Chasing the Sun
Foster the People- Pumped Up Kicks
Phillip Phillips- home
M83- Outro (nostalgic even if you've never heard it)
@rilesatwork
I feel like this band just defined a generation with 3 songs
@BIGBOSS-kg6cg
Basically
@mimi817499
Literally
@georgewilson06
Insert meme: theres 3 actually
@rilesatwork
GEORGE WILSON what’s the third?
@BIGBOSS-kg6cg
CreativeBrick it’s Carry On
@storeyjonca8726
Aww is it just me or does everyone else want this type of music to come back on to the radios
@davidhinh9086
Storey Jonca me too
@gamingislife1377
YEAH