The Disco Before The Breakdown

I've always believed this had one of the best beats and over all sound of any AM! song, this and for some reason The Ocean (Even though I'm not a huge fan of New Wave) just hit me hard in the musical sense, but both lyrics are rather cryptic and confusing, and both had some sort of taboo about them in the lyrics (Possibly homosexual or other taboo relationship in Disco and talk of wanting to be a woman in The Ocean). I dunno just thought it was an interesting point that this isn't the only possible song with homosexual undertones. Obviously Tom isn't gay, but maybe he could have been bi? Not that it would matter, it's his writing ability that really makes or breaks the man in my eyes and lord knows he can write.

This songs strikes me in a way no other does. I feel like im there watching the song take place

My fave AM! song ever.

i think it is basically about the importance of not giving a shit about what other people think about who you're with, or what they think about the relationship you have with the person. and it does fit well with a homosexual context, but i think its how someone interprets it, everyone can relate to this in different ways. whether you're in love with the local transvestite or your 3rd cousin.

it says to me "fuck conservatism and the status quo."

if im way off, i dont care.

Didn't Tom say that this, Searching... and The Ocean were related lyrically?

I'm guessing TDBTB is about being with someone and not caring what others think, SFAFC about things going wrong and something about cross-dressing too, and Ocean about being born a woman.

Also, ih8thecharts, Donal?

AarnKrry wrote:

Didn't Tom say that this, Searching... and The Ocean were related lyrically?

yep yep.

Quote :

Are the lyrics from "Searching" and "The Ocean" related? Yes. In fact the lyrics to the song "Disco Before the Breakdown" are also related to these two songs.

arollo wrote:

I always thought that the lyrics were using a forbidden relationship as a metaphor for Against Me! wanting to get/getting bigger, and seeking out more than what they had going. Like wanting fame and fortune is a dirty, shameful thing.

I never thought of it as a gay song. And I think everything is gay. I feel bad now. *tear*

...dude thats a little gay

I just saw a live version of this song from 2002 on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjZnVlFAY6Q&NR=1

It made the song new to me, god it's so good.
I wish there existed a high quality version of this...

that part where the guitars and drums just drop out and they're doing the woah's very very cool

That's a great version. Only complaint, I guess Tom is a bit drunk 'cause he's going a bit fast at times.