3 Doors Down - Loser - Meaning of the song
This is a song about one of Brad Arnold's friends from when he was a teenager, he explains. "He came from a good family, but he just got involved in cocaine and stuff." The point of the song, according to Arnold, is not him calling his friend a loser; in fact, despite the title, he is not. The song, on the other hand, is about his friend's self-doubt and how he internalized his feelings. "Thankfully," Arnold says, "he's doing a lot better now." And I've had a lot of people tell me that they can really relate to that song in some way. Everybody, I believe, feels this way now and then.
As much as Brad enjoys people delving into his songs for meaning, he is never disappointed when he hears an interpretation that differs from his original intent. Unless his young nephew offers an interpretation. He tells the following story: "When my nephew was about three or four years old and we were on tour for the Better Life album, his words to this song were, 'you're pushing me off of lobster legs.' And for the next six months, every time I heard that song, I tried not to sing, 'You're pushing me off the lobster legs.' That's the more vexing interpretation I'm referring to "He chuckles.
Loser - Lyrics
Breathe in right away Nothing seems to fill this place I need this every time So take your lies, get off my case Someday I will find A love that flows through me like this This will fall away This will fall away You're getting closer To pushing me off of life's little edge 'Cause I'm a loser And sooner or later, you know I'll be dead You're getting closer You're holding the rope and I'm taking the fall 'Cause I'm a loser I'm a loser, yeah This is getting old I can't break these chains that I hold My body's growing cold There's nothing left of this mind or my soul Addiction needs a pacifier The buzz of this poison is taking me higher And this will fall away This will fall away You're getting closer To pushing me off of life's little edge 'Cause I'm a loser And sooner or later, you know I'll be dead You're getting closer You're holding the rope and I'm taking the fall 'Cause I'm a loser, I'm a loser, yeah You're getting closer To pushing me off of life's little edge 'Cause I'm a loser And sooner or later, you know I'll be dead You're getting closer You're holding the rope and I'm taking the fall 'Cause I'm a loser, I'm a loser, yeah You're getting closer To pushing me off of life's little edge 'Cause I'm a loser And sooner or later, you know I'll be dead You're getting closer You're holding the rope and I'm taking the fall 'Cause I'm a loser, I'm a loser, yeah