I know I should get next to you
You got a look that made me think you're cool
But it's just sexual attraction
Not somethin' real so I'd rather keep wackin'
Why bother?
It's gonna hurt me
It's gonna kill when you desert me
This happened to me twice before
It won't happen to me anymore
I've known a lot of girls before
What's the harm in knowin' one more?
Maybe we could even get together
Maybe you could break my heart next summer
Why bother?
It's gonna hurt me
It's gonna kill when you desert me
This happened to me twice before
It won't happen to me anymore
It's a crying shame I'm all alone
Not with you, nor her, nor anyone
Won't you knock me on my head
Crack it open let me outta here
Why bother?
It's gonna hurt me
It's gonna kill when you desert me
This happened to me twice before
It won't happen to me anymore
(Why bother?) Why bother?
(It's gonna hurt me) It's gonna hurt me
(It's gonna kill when) Why bother?
(You desert me) It's gonna hurt me
(Why bother?) Why bother?
(It's gonna hurt me) It's gonna hurt me
Why bother?
It's gonna hurt me
Why Bother?
| "Why Bother?" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Album track by Weezer | ||||
| from the album Pinkerton | ||||
| Released | September 24, 1996 | |||
| Recorded | August 27, 1995 at Electric Lady Studios (NYC), September 1995 at Fort Apache | |||
| Length | 2:08 | |||
| Label | DGC | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Rivers Cuomo | |||
| RC# | 184 | |||
| COR# | N/A | |||
| Producer(s) | Weezer | |||
| Status | Officially released (Apache demo circulating) | |||
| Rivers Cuomo song chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Pinkerton track listing | ||||
10 tracks
| ||||
"Why Bother?" is the fourth track on Pinkerton.
Appearances
- Pinkerton (1996)
- To Benefit Petra Haden (live) (2002)
- Weezer (The Red Album) - Japan Deluxe Edition Bonus DVD (live video)
- Raditude ...Happy Record Store Day! EP (live) (2010)
Overview
I see a random rock chick that I'm sexually attracted to, but now I'm unwilling to have a one-night stand. I would rather fantasize and avoid the pain and frustration that results from real relationships and their inevitable failures. I resolve not to enter another relationship, remembering how painful were the two I had had earlier. I fantasize about what my life would be like with the girl but the fantasy is aborted by the premonition of a breakup. I voice regret that I am now unable to have anything but imaginary relationships and I ask the girl to force me out of my imagination and into the real world.
- —Rivers Cuomo, The Pinkerton Diaries, page 147
- —Rivers Cuomo, The Pinkerton Diaries, page 147
"Why Bother?" was written by Rivers Cuomo and demoed in the garage at 2226 Amherst Ave. in early 1994, months prior to the release of The Blue Album.[1] It was considered for inclusion at some point during the writing of the scrapped concept album Songs from the Black Hole. An early draft slots it in towards the end of the story, after "Waiting on You".[2] "Why Bother?" was included in the "Longtime Sunshine" coda, first released on the deluxe Edition of Pinkerton.
It was one of the many songs recorded during initial sessions for Pinkerton at Electric Lady Studios,[3] with early takes featuring Karl Koch on "wobbily" bass in place of an absent Matt Sharp.[4] A rough mix from the Fort Apache overdub sessions was bootlegged around 2000, which has an alternate vocal take.[3] Alongside "El Scorcho," it is one of two Pinkerton tracks to feature a guitar solo played by Brian Bell.[5]
Initial pressings of Pinkerton feature a sticker on the shrink wrap listing "Why Bother?" as an included track. It is unknown if this suggests that the song was considered for release as a single release at some point.
Live versions
"Why Bother?" was performed a few times during Weezer's World Domination Tour in the summer of 1995,[4]; a performance at the Deer Creek Music Center notably includes lyrics from Cuomo's original demo.
A live version recorded during the Enlightenment Tour in 2002 was released as the lead track on a 2003 double 7" compilation To Benefit Petra Haden, alongside AM Radio, Phantom Planet, and Ben Kweller. The record set was released as a benefit to help cover medical bills for That Dog's Petra Haden, a longtime friend of the band who had recently been in a serious car accident.
In 2005 and for a few years after, "Why Bother?" was typically performed with guitarist Brian Bell singing lead vocals. One such recording from 2005 was included on the Japanese Red Album bonus DVD in 2008. The lyrics "So I'd rather keep wackin'," are sung by Bell as "You better start packin'." Eventually, in 2009, Cuomo would resume lead vocals on the song. Another live version, recorded in Tribeca at the PC Richard and Son Theater, was released on the 2010 EP Raditude ...Happy Record Store Day!.
