Cover art for This Is How It Goes by Billy Talent

This Is How It Goes

Produced by

Sep. 16, 20031 viewer12.5K views

This Is How It Goes Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Everybody is tired
And poor and sick of trying

If you see me on a corner
Will you stop or will you splash me?

[Pre-Chorus]
Take a look at what we've become
Nothing more than silhouettes of
A pretty family on a postcard
Picture perfect, I don't want it!

[Chorus]
So I hold my breath 'til my heart explodes
'Cause this is how it is and this is how it goes
You can steal my body but you can't steal my soul
'Cause this is how it is and this is how it goes

[Verse 2]
Shitty weather, bad timing
Lucky penny glued to the ground
Dirty look from total stranger
Hope you get lost and you're not found

[Pre-Chorus]
Take a look at what we've become
Nothing more than silhouettes of
A pretty family on a postcard
Picture perfect, I don't want it!
[Chorus]
So I hold my breath 'til my heart explodes
'Cause this is how it is and this is how it goes
You can steal my body but you can't steal my soul
'Cause this is how it is and this is how it—

[Post-Chorus]
This is, how it, it goes!
This is, how it, it goes!
This is, how it, it goes!
This is, how it, it goes!

[Bridge]
So unscrew my head and rinse it out
Polish my thoughts, turn into doubts
Unscrew my head and rinse it out
Polish my thoughts, turn into doubts
(Turn 'em into, turn 'em into doubts!)

[Chorus]
So I hold my breath 'til my heart explodes
'Cause this is how it is and this is how it goes
You can steal my body but you can't steal my soul
'Cause this is how it is and this is how it goes

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About

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Genius Annotation

This song was written about one of Benjamin Kowalewicz’s (vocals) friends with multiple sclerosis. On March 17, 2006, Aaron Solowoniuk (drummer) revealed in a personal letter to fans that he was the friend in that song. Solowoniuk was confirmed to have the disease, which causes anything from numbness in the limbs to paralysis or loss of vision…

Although it was a struggle for Solowoniuk to come to terms with the reality of the disease, going to numerous doctor appointments, and touring with the band has become normal routine. The medication has let him continue drumming with the band, as it eliminated his symptoms, and he has stated that “this changes nothing about my band or me. Until January 2016. ” On January 15, 2016, Aaron announced via the Billy Talent YouTube channel that he would be taking a hiatus from the band due to an MS relaps.

Benjamin wrote the lyrics after one of his friends was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis but the song entirely is not about that friend.
“As a band, we picked up stories of people with other diseases and based the song around disease and mental illness and how it affects them. Our band actually also met up with a homeless person when we were heading to the studio so we incorporated him into it as well but idealy it’s meant to portray the life of people with illness.”

It’s about that kind of unfairness this world has and the helplessness that one feels when one’s friend or someone close is in such a bad place. “this is how it is and this is how it goes” means that it’s all set in stone, you can’t change it no matter how hard you try.

Credits
Produced By
Written By
Composer
Recorded At
The Factory, Vancouver
Release Date
September 16, 2003
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