Song of the Week Take Back

[theeulogy]

The song is great!But there's so much hate in it!That's why I don't listen to it very often.

But it really helps in the moments when u want to burn the whole place down Or just to have fun

[mandajane]

this is a kick ass song.!!!!!i think it really shows the anger green day went through when they signed to warner and all the shit they got from gilman st.

[E!!i]

I like to listen to this song when I wanna listen to metal cause it's so aggressive.

[Neon Light]

Not for me. Maybe I'm just not a hateful person

[Daughter.of.Rage.and.Love]

I still don't understand the chorus

I just ... well, don't understand it. at all.

[Marki.]

I still don't understand the chorus

I just ... well, don't understand it. at all.

I always thought that in the chorus he's saying 'Take it back' to someone - like, for example he wants someone to take something that he/she said back...

aaah I probably can't explain it I guess I'm completely wrong...

[Daughter.of.Rage.and.Love]

I always thought that in the chorus he's saying 'Take it back' to someone - like, for example he wants someone to take something that he/she said back...

aaah I probably can't explain it I guess I'm completely wrong...

Yeah, that's what I thought too....but that doesn't really make sense in the song, because none of the other lyrics mention anything someone has said that Billie wants them to take back, basically it's only insulting and threatening someone

I don't know, it also confuses me that the last line before the choruses is 'can't take (it) anymore'. because to take back and to take isn't the same.....I think.

something like payback (not literally because that's way too alike to 'take back', but just something meaning something like payback) would make more sense, as the whole song is threatening and insulting someone and that would then be payback for whatever the person did. With that, take back would fit too, but only like, 'far away'. if that makes any sense, I don't know how to explain it properly in English.

I don't think this makes any sense. But that's why I don't understand the chorus

[Bastard of 1967]

Yeah, that's what I thought too....but that doesn't really make sense in the song, because none of the other lyrics mention anything someone has said that Billie wants them to take back, basically it's only insulting and threatening someone

I don't know, it also confuses me that the last line before the choruses is 'can't take (it) anymore'. because to take back and to take isn't the same.....I think.

something like payback (not literally because that's way too alike to 'take back', but just something meaning something like payback) would make more sense, as the whole song is threatening and insulting someone and that would then be payback for whatever the person did. With that, take back would fit too, but only like, 'far away'. if that makes any sense, I don't know how to explain it properly in English.

I don't think this makes any sense. But that's why I don't understand the chorus

I think the second verse sheds some light on it:

The taste of bad blood on the tip of my tongue

An eye for an eye

Gun for a gun

Cold-cocked and I'm taking back what's mine

To me this suggests he's taking back something that he feels was wrongfully taken or stolen from him.....implying the use of violence to even some score. About what specifically, though? I doubt we'll ever know.

[Daughter.of.Rage.and.Love]

I think the second verse sheds some light on it:

To me this suggests he's taking back something that he feels was wrongfully taken or stolen from him.....implying the use of violence to even some score. About what specifically, though? I doubt we'll ever know.

Hmm, maybe. It isn't very clear though. And to me it now seems really focused on, like, 'gimme back what's mine now I hate you ' and then the first thing I think of is like a stolen barbie or toy car.... I mean, it's probably true (not the toy car part xD), but to me it always seemed like an angry song at someone Billie hates in general/who did something (or more) to him, not angry at them because they took something, whatever that may be. I liked it better with the first explanation, even with that the chorus doesn't make sense.

[Marki.]

I think the second verse sheds some light on it:

To me this suggests he's taking back something that he feels was wrongfully taken or stolen from him.....implying the use of violence to even some score. About what specifically, though? I doubt we'll ever know.

Thanks for the explanation... I didn't really payed attention to the second verse...

I'm taking back what's mine... /btw everytime I read this line I start singing Castaway xD/

yeah, I think that could be it, someone took something from Billie and that's why he hates the person and he's 'taking it back'...