Personnel
- Rivers Cuomo – lead guitar, lead vocals
- Patrick Wilson – percussion
- Brian Bell – lead guitar, backing vocals
- Matt Sharp – bass guitar, backing vocals
Audio/video
Album versions
Notable live versions
Lyrics
I know I should get next to you
You got a look that makes me think you're cool
I know it's not just sexual attraction
It's somethin' real that I know I'm lackin'
Why bother?
It's gonna hurt me
It's gonna kill when you desert me
This happened to me twice before
It won't happen to me anymore
I've known a lot of girls before
What's the harm in knowin' one more?
Maybe even we could get together
Maybe you could break my heart next summer
Why bother?
It's gonna hurt me
It's gonna kill when you desert me
This happened to me twice before
Won't happen to me anymore
It's a crying shame I can't talk to you
It's not a matter of fear I've done it once baby
Won't you knock me on my head?
Crack it open let me outta here now
Don't bother
It's gonna hurt me
It's gonna kill when you desert me
Don't you bother
It's gonna hurt me
It's gonna kill when you desert me
This happened to me twice before
It won't happen to me anymore
Why bother?
It's gonna hurt me
Why bother?
It's gonna hurt me
Why bother?
It's gonna hurt me
Why bother?
You're gonna hurt me
[JONAS:]
I know I shouldn't trust in you
Ya got a look that made me think you're cool
But it's just sexual attraction
Not somethin' real so I'd rather keep wackin'
Why bother?
It's gonna hurt me
It's gonna kill when you desert me
This happened to me twice before
It won't happen to me anymore
I've known a lot of girls before
What's the harm in knowin' one more?
Maybe we could even get together
Yeah, maybe you could break my heart next summer
Why bother?
It's gonna hurt me
It's gonna kill when you desert me
This happened to me twice before
Won't happen to me anymore
It's a crying shame I'm all alone
Not with you, not her, nor anyone
Won't you knock me on my head
Crack it open let me outta here now
Don't bother
It's gonna hurt me
It's gonna kill when you desert me
Why bother?
It's gonna hurt me
Known recordings
| Performer(s) | Title | Filename | Date of recording | Recording location | Length | Appeared on | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rivers Cuomo | Why Bother? | 20 Why Bother.mp3 | January 1994[6] | 2:30 | Alone IV: The Blue-Pinkerton Years | ||
| Weezer | Why Bother? | August 28, 1995[3] | Electric Lady Studios, New York City, NY | ||||
| Weezer | Why Bother? | September 1995[3] | Fort Apache Studios, Boston, MA | 2:11 | Leaked online | ||
| Weezer | Why Bother? | 1995—1996 | 2:06 | Pinkerton | |||
| Weezer | Why Bother? | August 23, 1996 | Reading Festival, Reading, England, United Kingdom | 2:18 | Pinkerton (Deluxe Edition) | ||
| Weezer | Why Bother? | July 29, 2002 | HiFi Buy Amphitheater, Atlanta, GA | 2:58 | To Benefit Petra Haden | ||
| Weezer | Why Bother? | December 20, 2005 | Studio Coast, Tokyo, Japan |
|
Brian Bell on lead vocals | ||
| Weezer | Why Bother? | 2008 | 2:11 | Sessions@AOL (2008) (web video) | Brian Bell on lead vocals | ||
| Weezer | Why Bother? | October 28, 2009 | PC Richard & Son Theater, New York, NY | 2:19 | Raditude ...Happy Record Store Day! |
See also
External Links
Teenage Victory Songs entry for "Why Bother?"
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|---|---|---|
| Outtakes | ||
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- ↑ Riesman, Abe J. "Rivers' End: Weezer’s frontman speaks out on women, Expos, what he’s writing now, and his marriage to a Japanese girl" The Harvard Crimson. 26 April 2006. https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2006/4/26/rivers-end-in-early-1995-a/
- ↑ Cuomo, Rivers. The Pinkerton Diaries. 2011. Self-published
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Weezer Recording History - Page 8
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Weezine Issue 5 - Winter 1996
- ↑ AIM chat with Rivers Cuomo excerpts - January 10, 2002
- ↑ Weezer Recording History - Page 5