Get Lyrical: Stranger In Arms' "It's Been A Mess Since New Years"
posted in: Features • Rock
Oh, Internet. You just have no shortage of sass. Like the comment “I think All Time Low has this covered,” left by one snarky OurStage user on Stranger In Arms‘ song “It’s Been A Mess Since New Years.” Hey, we like All Time Low! If Stranger in Arms wanted to jack their sound, we wouldn’t be too upset. But the thing is, while this New York five-piece’s rowdy pop-punk is occasionally reminiscent of artists like ATL or Cartel, they set themselves apart with tight hooks and smart lyricism. So here’s a little breakdown of what you can expect from “It’s Been A Mess Since New Years.” You can decide for yourselves if it’s already been covered.
From the outset, it’s made clear that this song is one of betrayal. Hey, what lies you telling now/And as they spill from your mouth/Do you feel it all the same? The band further sets the scene with the lines, Tonight is cold, and I’m a ghost/This lack of love inside won’t go/Oh, no. Uh oh. Sounds like frontman Jarett Mittroni is about to tell us a sad story, and that becomes clearer in the song’s second stanza. “Time waits, impatient lovers stray/Lacking all the strength to break down barriers alike.” Ahh, so there it is. This is a song of straying lovers. But it sounds to us like “It’s Been A Mess Since New Years” isn’t about being betrayed by a girl. Instead, Mittroni sings “Now I compromise my morals for my goals.” Hold on there”is this a confession? It sure starts to sound like it, as he wraps up each chorus with a desperate, “It takes a lot to leave/and in my heart it does this evil/Honesty, forgive me.” We’re not sure, but despite the earlier accusations of lies it sounds like our narrator could be the cheater in this scenario.
The ambiguity of the song is almost a plus, because regardless of who cheated on whom, the important thing is that the themes of betrayal and forgiveness are delivered by Mittroni’s soaring, pitch-perfect voice and sandwiched between meaty guitars relentless cymbal crashes. You can check it out below, because it’s good for a listen even if you aren’t too thrilled with its characters’ questionable morals.