Poetic Tragedy by The Used

Album: The Used (2002)

License This Song

lyrics

artistfacts

Songfacts®:

This song tells the story of a struggling musician who feels that there is no place for him in the world. Feeling he is a lost cause, he takes his own life (as stated in the final verse of the song). Many artists - painters, writers and often musicians - are not appreciated during their lifetimes, but their work becomes popular after they die. When we spoke with Jeph Howard from The Used, he said, "I think that song was originally was about another musician or songwriter. It was a mix between a thought of a person spending his whole life writing art and then dying before he really felt fulfilled." (here's our full Jeph Howard interview.)

Comments: 4

Parker from New Jerseyi feel like this song is about bert and his mormon background especially with lines like: "in violent frustration he cries out to god or just no one." as someone who grew up in a cult (not mormonism but the jehovah witnesses) this song resonates with me. that feeling of that "god" isn't listening to you, the feeling that he isn't there. along with the feeling of there's nothing really left, which is portrayed by the breakdown in the 3rd verse: "why world, why world, hate you, hate you, bye world."
Jess from Brisbane, AustraliaI love The Used - their lyrics are meaningful and sung perfectly and the music itself is just pure genius.
Evangeline from Dallas, TxI accidentally posted the comment for this song on "On My Own"...please do read it. I think this is the most amazing song ever!!! The lyrics have strong meaning and they have actually made my life different after hearing them. The Used is THE greatest band ever and forever will be!
Jennifer from Lorain, OhYeah the Bert and Quinn wrote this song VERRRYYY early in the morning...

see more comments

More Songfacts:

Me And Julio Down By The SchoolyardPaul Simon

Mickey Mantle and John Madden both appear in the video for "Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard" by Paul Simon. Biz Markie and Big Daddy Kane do a rap intro.

Cake By The OceanDNCE

The song title "Cake By The Ocean" originated from DNCE's Swedish producers using the wrong name for the drink "Sex on the Beach."

The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)Betty Everett

After Cher revived "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)" in 1990, Salt-N-Pepa released "Shoop" and Whitney Houston had a #1 hit with "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)."

GypsyFleetwood Mac

Fleetwood Mac's "Gypsy" is about Stevie Nicks' best friend, who died of leukemia.

She BangsRicky Martin

The Ricky Martin song "She Bangs" found new life when William Hung performed it so horribly on a 2004 episode of American Idol that it went viral.

MMMbopHanson

Hanson's megahit "MMMbop," released when they were teenagers, is surprisingly profound. Zac Hanson told Songfacts it "represents a frame of time or the futility of life."