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The Madden Brothers, comprising the duo Joel and Benji Madden, have been at the forefront of the pop-punk music scene for over two decades now. After spending the better part of 2010 and 2011 focusing on their pop-punk band “Good Charlotte,” the brothers shifted gears and began working on a new project that focused on a different kind of sound. In 2014, they released their debut album as a duo, “Greetings from California,” which featured hit singles like “We Are Done.” The song, in particular, showcases a very different sound than what we had seen from the brothers in the past, and the lyrics and message also hit close to home for several listeners.
Table of Contents
Verse 1
“We are, we are, we are done / We are, we are, we are done / It’s not about who’s right or wrong / It’s not about just one more song / It’s not about, oh babe, come home / I’m done, I’m done, I’m done”
The opening verse of the song sets the tone for what’s to come. The repeated refrain of “we are done” emphasizes the point that the speaker has moved on and is not looking back. The lines “It’s not about who’s right or wrong” suggest that there might have been some conflict or disagreement that led to this outcome, but the speaker is now past that.
Chorus
“And the funny thing is / All I ever wanted / I already had / There’s a picture of us on the wall / You can’t see it cause I know it’s upside down / I don’t want to be living in a world without you”
The chorus brings up the idea of the speaker being in love with someone who may no longer be in their life. They reminisce about the good times – “all I ever wanted, I already had” – and then bring up a picture on the wall which is upside down. The image of the picture being upside down suggests that things are not as they should be – that the relationship has been turned on its head. The last line shows the speaker’s vulnerability – they don’t want to be without their significant other but may not have a choice.
Verse 2
“So I’m singing, ooh, ooh, ooh / And the fire’s started in my heart / And we’re burning up, all we ever knew / Go ahead and watch it burn, watch it burn”
The second verse introduces the idea of the speaker being reborn or reinvented. The line “the fire’s started in my heart” could be interpreted as a metaphor for finding new passion or energy within oneself. The line “we’re burning up, all we ever knew” could mean that they are letting go of old patterns or ways of doing things.
Chorus 2
“‘Cause the end, it don’t look pretty / But you can’t say we didn’t try / I’m not talking ’bout your friends / I’m talking ’bout you and I / And we’re all just kids that grew up way too fast / Yeah, the good times, they didn’t last”
The second chorus acknowledges that the ending of a relationship may not be beautiful, but at least they gave it their all. The line “I’m not talking ’bout your friends, I’m talking ’bout you and I” emphasizes that the relationship is between two individuals, not a group. The line “we’re all just kids that grew up way too fast” could be taken as an acknowledgement that life moves quickly.
Verse 3
“So if you’re in it for life, then it’s me and you / If you’re in it tonight, then it’s me and you / Where you goin’, where you been, who you with / Baby, it’s me and you”
The final verse could be interpreted as a plea to the person the speaker is addressing – “if you’re in it for life, then it’s me and you.” This could mean that the speaker is looking for a commitment from the other person. The rest of the lines could be read as the speaker asking for information about where they stand in the other person’s life.
FAQs
1. Is “We Are Done” based on personal experience for The Madden Brothers?
Yes, the song was based on personal experiences for Joel and Benji Madden. In an interview with the Huffington Post, they spoke about writing the song, saying, “It was a weird day. We had a strange argument that we couldn’t resolve… The song came from a real moment in our lives.”
2. Is “We Are Done” a break-up song?
While “We Are Done” does reference the end of a relationship, it does not necessarily have to be read as a break-up song. The song’s lyrics could also apply to any situation where someone has come to the realization that they need to move on from something.
3. What inspired The Madden Brothers to create a different sound than Good Charlotte?
The Madden Brothers had been working on music for a long time and wanted to try something different to challenge themselves. In an interview with Rolling Stone, they explained that they were “trying to make music that was different than anything we’ve ever made before, and we wouldn’t be able to do that as ‘Good Charlotte,’ because there’s an expectation of what that is.”
4. Who produced “Greetings From California”?
The Madden Brothers worked with a variety of producers on “Greetings from California.” These included Martin Johnson, Eric Valentine, and Pharrell Williams.
5. Was “We Are Done” successful on the charts?
“We Are Done” was a hit for The Madden Brothers. It peaked at number 54 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and reached number one on the Adult Top 40 chart.
6. What was the reception to “Greetings from California” like?
Critics were generally positive about “Greetings from California.” The album received a 68 out of 100 score on Metacritic, indicating “generally favorable reviews.” Steve Leggett of AllMusic praised the album, saying, “Taken as a whole, it’s a heady, sweet, and always tuneful brew, and shows both brothers maturing nicely as songwriters, performers, and producers.”
7. Did The Madden Brothers tour after releasing “Greetings from California”?
Yes, The Madden Brothers did tour after releasing “Greetings from California.” They played shows in several countries, including the United States, Canada, and Australia.
8. Did The Madden Brothers continue making music together after “Greetings from California”?
Yes, The Madden Brothers continued to work together after “Greetings from California.” They released a second album as a duo, “Greetings from California… The B-Sides,” in 2015.
9. How do the lyrics of “We Are Done” compare to other songs by The Madden Brothers?
Compared to some of their earlier songs with Good Charlotte, the lyrics of “We Are Done” are less angsty and more focused on themes of moving on and new beginnings. However, the song still retains a strong sense of identity and individuality that has characterized The Madden Brothers’ music throughout their career.
10. Did The Madden Brothers ever explain what the upside-down picture in “We Are Done” represents?
Joel Madden has spoken about the upside-down picture in interviews, but has not given a concrete explanation of what it represents. In an interview with Real Radio XS, he said, “There’s definitely a line on the record that says, ‘There’s a picture of us on the wall but you can’t see it because I turned it upside down,’ and it’s one of my favorite lines that I’ve ever written… Sometimes people want to know the story, and I think it’s important to not give too much of that away. Sometimes people can connect with it in their own way.”
11. What influenced The Madden Brothers’ decision to collaborate with Pharrell Williams on “Greetings from California”?
In interviews, The Madden Brothers spoke about their admiration for Pharrell Williams’ work and expressed interest in collaborating with him. In an interview with MTV, Joel Madden said, “I think he’s responsible for some of the greatest music of the last 10 years… We really wanted to work with him and it was really cool that he was open to it.”
12. How did “We Are Done” contribute to The Madden Brothers’ legacy?
“We Are Done” is a significant track in The Madden Brothers’ career as it marked a shift in their musical style and established them as a successful duo outside of Good Charlotte. It also demonstrated the brothers’ ability to write catchy, relatable songs that connect with audiences.
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