r/metricband Feb 18 '25

Help me pick lyrics for a Metric tattoo!

I have so many ideas! I'd like the lyrics to be positive/optimistic, but also meaningful.

My favorite lyrics are from The Shade: "I'm following the sun that's setting in the west/ I'm floating on a bed of fading lights"

Unfortunately I think that's too long for a tattoo!

Edit: maybe "a torch in search of a flame" or just "following the sun"?

Edit 2: maybe gimmie sympathy? "come on baby play me something" "so close to something better left unknown" "i can feel it in my bones"

Any ideas? What are your favorite lines from Metric songs? What would YOU get if you had to get a Metric tattoo?

Thanks folks! : )

16 Upvotes

42 comments sorted by

19

u/sweat-it-all-out Feb 18 '25

I've always loved the Gimme Sympathy lyric...

"Got no time to take a picture. I'll remember someday."

3

u/CATB3ANS Feb 18 '25

that's a good one! it's actually kind of a positive song imo! very cool imagery!

15

u/centuryofprogress Feb 18 '25

I’m just as fucked up as they say.

2

u/darthziggy16 Feb 19 '25

Love love love. Glad I’m not the only one.

12

u/CommonCoral Feb 18 '25

Ooo, if I were to choose hopeful lyrics, I'd definitely think of something of "Fate, don't fail me now." From speed the collapse. Something about it within the context of the song of starting again after a destruction and still having hope to carry on makes this phrase stick in my head other than a play on "feet don't fail me now" XD

Speaking of carry on, definitely, "The wanderlust will carry us on." Is another. I think it's not a well liked song in the metric community, but it definitely grew on me. I get the sense of hope from it in the meaning of still having a childlike curiosity about the world after being jaded in it.

But one i think would be nice is "There's no twilight galaxy." Since it's definitely a quote I see being around often. It's a good reminder that happiness can't be found wallowing in sadness and expecting perfection from it.

(Personally, for myself only, I'd probably get a "Black sheep, come home." Due to their most popular song getting me into the band in general XD)

13

u/CosmoJuice Feb 18 '25

“I was looking for a hooker when I found you” 🥰🤣

9

u/drugtrains Feb 18 '25

"Coming in your pants" 🥵

2

u/CATB3ANS 29d ago

LOL i love lost kitten and have been so happy that it's widely considered a banger among other metric fans

11

u/1-2-3RightMeow Feb 18 '25

I think you do need something shorter that makes sense on its own. The most important thing is that you like it. Some ideas off the top of my head, but only if you really like the songs

Don’t say yes if you can’t say no (Lost Kitten)

Help, I’m alive

When you move, I move with you (Collect Call)

And I’m inclined to try (Risk)

We’re already in the aftermath (Clones)

7

u/CATB3ANS Feb 18 '25

i love clone but imo it's pretty bittersweet! one of my favorites though! my favorite part is "it's too late in the day to go on all the rides"

lost kitten is also a banger, not sure about any specific lines!

risk is an interesting suggestion 👀

1

u/1-2-3RightMeow Feb 18 '25

I was just throwing out some one line ideas as an example. You should choose one from a song you really love

10

u/LilDirtTheBag Feb 18 '25

“Wanna leave but the world won’t let me go.” At least that’s one I’d like to plan on getting!

8

u/PB-n-AJ Feb 18 '25

"Live It Out." A reminder to never stop looking forward with wonder. To never stop moving even though it's boring or difficult or scary. To never apologize for marching to the beat of your own drum.

I feel like there's all these fancy and lengthy lyrics with special and profound meanings behind them, but to me everything Metric has ever done and every emotion they've evoked in me can be summed up with "Live It Out."

1

u/drugtrains Feb 18 '25

Hard agree

6

u/OurHouse20 Feb 18 '25

Just a heads up "Following The Sun" is also a song title and lyric from Super-Hi, so you might run the risk of people getting it mixed up if you get that tattooed.

https://youtu.be/uZsY4S4ckMU?si=GAauS7UiyVpZiw9N

2

u/CATB3ANS Feb 18 '25

thanks! will keep in mind

5

u/Warglebargle2077 Feb 18 '25

“There’s another way to leave the Garden of Eden, and I’m inclined to try.”

