Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes
There is perhaps no song that better encapsulates teenage angst and sexual frustration than Add it Up. The second song off the Violent Femmes debut album, most songs penned by Gano when he was only 17/18. It is a brutally honest rant to no one, that resonates with everyone. In it Gano describes the...
[Intro]
Day after day
I will walk and I will play
But the day after today
I will stop and I will start
[Verse 1]
Why can't I get just one kiss?
Why can't I get just one kiss?
Believe me, there'd be some things that I wouldn't miss
But I look at your pants and I need a kiss
[Verse 2]
Why can't I get just one screw?
Why can't I get just one screw?
Believe me, I'd know what to do
But something won't let me make love to you
[Verse 3]
Why can't I get just one fuck?
Why can't I get just one fuck?
I guess it's got something to do with luck
But I waited my whole life for just one
[Chorus]
Day after day
I get angry and I will say
That the day is in my sight
When I take a bow and say goodnight
[Verse 4]
Mo-my-mama, mama-mo-my-mum
Have you kept your eye, your eye on your son?
I know you've had problems, you're not the only one
But when your sugar left, he left you on the run
[Verse 5]
So mo-my-mama, mama-mo-my-mum
Take a look now, look what your boy has done
He's walking around like he's number one
'Cause he went downtown and he got him a gun
[Verse 6]
So don't shoot, shoot, shoot that thing at me
Don't shoot, shoot, shoot that thing at me
You know you got my sympathy
But don't shoot, shoot, shoot that thing at me
[Verse 6]
Don't shoot, shoot, shoot that thing at me
Don't shoot, shoot, shoot that thing at me
You know you got my sympathy
But don't shoot, shoot, shoot that thing at me
[Instrumental Break]
[Verse 7]
Broken-down kitchen at the top of the stairs
Can I mix in with your affairs?
Share a smoke, make a joke
Grasp and reach for a leg of hope
[Verse 8]
Words to memorize, words hypnotize
Words make my mouth exercise
Words all fail the magic prize
Nothing I can say when I'm in your thighs
[Verse 9]
But mo-my-mama, mama-mo-my-mother
I would love to love you, lover
The city's restless, it's ready to pounce
Go here in your bedroom, ounce for ounce
[Verse 9]
Sayin' mo-my-mama, mama-mo-my-mother
I would love to love you, lover
The city's restless, it's ready to pounce
Go here in your bedroom, ounce for ounce, said
[Verse 10]
I'm giving you a decision to make
Things to lose, things to take
Just as she's about ready to cut it up
She said, "Wait a minute, honey, I'm gonna add it up"
[Refrain]
Add it up, add it up (Hey)
Add it up, add it up (Oh)
Add it up, add it up (See what you got, you gotta)
Add it up, add it up (Add it up, baby, add it up, up, up, up)
[Chorus]
Day after day (Add it up, add it up, add it up, add it up)
I get angry and I will say (Add it up, add it up, add it up, add it up)
That the day is in my sight (Add it up, add it up, add it up, add it up)
When I take a bow and say goodnight (Add it up, add it up, add it up, add it up)
Add It Up was written by Gordon Gano.
Add It Up was produced by Mark Van Hecke.
Violent Femmes released Add It Up on Wed Apr 13 1983.
“I was in my bedroom – that’s where I wrote it – feeling frustrated. I had nowhere to go and nothing to do. It just happened to feel good lyrically … and it still does”
- Gordan Gano