If you spent any time in a suburban basement in the mid-2000s, you’ve probably screamed these words at the top of your lungs. Brand New didn't just write songs; they wrote manifestos for the over-dramatic and the deeply insecure. But even two decades later, the okay i believe you lyrics remain a bit of a puzzle for the uninitiated.
Is it a diss track? A meta-commentary on being a rock star? Or just a bunch of clever wordplay from a guy who watched too much Home Alone 2? Honestly, it’s all of the above.
The "Home Alone" Connection and That Mouthful of a Title
Let's get the obvious thing out of the way first. The title. It’s long. It’s clunky. It’s very 2003. If you’re a movie buff, you recognized it immediately. It’s a direct quote from Angels with Filthy Souls, the fake noir film Kevin McCallister uses to scare the crap out of the pizza delivery guy in Home Alone.
Specifically, it's from the sequel. "Okay, I believe you... but my Tommy gun don't!"
Jesse Lacey, the band's frontman, was notorious for these kinds of "stolen" cultural artifacts. By slapping a gangster movie quote onto a song about the music industry and personal beefs, he set a tone of aggressive irony. You’re being told "I trust you," while a metaphorical machine gun is being leveled at your chest.
Arrogance as a Shield: Analyzing the Verse
The song kicks off with some of the most "cocky" lyrics in the history of the emo genre.
"I am heaven sent, don't you dare forget. I am all you've ever wanted, what all the other boys all promised."
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When you hear that for the first time, it feels like pure ego. But if you know anything about the Long Island scene back then, you know it was a facade. Jesse wasn't actually saying he was God’s gift to music; he was playing a character. He was leaning into the "rock star" persona that the press and the fans were forcing onto him after the success of their first album, Your Favorite Weapon.
It’s satire. He’s basically saying, "Is this what you want? You want me to be the arrogant jerk? Fine, here it is."
He even throws in a stutter: "I-I-I-I hope this song starts a craze." It’s a direct jab at the vocal tics that were becoming popular in pop-punk and emo at the time. Most fans point the finger squarely at Adam Lazzara of Taking Back Sunday for this one.
The Infamous Taking Back Sunday Beef
You can't talk about okay i believe you lyrics without talking about the "feud." This was the East Coast version of Tupac vs. Biggie, but with more eyeliner and tighter jeans.
For the uninitiated: Jesse Lacey and John Nolan (of Taking Back Sunday) were best friends. Then, a girl got in the middle. Specifically, Jesse’s girlfriend. Words were said, bands were formed, and the two traded lyrical barbs for years.
By the time Deja Entendu (the album featuring "Tommy Gun") came out, Jesse seemed exhausted by the drama. In the song, he sings:
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"Every line is about who I don't wanna write about anymore."
This is the sound of a songwriter realizing he’s built a career on being the "angry ex-boyfriend" and wanting to burn the whole thing down. He’s "sick of writing every song about you," which ironically echoes a line from Taking Back Sunday’s "There’s No 'I' in Team."
It’s a snake eating its own tail. He’s writing a song about how he doesn't want to write songs about the guy anymore, which... is a song about the guy.
"Concentrating on Falling Apart"
The chorus shifts the energy from "cool guy" arrogance to total desperation.
- The Line: "We’re concentrated on falling apart."
- The Meaning: It’s an admission that the band, or perhaps the scene itself, is built on a foundation of self-destruction.
- The Hook: "I just wanna believe in us."
There's a real vulnerability here that cuts through the sarcasm of the verses. While the verses are "Tommy gun" (aggressive, defensive), the chorus is the "I believe you" (longing, hopeful).
Why the Lyrics Still Hit in 2026
It’s weirdly prophetic. In an era of "main character energy" and social media performance, the line "I wouldn't stop if I could, it hurts to be this good" feels like it could be a caption on a TikTok today.
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Lacey was dissecting the idea of "the brand" before everything was a brand. He knew that people weren't just listening to the music; they were consuming the drama. They were "gluttons" for it.
The song isn't just a diss track. It’s a confession about the guilt of turning your private pain into a public product. It’s why the fans who grew up and moved on from the "emo" label still find themselves coming back to this track. It feels honest in its dishonesty.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Next Listen
Next time you put on Deja Entendu, try these three things to get the full experience of the track:
- Listen for the "Shadow" Vocals: In the bridge, there are overlapping vocal tracks where Jesse is almost whispering secrets behind the main melody. It adds to the "secretive" vibe of the lyrics.
- Watch the Home Alone Scene: It sounds silly, but seeing the context of the title makes the "I believe you" line feel much more menacing.
- Read the Lyrics Prose-Style: Forget the melody for a second. Read the lyrics like a poem. You’ll notice how many times he contradicts himself, moving from "I'm the king" to "I'm a mess" in the span of thirty seconds.
The song is a masterclass in mid-2000s lyricism because it refuses to be just one thing. It’s mean, it’s sad, it’s funny, and it’s deeply, deeply cynical.
Pro Tip: If you're looking for the literal sheet music or the "official" meaning, Jesse Lacey has famously clammed up about his lyrics in the years since the band's peak. Most of what we know comes from the "liner notes era" and old interviews from the 2003-2005 touring cycle.
To understand the full scope of the Brand New discography, you should compare the biting sarcasm of this track to the spiritual crises found on their later album, The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me. You'll see the "Tommy Gun" persona slowly start to crumble.