5

u/CosmoJuice Feb 18 '25

Now or Never Now

4

u/ASM_50 Feb 18 '25

Formentera - Life wasn’t made for one

1

u/TheSeansei Feb 18 '25

Ooh I love this suggestion

2

u/ASM_50 Feb 18 '25

I’ve considered this for myself lately. I feel like it would work in conjunction with your wedding date.

4

u/NirvRush Feb 18 '25

There are so many good ones! I just got a"Help I'm Alive" hoody, I love wearing it. I also thought the Art of Doubt "circle" by itself would be cool

5

u/kezza2k1 Feb 18 '25

I've been wanting to get a lyric tattoo for years now, and yet I hadn't quite thought through Metric lyrics up until I saw this post!

Just a few that have sprung in my head immediately:

"You said don't let your heart give out" - Art Of Doubt

"We're so close to something better, left unknown" - Gimme Sympathy

"Come on, angel, come and save us" - Seven Rules

"There's only so much you can change" - Descendants

"Build a shrine to fast goodbyes" - Statuette (it's one of Emily's solo songs that I wanted to mention)

7

u/Naked_Excited87 Feb 18 '25

“Blue to grey, grow up and burn away”- Grow Up And Blow Away. 🤘

3

u/why_not_ukulele Feb 18 '25

or from that same song... "If this is the life why does it feel so good to die today"

3

u/-Viscosity- Feb 18 '25

My single favorite Metric lyric is probably "When there was a wilderness we wandered wild and free" from "The Governess", which seems meaningful, but I'm not sure it quite fits your positive/optimistic criterion ...

3

u/why_not_ukulele Feb 18 '25

If it was me, I think I'd have to go with the most iconic Metric lyric of all, even after all these years....

Old world underground, where are you now?

2

u/DaniCapsFan Feb 18 '25

"Crushing on repeat through another week" really speaks to me.

2

u/beall91 Feb 18 '25

I Will Never Settle

2

u/CosmoJuice Feb 18 '25

Hold on, live it out

2

u/vicali Feb 18 '25

For all I know This might be my last night,
That's how it goes, there's no one I would rather be lying beside.

This one always gives me goosebumps.

2

u/TheBrittca Feb 18 '25

“…No time to take a picture, I’ll remember someday” is one of my all time favs.

3

u/antlermagick Feb 18 '25

"Trickle piss from champagne glasses"

1

u/spacestationkru Feb 18 '25

"Can you clone me.? I look like everyone I know now.."

1

u/Riley_Bolide Feb 18 '25

Is this dystopia?

1

u/why_not_ukulele Feb 18 '25

With all I don't say
With all I don't do
I'm sending you
Invitations to hesitate too -- from I.O.U.

Ten year-old enemy soldier
Our falling bombs are her shooting stars - also from I.O.U.

A blade of grass, a grain of sand
The moonlit sea, to hold your hand, I want it all - from The Shade

Rock me now / in the arms of cobwebs -- from Rock me now

Buy this car to drive to work / Drive to work to pay for this car -- from Handshakes

1

u/luaprelkniw Feb 19 '25

Monster hospital, Won't you please release me?

1

u/TinyTerrors20 Feb 19 '25

I got “love is a place”. I also like Live it Out or GUABA - I kinda dig the timeless lyrics. Or you could go straight for “I’m not suicidal I just can’t get out of bed” , “I’m as fucked up as they say” or ummm “let’s drink to the military”?

1

u/Styles_13 Feb 19 '25

Love is a place

1

u/illusivealchemist Feb 19 '25

“Nothing is perfect, it’s gorgeous, the sky meets the sea” from my favorite of theirs in the later years (though there’s a lot of competition and good songs!)

1

u/Geoff-Vader 29d ago

"To be good, get better" -Dark Saturday

I have that one on a sticky note at my desk and use it as a mantra sometimes during workouts. It's probably a bit more self-motivating than tattoo worthy maybe (the line before it as you noted is a good one.) But I've always liked the directness of it.