I Was Scared

"I Was Scared" is the fourth track from Alone II: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo. 
===Appearances===
*Alone II: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo (2008)
*Alone IX: The Make Believe Years (2020)
*Not Alone: Rivers Cuomo & Friends Live at Fingerprints (DVD) (2009)
==Overview==
"I Was Scared" was rehearsed at various points in 2003 and 2004, including at Weezer's rented office space. Rivers Cuomo later rehearsed the song in preparation for the band's fifth album, but is not known to have been rehearsed again once the band entered the studio. In the Alone II liner notes, Cuomo explained that the song was inspired by an experience in high school in which he allowed his brother, Jimmy, to get beaten up in exchange for peace from school bullies. In May 2003, Cuomo recalled this incident during a Vipassana meditation course and later wrote the song during a visit at his brother's house.
In December of 2008, Cuomo put out a call on his personal YouTube channel for a pianist to accompany him on a recording of "I Was Scared" for the Decomposed series of studio performances for internet publication Stereogum.Rivers Cuomo. "2008-12-08 Looking For a Pianist" YouTube. 8 December 2008. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB8i9CuGh8I Cuomo was accompanied by pianist Sonya Lee and a capella group The Dartmouth Aires.Karl's Corner - 01/13/2009 A video of the performance was released on Stereogum's website and later, as a bonus track, on the DVD release of Not Alone: Rivers Cuomo & Friends Live at Fingerprints.
==Audio==
<youtube>5H-X-ryDKXQ</youtube> <youtube>uAoyxdP0IWU</youtube>
==Personnel==
*Rivers Cuomo – lead guitar, lead vocals, percussion, rhythm guitar, bass guitar
==Lyrics==
Listen to me, I've got to clear the air
There's something I've held way down deep inside all these years
You always were a friend; you always trusted me
But now I must admit that I was not trustworthy
I let you down, I sold you out
I turned away as you fell onto the ground
I was scared and I was terrified
I was lost and so I shied away
And I don't know what I can do to make it up to you
I can't turn back the clock, I can't rewrite the book
But if I could, the end would be happy, you would be safe
And I would be proud to look at you when I look you in the face
I let you down, I sold you out
I turned away as you fell onto the ground
I was scared, I was terrified
I was lost and so I shied away
Though I love you I was so afraid
I could not think of anything to say
Though I loved you (Though I loved you)
Though I trusted you
Though I needed you (Though I needed you)
I was so afraid
I was so afraid (I was so afraid)
And I promise that I'll never ever do
The thing that I did on that day when I acted like the fool
I might get my ass beat, my throat slit, and my fingers hacked
But I'll never miss another chance to watch my brother's back (And I got yours)
I let you down, I sold you out
I turned away as you fell onto the ground
I was scared, I was terrified
I was lost and so I shied away
I was scared, I was terrified
I was lost and so I let you down
==Known recordings==
==See also==
*List of Rivers Cuomo songs
*Stereogum Decomposed
==References==
Category:Rivers Cuomo songs
Category:Songs that appeared on the 4 and 5 Star Demos of Rivers Cuomo list
Category:Songs on Alone IICategory:Songs on Alone IX: The Make Believe Years
Category:Self-produced Rivers Cuomo songs
Category:Alone series