In 1995, Jeff Rosenstock began playing with Joe Werfelman together and started The Arrogant Sons of Bitches. By 1996, the two had spent time writing and finding members for their band. At this time they recorded The Arrogant Sons of Bitches Demo Tape on tape but never released it. At this time they also began playing shows in their friends' basements and bedrooms.
Patric Santiago and Chris Valentino joined the band and the Greatest Hits Tape (1996) was made to play the Rockfest, at a local church. They were denied and instead played a show in Jeff Rosenberg's backyard with members of Taking Back Sunday, Bomb the Music Industry!, The Matt Kurz One, and Sevenwiser.
In 1997, Chris Baltrus joined playing bass and Joe Vazquez to play drums after Patric Santiago left the band because of a conflict with other members of the band who break into his house to get amplifiers. His parents were furious and forced him to quit.
In 1998, Joe Vazquez was replaced with Bryan Cohen and ASOB records the Integrity Tape in Joe's garage. Dave Dickerman joined on trombone and Bryan Cohen left the band. They began playing places like Q-Zar, Scotty Dee's Coffee Shop, and an outdoor festival with Post-Emo Indie Rock innovators, Inside. John DeDomenici then stepped in on drums and the band began planning their first album. They payed $1000 for 12 songs.
Mike Costa replaced John DeDomenici on drums. They recorded Built to Fail which was planned to be released by Zach and Breaking the Law Records, however, due to conflicts the band decided to self release it.
In 1999, ASOB started branching out, playing shows with Channel 59, Sprout, Microwave Orphans, Who Cares, WCF, Edna's Goldfish, Catch 22, The Toasters, and Step Lively. Arty's Taxi's member, Eric Bucello who plays the trumpet, and subsequently joined the band. In August, the band recorded "Fuck You" for a Runaway Records compilation with the Jestrebzki Family. They also started work on their new full-length, Pornocracy.
By 2000, the band entered the studio and finished up in June. It featured JT from Sprout. Soon after, Chris Baltrus left the band for college and Joe Bove from Arty's Taxi joined. They played a CD release show with Racecar Breakup.
In 2001 ASOB recorded "Built to Fail Motherfucker" for a compilation and began touring that summer. Many members quit and the remnants of ASOB played a show in upstate New York on a driving range with a new band featuring members of Shabooti. Joe Rosenstock stated to his girlfriend, "If this band ever gets big, I want you to kill me." The band ended up being Coheed and Cambria.
Rosenstock began writing new material and was to open a show for Thursday, but it fell through. A new roster was drawn up that included Tim Ruggeri (Channel 59/WCF/Tall Hannds), Jon Rossman (Everyone Else), and Chris Taylor but this also fell through. Mike, Baltrus, Dave, and a few members of the High School Football Heroes and Premarital Sax play with ASOB.
In 2002, ASOB tried to re-record Built to Fail unsuccessfully. They recorded an Arrogant Sons of Bitches 7'' that was never released. They did a CD release show for All the Little Ones Are Rotting and played a battle of the bands at The Downtown winning fourth place. They landed a deal with Kill Normal Records. They also played a Halloween show and did ska covers of Taking Back Sunday songs.
A year later, in 2003, ASOB re-released their EP with videos, a live set, and much more. They opened for Bowling for Soup and Count the Stars. They toured out to the west coast, and JT from Sprout joined full time. They played outside of the Idaho Warped Tour, and the next day played inside a hip-hop tent electrically. They stayed on Warped Tour and played to 3000 people in New York. Joe Werfelman was kicked out of the band.
Three Cheers for Disappointment was finished being written and they recorded with AJ Quashee, but the recording didn't go well and was scrapped. Sean Qualls was auditioned on guitar. Joe Bove had a panic attack on stage and leaves bass, giving Sean the spot on bass.
Afterward, the band recorded some more and started working on releasing a "Complete Discography". The band later got on Streetlight Manifesto shows that feature Big D and the Kids Table.
The band finally began recording Three Cheers for Disappointment at Moontower Studios in Boston, Massachusettes with Steve Foote. After it was finished, the band booked a tour, ordered merch, talked to record labels, and replaced Sean Qualls with James Lynch on bass. The band took a break in September.
In October, The Arrogant Sons of Bitches played two last shows at Mr. Beery's - one all ages, one 18+. Shortly afterward, Jeff Rosenstock started Bomb the Music Industry!, Sean started Bashi-Bazouk, JT started his solo project, Mike Costa started his solo project and Dave registered to finally go to college.
In 2005, they finish Three Cheers for Disappointment and in 2006, the band plays three shows in the Northeast in support of it.
In 2007, they play their last show and officially break up.
In 2012, the Arrogant Sons of Bitches reunite for one last show at the Warsaw in Brooklyn, New York.
