I Missed It : HDDB : The Harvey Danger Database

I Missed It

Recorded January 2005

Release history

Little By Little... (2005)
Little By Little... [re-release] (2006)

Credits

Written by Huffman/Lin/Nelson, © Song-Based Songs (ASCAP)
Produced, engineered, and mixed by John Goodmanson and Steve Fisk
Recorded at Robert Lang Studios with engineering assistance by Justin Armstrong
Drums by Ira Elliot
Synths by Steve Fisk, Aaron, and Sean

Lyrics

Once I had a sweetheart, she kinda looked like Joan Fontaine.
She made mediocre art, but had a fascinating brain.
She asked me how I felt about monogamy.
I didn’t understand what she was telling me, no.

Well, you can come up short and never know,
another debt I’m gonna owe, well,

I missed it, I missed it, I missed it,
I got so close I could have kissed it,
but then I missed it, I missed it, resisted,
now those days are gone.

Once I held my own set of keys to the senior executive suite, with
my very own secretary taking my calls, and telling me who I was scheduled to meet with.
They asked me what I thought about advancement.
I wasn’t sure what “We have other plans” meant.

Well, you can lose your place and never know,
another chance I’m gonna blow, so

I missed it, I missed it, I missed it,
I got so close I could have kissed it,
but then I missed it, I missed it, resisted,
now those days are gone. (All right!)

You can halve the distance all you like,
but still not ever touch it.¹
You can split the difference all your life:
it hurts, it hurts so much, yeah.

Once I entertained the notion I could skate along on charm.
Count on my wit and my looks alone to keep me safe from harm.
You asked me how it felt to be a dilettante. (What?)
I knew that you knew the answer, but you didn’t want to hear it, no, you didn’t want to hear it.

Well, you can blow your shot and never know.
Another game I’m gonna throw, so

I missed it, I missed it, I missed it,
I got so close I could have kissed it,
but then I missed it, I missed it,
I pissed it all away.

I missed it, I missed it, I missed it,
you all said no, but I insisted.
That’s how I missed it, I missed it, I missed it,
now those days are gone.

Ancient Greek philosopher Zeno of Elea’s “dichotomy paradox” observes that, to reach a destination, one must first travel halfway; but one must first travel one-quarter of the way; but one must first travel one-eighth, etc. The paradox of this infinite division is that one can never arrive, nor even begin—one cannot even move. ↩

Quotes

Sean: The first song Jeff, Aaron, and I wrote for HDv.2, aided initially by demo drummer Ira Elliot's Stones-y groove, made me realize I wanted to be a lead singer in a rock band again; it was like a stage of a rocket—we needed it to get flying, but once aloft, found it wasn't quite necessary anymore; we aren't a Stones-y groove kind of band; still, the bridge is killer; as are the various synths on the recording, played by Steve Fisk, Aaron, and me; I also really like the words, especially when I think of good old Joan Fontaine in Letter From an Unknown Woman or Rebecca, never suspecting that she'd turn up as a rhyme in a Harvey Danger B-side.^10A

Sean: Joan Fontaine is probably best known as the star of Alfred Hitchcock's Rebecca and Suspicion, or maybe Robert Stevenson's Jane Eyre. But she truly achieves glory in Max Ophüls's Letter to an Unknown Woman, which, in a curious way, is the only reason this song exists.^P&F

Notes

The CD version has a pre-gap intro recorded live, in which Sean says “You were promised some guest stars for this evening’s performance, and guest stars you shall have. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you...!”