[J'net]

To me this suggests he's taking back something that he feels was wrongfully taken or stolen from him.....implying the use of violence to even some score. About what specifically, though? I doubt we'll ever know.

I like this idea, but I think I see it as a bit more abstract. For example, he's going to take back his pride, self-esteem, belief in himself or some other such quality that someone stole or tried to steal from him. However, it's not easy. It requires a tough fight, and he may have to be violent (in the abstract) by killing off feelings he had for someone.

Something like that maybe - though this idea is really only half-formed in my brain.

Thanks for the explanation... I didn't really payed attention to the second verse...

I'm taking back what's mine... /btw everytime I read this line I start singing Castaway xD/

yeah, I think that could be it, someone took something from Billie and that's why he hates the person and he's 'taking it back'...

Hahaha - I had the same Castaway thought!

[Nova-Caine]

Sorry If this has already been mentioned, isn't Take Back about some journo that turned on them when they hit the big time? And Billies reaction to that person who he considered a friend? Taking Back all the goodness and friendship he'd given the person over the years and giving them the smack he feels they deserve?

Or I could be totally mixing this up with another song

[Heather!]

Definitely one of my top 10 GD songs. I don't really know what I love so much about it.

[Sara.]

I absolutely love Take Back. A lot of people tell me that this is one of the few Green Day songs that they don't like, I'm like "...well it's me second most played song on itunes "

I think it's really fascinating what Billie does to his voice when he sings "Take back, Take back, Take". This song has an anger that imo is stronger and more intense than any other Green Day song. I love how musicians express their anger in songs, it's a great way to get it out.

Billie was surley not in a good mood when he wrote this song

[Heather!]

I just watched the video in the OP and WOW, I want to hear this song live sometime! I love the way he sings "take back."

This song is now on repeat on iTunes.

[Sara.]

I just watched the video in the OP and WOW, I want to hear this song live sometime! I love the way he sings "take back."

me too, this is one of the songs I really wanna hear live. Too bad they never play it live these days, but who knows which songs they are gonna play in the future

[J'net]

Sorry If this has already been mentioned, isn't Take Back about some journo that turned on them when they hit the big time? And Billies reaction to that person who he considered a friend? Taking Back all the goodness and friendship he'd given the person over the years and giving them the smack he feels they deserve?

Or I could be totally mixing this up with another song

I thought that was Platypus for some reason - or maybe Ha Ha You're Dead. Now you've got me wondering and confused !

[Nova-Caine]

I thought that was Platypus for some reason - or maybe Ha Ha You're Dead. Now you've got me wondering and confused !

I always do this, that could be platypus, oh well I love both songs regardless, oh and Ha Ha You're Dead is going to be my funeral song

x

[Bastard of 1967]

Sorry If this has already been mentioned, isn't Take Back about some journo that turned on them when they hit the big time? And Billies reaction to that person who he considered a friend? Taking Back all the goodness and friendship he'd given the person over the years and giving them the smack he feels they deserve?

Or I could be totally mixing this up with another song

I think it's 86 you're thinking about -- not 100% sure tho. I'm curious whether both were written around the same time and 86 just got put on an album first.

[J'net]

I think it's 86 you're thinking about -- not 100% sure tho. I'm curious whether both were written around the same time and 86 just got put on an album first.

I'm sure 86 is about Gilman and the impossibility of going back as Green Day after they signed with Reprise. But as I said earlier, this chat is starting to make me doubt myself .

[Bastard of 1967]

I'm sure 86 is about Gilman and the impossibility of going back as Green Day after they signed with Reprise. But as I said earlier, this chat is starting to make me doubt myself .

I'll check the Spitz tome later and see what he had to say about it. I'm getting confused too!

[Nova-Caine]

Yeah 86 is def about Gilman

[Anja]

It is Platypus you're talking about.

[Nova-Caine]

See Anja knew, *taps old grey matter*