jerk
The Front Bottoms Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴Just tell me if I'm doing it right
The things like that don't matter
The things like that don't matter
The things like that don't matter
The things like that don't matter

It doesn't matter (you didn't realize that by now?)
How you're feeling (took a while)

All my friends, it's just a feeling
It doesn't matter (you will never understand)
But I know what you mean
So I stare at the ground
That the world is so fucked
I wanna go back in the house

Where I buy and I use
I'm not sure if it works
By the time it's revealed
I will look like a jerk, like a jerk

Yeah I know that I look like a jerk, like a jerk
Yeah I know that I look like a jerk, like a jerk
Yeah I know that I look like a jerk, like a jerk
Yeah I know that I look like a jerk, like a jerk

The things like that don't matter
The things like that don't matter
The things like that don't matter
The things like that don't matter

You bought an old film camera
You're not even sure if it works
You say the lighting's perfect
I look like a jerk
But I know what you mean
So I stare at the ground (I get it, I get it)
That the world is unfair
I wanna go back in the house (I will never understand)

Where I buy and I use
I'm not sure if it works
By the time it's revealed
I will look like a jerk, like a jerk

Yeah I know that I look like a jerk, like a jerk
Yeah I know that I look like a jerk, like a jerk
Yeah I know that I look like a jerk, like a jerk
Yeah I know that I look like a jerk, like a jerk

Shouldn't think about my own life
'Cause the only thing I'm wasting is my own time
When the only thing I know is what I don't like
And the only thing I'm wasting is my own life
The things like that don't matter
The things like that don't matter
The things like that don't matter
The things like that don't matter

Like a jerk
Yeah I know that I look like a jerk, like a jerk
Yeah I know that I look like a jerk, like a jerk
Yeah I know that I look like a jerk, like a jerk
Yeah I know that I look like a jerk, like a jerk
By the time we met up, it was worst come to worst
There was nothing to say, I could tell you were hurt
By the time we met up, it was worst come to worst

There was nothing to say, I could tell you were hurt
Like a jerk

Overall Meaning

The Front Bottoms's song "Jerk" is a song that speaks about feeling like an outsider or feeling like no one truly understands you. The song starts with the repetition of "the things like that don't matter", which could signify that the things that people judge you for or the things that make you feel like an outcast should not hold any weight or significance in your life. The lyrics then delve into the self-deprecating thoughts of feeling like a jerk and not understanding why others don't understand you or why you don't fit in. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the feelings of being a jerk and not being able to change it.

The verse then goes on to describe the purchase of an old film camera, which the singer is not even sure works, and how their friend says the lighting is perfect, but the singer still feels like a jerk despite understanding what their friend means. The song then delves deeper into the negative thoughts and emotions that can arise from feeling like an outsider. The bridge talks about wasting time and not knowing what you truly like and not making the most of your life. It then ends with the repetition of "the things like that don't matter" as if to reassure the listener that despite feeling like a jerk or not fitting in, those things shouldn't hold any power over your life.

Line by Line Meaning

Just tell me if I'm doing it right
Please tell me if I'm doing the right thing

The things like that don't matter
These things are unimportant

It doesn't matter (you didn't realize that by now?)
It doesn't matter, didn't you realize that already?

How you're feeling (took a while)
It took some time for me to realize how you feel

All my friends, it's just a feeling
My friends, it's all just a feeling

But I know what you mean
I understand what you're saying

So I stare at the ground
I look at the ground, lost in thought

That the world is so fucked
The world is so messed up

I wanna go back in the house
I want to retreat back into my house

Where I buy and I use
Where I buy and use things

I'm not sure if it works
I'm not certain if it's functional

By the time it's revealed
When it's finally revealed

I will look like a jerk, like a jerk
I'll appear foolish and incompetent

Yeah I know that I look like a jerk, like a jerk
Yes, I'm aware that I'm coming across as foolish

You bought an old film camera
You bought an old film camera

You're not even sure if it works
You don't even know if it's functional

You say the lighting's perfect
You claim that the lighting is perfect

I look like a jerk
I seem foolish

That the world is unfair
The world is unjust

Shouldn't think about my own life
I shouldn't focus so much on my own life

'Cause the only thing I'm wasting is my own time
Because the only thing I'm wasting is my own time

When the only thing I know is what I don't like
When the only thing I know is what I dislike

And the only thing I'm wasting is my own life
And the only thing I'm wasting is my own life

By the time we met up, it was worst come to worst
By the time we met up, things had gone from bad to worse

There was nothing to say, I could tell you were hurt
There was nothing to say, I could tell you were hurting

Like a jerk
Appearing foolish and incompetent

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Brian Sella, Mathew Uychich

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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