Whatever by Godsmack Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Anthem of Defiance and Self-Assertion

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for Godsmack's Whatever at Lyrics.org.

Lyrics

And I wonder day to day
I don’t like you anyway
I don’t need your shit today
You’re pathetic in your own way

I feel for you, better fuckin’ go away
I will behave, better fuckin’ go away

I’m doing the best I ever did
I’m doing the best that I can
I’m doing the best I ever did

I don’t need to fantasize
You are my pet, all the time
I don’t mind if you go blind
You get what you get
Until you’re through with mine

Life, I feel for you, better fuckin’ go away
I will behave, you better go away
I feel for you, better fuckin’ go away
I will behave, you better go away

I’m doing the best I ever did
I’m doing the best that I can
I’m doing the best I ever did
Now go away

I’m doing the best I ever did
I’m doing the best that I can
I’m doing the best I ever did
Now go away

I’m doing the best I ever did (go away)
I’m doing the best that I can (go away)
I’m doing the best I ever did (go away)
I’m doing the best that I can (go away)

I’m doing the best I ever did
I’m doing the best that I can
I’m doing the best I ever did
Now go away

I’m doing the best I ever did
I’m doing the best that I can
I’m doing the best I ever did
Now go away

I’m doing the best I ever did
I’m doing the best that I can
I’m doing the best I ever did
Now go away

(yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah)

I’m doing the best I ever did (go away)
I’m doing the best that I can

In the realm of rock anthems that encapsulate a spirit of unapologetic defiance and raw emotion, Godsmack’s ‘Whatever’ stands as a bastion of rugged individualism. On the surface, the lyrics seem to toe the line of a straightforward alt-metal track, but layers of meaning beg to be peeled back by any discerning listener.

Laced within this sonic barrage are sentiments that reach into the heart of anyone who has ever found themselves suffocating under the pressures of societal expectations and personal antagonisms. ‘Whatever’ isn’t just a song; it’s a declaration of independence from the yoke of external validation.

The Raw Edge of Authenticity in Every Line

What launches ‘Whatever’ into the echelon of memorable rock tracks is its visceral authenticity. Sully Erna, Godsmack’s vocalist, delivers each line with a gravelly tenor that seems to scrape the bottom of the soul. The experience is comparable to a fist clenched in frustration, each thudding beat mirroring the pounding of a rebellious heart.

The rawness of the delivery is intentional, straddling the line between anger and an invigorating sense of catharsis. Listeners can’t help but be drawn into the track’s emotional vortex, which is perhaps one of the reasons ‘Whatever’ resonates so deeply with audiences across the globe.

Dissecting ‘I Don’t Like You Anyway’—A Battle Cry for Personal Space

Among the song’s most striking lines is ‘I don’t like you anyway,’ a mantra of separation and a stark dismissal of another’s presence. This isn’t just about disliking someone; it’s a self-affirmative declaration setting the boundaries of personal space. To embrace this sentiment is to validate the listener’s right to emotionally detach from toxic relationships and situations.

Beyond fueling the listener’s animus, this line is a weaponized vocalization of assertiveness, becoming an emblem for those seeking to reclaim their autonomy and protect their mental health from the emotional vampires that drain them.

The Hidden Meaning Behind ‘You Get What You Get’

A closer look at ‘You get what you get until you’re through with mine’ reveals a more nuanced subtext than the outward aggression suggests. It feels like a karmic declaration, an assertion that life’s responses are a reflection of what you project onto others.

Through this lens, the song morphs into an anthem advocating for personal responsibility and the inevitable reciprocity of action and consequence. ‘Whatever’ becomes not just a tool of defiance, but also one of empowerment and ownership over one’s fate.

The Exhilaration of Self-Containment in ‘I’m Doing the Best I Ever Did’

Repeated like a mantra throughout the song, ‘I’m doing the best I ever did’ serves as a bulwark against external judgment. In these lines, there is a sense of defiant pride—not just in one’s actions, but in the pursuit of self-betterment against all odds.

It’s a challenge to the status quo, where social comparison often implies inadequacy. ‘Whatever’ flips the script. Instead, Erna, ignoring any metric but his own, sings of a personal journey where the only approval that matters is the approval from within.

The Enduring Impact of ‘Now Go Away’ – A Dismissal That Still Resonates

The phrase ‘Now go away’ might seem like a simple directive—a minimalist’s good riddance—but its repetition leaves an indelible mark. This isn’t just about asking someone to leave; it’s a powerful injunction to all the negativity and hardship that one might face.

Its inclusion at the end of each rallying cry in the song encapsulates the band’s message succinctly: I am enough, I will continue to be enough, and anything that says otherwise has no place in my existence. ‘Whatever’ ultimately is a timeless testament to the resilience of the human spirit and its capacity to withstand, adapt, and assert itself even amidst adversity.