6 Cryptic Fall Out Boy Lyrics Decoded

By Melisa • 08 Nov 2017 in Listicle

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Word. Is. Out. That Fall Out Boy’s new album M A N I A will be dropping on January 19! Before we get a taste of their new purple-tinted sound, we thought now would be the perfect time to revisit their discography. So if you ever found yourself baffled by Pete Wentz’s deep metaphors about love, life and everything in between, we’ve got you, fam.

Lets start with that iconic song, the one that propelled them into the spotlight.

‘Sugar, We’re Goin’ Down’

“A loaded God complex/Cock it and pull it”
What it means:
A play on the term “god complex’, this line implies an inflated sense of self. It’s juxtaposed against a “loaded gun” to signify something dangerous.

‘I’ve Got All This Ringing In My Ears And None In My Fingers’

“You’re a canary/I’m a coal mine”
What it means:
When a canary becomes ill, miners would take that as a sign of toxic gases being present, and immediately make a hasty visit. In this case, it’s used to describe a toxic relationship.

‘Young And Menace’

“Oops I, did it again, I/Forgot what I was losing my mind about”
What it means:
This one is what it looks like – a Britney Spears reference. “Britney can be a mirror for our culture, where we built her up and tore her down… That’s what we all go through,” Pete explains.

‘The Phoenix’

“Because the world is just a teller and we are wearing black masks/’You broke our spirit,’ says the note we pass”
What it means:
During bank heists, the robber might slide a note to the teller as a mode of communication, to ask for money. Here, the note instead states why the bank is being robbed.

‘Nobody Puts Baby In The Corner’

“So wear me like a locket around your throat/I’ll weigh you down, I’ll watch you choke/You look so good in blue/You look so good in blue”
What it means:
By comparing ‘you’ to a locket (which is seen as a prize), said locket ironically implies backlash by choking its owner. “You look so good in blue” refers to turning blue from lack of oxygen, and is also a commentary on society’s vanity.

‘The Last Of The Real Ones’

“My head is stripped just like a screw that’s been tightened too many times”
What it means:
“Stripping a screw” is over-tightening a screw to the extent of damaging the rivets. A ‘damaged head’ would symbolise a volatile mind or mental state, caused by trying to be ‘fixed’ too many times.

Such poetry.

On a different note, check out this video for some insight into M A N I A, like why the record’s been described as ‘purple’. But mostly for these adorable puppies.