No Below Lyrics
[Verse 1]
You didn't know me when you were a kid
In trouble at school, alone at lunch again
I didn't know you when I broke my knee
Spent the summer on crutches and everybody teased
Except for this one friend I almost forgot
[Verse 2]
You didn't know me, but he knew me best
The weight of my brain and the fear of my cold head
You never saw me, interred in the ice
My friend tried to melt, but he couldn't thaw me out right
So I got ditched freezing, alone with my thoughts
[Hook 1]
And though I once said I was better off just being dead
Better off just being dead, without my old friend
True, I once said, I was better off just being dead
But I didn't know you yet
[Verse 3]
You didn't know me, but you got cold, too
And your mind was heavy, and you thought you might lose it
Well everything fucked up we both felt before
I'm glad for it all if it got us where we are
With you in the boat there, I almost forgot
You didn't know me when you were a kid
In trouble at school, alone at lunch again
I didn't know you when I broke my knee
Spent the summer on crutches and everybody teased
Except for this one friend I almost forgot
[Verse 2]
You didn't know me, but he knew me best
The weight of my brain and the fear of my cold head
You never saw me, interred in the ice
My friend tried to melt, but he couldn't thaw me out right
So I got ditched freezing, alone with my thoughts
[Hook 1]
And though I once said I was better off just being dead
Better off just being dead, without my old friend
True, I once said, I was better off just being dead
But I didn't know you yet
[Verse 3]
You didn't know me, but you got cold, too
And your mind was heavy, and you thought you might lose it
Well everything fucked up we both felt before
I'm glad for it all if it got us where we are
With you in the boat there, I almost forgot
[Hook 2]
How I once said I was better off just being dead
Better off just being dead, I didn't know you yet
And you might've said, you were better off just being dead
But I'm looking out for you, my friend, I'm looking
[Outro]
I didn't know you when you were a kid
But swimming with you, it sure feels like I did
How I once said I was better off just being dead
Better off just being dead, I didn't know you yet
And you might've said, you were better off just being dead
But I'm looking out for you, my friend, I'm looking
[Outro]
I didn't know you when you were a kid
But swimming with you, it sure feels like I did
About
Genius Annotation
Track five off of Speedy Ortiz’s critically-acclaimed debut Major Arcana tells a sobering story of youthful depression and hope.
Sadie talks about the song in this interview:
“That is one I wrote when I wasn’t really bummed out. It was more to cheer someone else up. I didn’t think we would play that song at all. I thought it was gonna be a demo. I didn’t want to seem too sappy.”
The song is also featured in the 2017 video game, “Life Is Strange: Before The Storm” during Episode 1 when Chloe is laying on her bed.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
- 2.Tiger Tank
- 3.Hitch
- 4.Casper
- 5.No Below
- 6.Gary
- 7.Fun
- 8.Cash Cab
- 9.Plough
- 10.MKVI
- 12.Casper (1995)
Credits
Produced By
Written By
Label
Vocals
Guitar
Bass Guitar
Drums
Recorded At
Sonelab (Easthampton, Massachusetts)
Release Date
July 9, 2013
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