So Let's Go Nowhere
The Arrogant Sons of Bitches Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
heh, heh, heh, heh, heh, heh, ha ha ha ha
the autumn came in like concrete at my face
location hasn't changed but i'm not living in the
same place
it's useless to respond respond to
anything i've said i've said
i hate to quote this song all wrong but
why can't we still be friends
aiming to upset me but you're baffling me with your actions
i am wrong, you are wrong, we subdivide into two fractions
it's made me retarded, i wish i didn't let it
everything is upside down
i want those times I can't forget
everything is always falling apart
everything is always falling apart
you know i'd amputate my flaws if it meant that I could be with you
heh, heh, heh, heh, heh, heh, ha ha ha ha
heh, heh, heh, heh, heh, heh, ha ha ha ha
how can i be so self important in the world today
my disease of choice will be arriving soon anyway
we justify our selfishness in every fucking fight
and I hate to quote this song all wrong but it doesn't make it right
fuck the world
everything is breaking and changing and
everything inside of me is breaking and changing
why can't I ever let it go
i concentrate real hard i
might not ever even know that
everything is always falling apart
everything is always falling apart
i'd ignore my dreams in exchange for you being true
it's going to rain tonight
so everything is miserable
smoke some more and then I'll go back in and hate
it's going to rain tonight but it's got to stop eventually
let's anticipate the sun and warmth and raise our fists and say
everything is always falling apart, but I can't
everything is always falling apart, but I can't
everything is always falling apart (repeat)
fell fast
asleep
woke up
so easily
let's make
our dreams
transcend
reality
let's not
just seethe
give up
and go back to sleep
wake up!
don't fall apart
The song "So Let's Go Nowhere" by The Arrogant Sons of Bitches is a complex exploration of the human experience, with lyrics that delve into the singer's feelings of isolation, confusion, and self-doubt. The opening lines, "the autumn came in like concrete at my face / location hasn't changed but I'm not living in the same place," set the tone for the rest of the song. The singer feels stuck in a rut, unable to shake off their negative emotions and move forward. They express a desire for connection and for things to go back to the way they were, singing "why can't we still be friends" and "I want those times I can't forget."
The singer also grapples with the frustration and anger that comes with human relationships. They acknowledge that everyone involved is at fault in a conflict, and that "we subdivide into two fractions." However, they struggle to let go of their own grievances and "justify [their] selfishness in every fucking fight." The repeated refrain of "everything is always falling apart" underscores the singer's sense of despondency and hopelessness.
Ultimately, the song ends on a note of tentative optimism. The singer acknowledges that "everything is miserable," but looks ahead to a time when the rain will stop and the sun will come out again. They encourage themselves and listeners to "wake up" and strive towards a better future instead of resigning themselves to despair.
Line by Line Meaning
heh, heh, heh, heh, heh, heh, ha ha ha ha
The singer is unsure about their current state of mind and laughter only hides their uncertainty and anxiety.
the autumn came in like concrete at my face
Change has hit the singer hard but they are still in the same physical location.
location hasn't changed but i'm not living in the
same place
Despite being in the same place, the singer feels off and disconnected from their surroundings.
it's useless to respond respond to
anything i've said i've said
The artist is frustrated because their words are not being heard and responded to.
i hate to quote this song all wrong but
why can't we still be friends
The artist is referencing a familiar song and wishing for a positive resolution to their current conflict with someone they care about.
aiming to upset me but you're baffling me with your actions
The singer is confused and hurt by someone intentionally causing them distress.
i am wrong, you are wrong, we subdivide into two fractions
it's made me retarded, i wish i didn't let it
Both parties are at fault and the situation has left the singer feeling mentally and emotionally drained.
everything is upside down
i want those times I can't forget
The artist longs for a simpler, more stable time in their life.
everything is always falling apart
you know i'd amputate my flaws if it meant that I could be with you
The artist is willing to do whatever it takes to be with someone they love, even if it means losing parts of themselves.
how can i be so self important in the world today
my disease of choice will be arriving soon anyway
The artist is acknowledging their own selfishness and mortality.
we justify our selfishness in every fucking fight
and I hate to quote this song all wrong but it doesn't make it right
The singer recognizes the destructive pattern of justifying selfish behavior during arguments and acknowledges that it doesn't make it right.
fuck the world
everything is breaking and changing and
everything inside of me is breaking and changing
why can't I ever let it go
The artist is feeling overwhelmed by the constant change and chaos in their life and wishes they could find peace with it.
i concentrate real hard i
might not ever even know that
The singer is struggling to understand their own emotions and thoughts despite trying hard to focus on them.
it's going to rain tonight
so everything is miserable
smoke some more and then I'll go back in and hate
The singer is using drugs to distract themselves from the sadness and negativity in their life.
it's going to rain tonight but it's got to stop eventually
let's anticipate the sun and warmth and raise our fists and say
The singer is clinging to hope that things will get better and is preparing themselves to embrace positivity when it arrives.
fell fast
asleep
woke up
so easily
The artist feels like they are emotionally unstable and that their moods shift too easily.
let's make
our dreams
transcend
reality
The artist is dreaming of a better life and hoping to make those dreams come true.
let's not
just seethe
give up
and go back to sleep
wake up!
The singer is urging themselves and others to stay motivated and not give up on achieving their dreams.
everything is always falling apart, but I can't
everything is always falling apart (repeat)
The singer is acknowledging the chaos in their life but it seems like they can't find a way out of it.
Contributed by Nicholas W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.