What does You Get What You Give mean?

New Radicals: You Get What You Give Meaning

Album cover for You Get What You Give album cover

Song Released: 1998


You Get What You Give Lyrics

Wake up kids
We've got the dreamer's disease
Age fourteen, we've got you down on your knees
So polite, you're busy still saying please

Frienemies, who when you're down ain't your friend
Every night we smash their Mercedes-Benz
First we...

  1. anonymous
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    Dec 10th 2018 !⃝

    I listen to this song when feeling really down "you've got a reason to live" is such a powerful statement.
    But he also says "you only get what you give" which I interpret as a firm message of the reality of Karma! FYI: am 45yrs old and this is still one of my favorite, most uplifting songs over two decades!

  2. anonymous
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    Jun 8th 2018 !⃝

    i use to get happy when i heard it on the radio but watching the video made me upset "at age 14 they got u down on your knees" the old men looking at young boys at a mall umm child abuse in the entertainment world came to mind!!!! ):): i will never have a happy feeling about this song again

  3. anonymous
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    Oct 15th 2017 !⃝

    I'm pretty sure the lyrics described the frustration of the ugly business side of musical creativity.

    But, great lyrics can also be interpreted many ways. I read the artist had to cope with lots of seedy characters within the music business and he was was pushing himself up to get on stage.
    But the lyrics are pretty healing to anyone who just needs an inner pep talk. If God's flying in for my trial after all the mess I made, then there's hope.I sent it ti people who were facibg suicide, and the song is curative.


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