Getting By
Coasting through Life: The Meaning Behind 'Getting By' by The Rentals
Lyrics
Kawaba, kawaba, kawaba, hey!
Expressing a repeated call or greeting, potentially signifying camaraderie or excitement.
I know a girl, lives off the coast of Spain
Introducing a girl living in Spain, emphasizing her location.
Twenty-one, in the prime of her life
Highlighting her age as 21, suggesting a youthful phase of life.
Friends are the most important thing she's got
Stressing the importance of friendships in her life.
And she don't need much to get by
Her contentment with minimal necessities for survival or happiness.
It's been a long, long time since I felt that way
Reflecting on a similar feeling from the speaker's past, potentially indicating a nostalgic sentiment.
Maybe all the way back to high school
Comparing the current feeling to a distant memory, perhaps from high school.
But lately I've felt like an old fat man
Expressing a sense of feeling aged and out of touch.
With her, I lie and say, "I'm a young fool."
Admitting to pretending to be youthful or foolish in the girl's company.
And we don't really care about much, no
Both individuals share a lack of concern or interest in many things.
We don't need to lie (We don't need to lie)
Reiterating the lack of necessity for falsehoods in their relationship.
We got nothing in common that I can see
Emphasizing the lack of apparent common ground between the speaker and the girl.
We drink on, we drink on, we drink on
Continual drinking habits as a means to cope or 'get by' in life.
And get by
Reiterating their ability to manage despite the lack of commonality.
Well, she don't care too much for vegetables
Her disinterest in or dislike for vegetables as a personal preference.
And she hates rude American men
Expressing her aversion towards rude American men.
Questions if I'm balding, and I deny
Playful interaction regarding the speaker's potential hair loss.
And she laughs, and she laughs with her friends
Her laughter and camaraderie with her friends despite differences.
Aw, but I don't really care too much, no
Highlighting the speaker's lack of concern for certain aspects in their relationship.
I don't need to lie (I don't need to lie)
Reaffirming the lack of need for falsehoods in their interactions.
We got nothing in common that I can see
Reiteration of the absence of common ground between them.
We drink on, we drink on, we drink on
Continuing the pattern of drinking to cope or 'get by' in life.
And get by (I get by)
Emphasizing their ability to manage despite differences.
Getting by (Getting by)
Repetition of the phrase 'Getting by' as a theme or mantra of survival.
We get by (We get by)
Reiterating their capability to survive despite differences.
Getting by
Reiteration of the theme of managing or surviving.
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Expressing affirmation or agreement with the situation.
She don't really care about me, no
Highlighting the girl's lack of concern or care for the speaker.
There's no reason to lie (We don't need to lie)
Consenting that honesty without the need for falsehoods prevails in their relationship.
We got nothing in common, and we both agree (Getting by)
Mutual agreement despite the absence of commonalities.
To drink on, and drink on, and drink on
Continuation of drinking habits as a coping mechanism.
And, yeah, we don't really care about much (Getting by)
Emphasizing the lack of concern for various aspects in life.
We don't really care too much (Getting by)
Reiterating the lack of intense care or interest in many things.
We don't really care about much (Getting by)
Stressing the indifference towards various matters.
We drink on, we drink on, we drink on and get by
Continual repetition of drinking as a means to cope and 'get by' in life.
We're getting by
Reiteration of their ability to survive or manage despite differences.
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