Save The World, Lose The Girl

Since I getting my wrists tattooed yesterday, I’ve been staring at them with narcissistic intent. Even as I sat through the 9:40 showing of Pineapple Express, a movie groundbreaking in its mediocrity, I was more concerned with whether or not I needed to apply more ointment. I find it strangely ironic that a tattoo—long considered to be a symbol of courageous recklessness—must be watched and babied in order to look its best.

A lot of people have asked me about why I got “Save The World” tattooed on my left wrist and “Lose The Girl” tattooed on my right. First things first, Save The World, Lose The Girl was the title of Midtown’s first full-length album. While not the most groundbreaking album ever released, it was if nothing else a personal leap for me. I heard about Midtown while bickering with a schoolmate; I was wearing a P.O.D. shirt and he a Midtown shirt, and when he attacked the quality of P.O.D.’s music, I retaliated with a slur against Midtown. “Have you ever even listened to Midtown?” he asked. I admitted I hadn’t. “Well,” he said, “go home and listen to them, and if you still think they suck, we can argue some more.” I came home from school, downloaded the song “Such a Person”, and have been hooked ever since.

Of all the music I listen to now, Midtown is the one band I’ve consistently followed the longest. In retrospect, it’s clear that Save The World, Lose The Girl is more or less directly responsible for introducing me to both “underground” music and the “emo” scene (I use quotes around both words because I don’t feel like getting into semantics about proper definitions). Having “Save The World, Lose The Girl” as a tattoo is no different in meaning than if I had gotten a G clef or connected eighth notes. It represents to me the impact that music has had on my life, as well as a reminder of the things that I’ve done and the people I’ve met through music.

Beyond that, I’ve always liked the idea of “Save The World, Lose The Girl”. It’s almost a really interesting way to say “Nice guys finish last”, but I think it even goes deeper than that. A friend’s boyfriend informed me a while ago that before it was a Midtown album, this had been a quote from Spider-Man. To me, that makes perfect sense. As opposed to other superheroes, I always kind of felt for Spider-Man. Here he was, out fighting crime, while Mary Jane sits alone at the restaurant, waiting for Peter. I guess I just really connect with the thought that you can do so much for others, be a savior to the masses, and still lack the one thing you wanted most.

In all my narcissism, I’ve been staring at the right wrist more than the left. Even though my left is my dominant wrist, which serves this tattoo quite well, I find myself drawn to weaker side. See, I never had a tough time with the whole “Save The World” part. I’ve always been compelled to do what’s right, even if it’s not the easiest road. Honesty is the best policy, even though it doesn’t always come with the least consequences. The fascinating thing to me is “Lose The Girl”. I don’t see it as a suggestion; “lose” is not being used in the kick-her-to-the-curb context. Instead, I just feel like it’s a recognition that worse than not getting what you want, sometimes you have to flat-out sacrifice it. I’d like to believe that I would do what’s right—save the world—even if it meant giving up my chance at the sheer joy I’d have to watch on the faces of those around me, the ones that I saved.

And so I put it on my wrists, the text facing inward. Even though I’m still getting used to the concept of forever, as in “This will be on your body forever“, I wear it as a reminder of what’s important, and the hurt you have to put yourself through to become the person the world has always needed you to be.

Tags: Emo, Midtown, Spider-Man, Tattoo