They are best known for their singles "Girl All The Bad Guys Want" in 2002 on Drunk Enough to Dance which was nominated for a 2003 Grammy Award for "Best Pop Performance by a Group or Duo" and "1985" (originally written by Mitch Allan of SR-71) in 2004 on A Hangover You Don't Deserve. Speaking with Songfacts about "Girl All The Bad Girls Want" in a 2010 interview, Reddick said: "'Girl All The Bad Guys Want' was my very first co-write ever, and me and Butch Walker sat in a room and literally wrote that song in 30 minutes. I mean, it was done."
The band's name is derived from comedian Steve Martin's "Bowling for Sh*t" routine from his 1978 comedy album, Wild and Crazy Guy, itself a reference to Bowling for Dollars. Jaret Reddick has also stated that at the end of his last performance with his old band one of the members came on stage and proclaimed "Come back next week when we play with our new band... BOWLING FOR SOUP!". This was supposed be to be joke name, but since they couldn't think of anything better the name stuck. Their single '1985' can be found on the UK and the Norwegian editions of Singstar Rocks for the PS2.
They have also became hits on Radio Disney with edits of "1985", "Punk Rock 101", "High School Never Ends", and the inclusion of their version of "I Melt With You" in the Disney movie "Sky High". They have also written and recorded "Today is Gonna Be a Great Day" as the theme song for Disney's "Phineas and Ferb"
Band Lineup:
Jaret Reddick - Lead Vocals/guitar
Chris Burney - Guitar/vocals
Erik Chandler - Bass/vocals
Gary Wiseman - Drums
Last Call Casualty
Bowling for Soup Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You said your done with me
But I can't seem to remember anything at 3am
Am I that guy? The one that's happy hanging with my friends
And 5 drinks in I'm in love again
So if I get drunk and call you up
Don't get pissed and don't hang up
Another last call casualty
I can't remember what I said
But I swear I meant no harm
I tried to knock on your window
But I set off your alarm
And the days dragged on like a tail pipe band
The nights they ain't so long
And the taxi cab I'm riding in is blaring our favorite song again
So if I get drunk and call you up
Don't get pissed and don't hang up
I know its late but its never too late to be
Another last call casualty
I'm sorry a guy picked up the phone
My mind couldn't leave well enough alone
And after the seventh time he hit *69
He said if he finds me I'll be dead
But I'm already in my head
Since he's the one that's lying with you in your bed
So if I get drunk and call you up
Don't get pissed and don't hang up
I know its late but its never too late to be
Another last call casualty
So if I get drunk and call you up
Don't get pissed and don't hang up (another last call casualty)
I know its late but its never too late to be
Another last call casualty
Another last call casualty
So if I get drunk and call you up
Don't get pissed and don't hang up (another last call casualty)
So if I get drunk and call you up
Don't get pissed and don't hang up (another last call casualty)
So if I get drunk and call you up
Don't get pissed and don't hang up (another last call casualty)
The lyrics of Bowling for Soup's "Last Call Casualty" tell of a man who is facing the consequences of his actions when he drinks to excess and reaches out to someone he shouldn't. He is left wondering if he is the kind of guy who only comes calling in the dead of the night, once he's had a few drinks and can't keep his feelings to himself. The singer is confessing to his past mistakes and apologizing for any harm he may have caused while under the influence.
The lyrics suggest that the singer has a problematic relationship with alcohol, and that his drinking leads to reckless behavior that he regrets when he's sober. He's aware that he might be annoying the person he's calling, but can't help himself. The line "But I can't seem to remember anything at 3 am" suggests that the singer has a tendency to black out when he drinks.
The song is relatable to anyone who has ever had a drunken night that they later regretted, especially those who have reached out to an ex in a moment of weakness. It serves as a reminder that alcohol can cloud our judgment and lead to actions that we wouldn't normally take.
Line by Line Meaning
You, you called me out
The person speaking was directly confronted and criticized by someone
You said your done with me
The other person decided to end things between them
But I can't seem to remember anything at 3am
The singer is often too drunk to remember what happened the night before
Am I that guy? The one that's happy hanging with my friends
The artist is unsure if they are the type to prioritize friendships over romantic relationships
And 5 drinks in I'm in love again
The artist falls easily and quickly in love when under the influence of alcohol
So if I get drunk and call you up
The singer is warning the other person that they may make a drunk phone call
Don't get pissed and don't hang up
The singer is pleading with the other person not to react angrily or end the call
I know its late but its never too late to be
The artist believes it's never too late to try and reconcile
Another last call casualty
The artist has lost track of the number of times they have drunkenly called someone at the end of the night
I can't remember what I said
The artist often forgets what they say during drunk phone calls
But I swear I meant no harm
The singer insists that they had no intention of hurting anyone with their words or actions
I tried to knock on your window
The artist attempted to visit the other person in person
But I set off your alarm
The singer's actions caused a disturbance
And the days dragged on like a tail pipe band
Time seems to be moving slowly and exhaustingly
The nights they ain't so long
In contrast to the slow days, the nights pass more quickly
And the taxi cab I'm riding in is blaring our favorite song again
The artist is reminded of shared memories with the other person
I'm sorry a guy picked up the phone
The artist apologizes for accidentally calling the wrong number
My mind couldn't leave well enough alone
The singer couldn't resist the urge to call the other person despite knowing it might not end well
And after the seventh time he hit *69
The person who was mistakenly called traced the singer's number and repeatedly called them back
He said if he finds me I'll be dead
The person on the other end of the line threatened violence
But I'm already in my head
The artist is already consumed with their own thoughts and worries
Since he's the one that's lying with you in your bed
The artist is jealous of the person who is currently in a romantic relationship with the other person
Another last call casualty
The singer is once again making a drunken phone call at the end of the night
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JARET REDDICK, BUTCH WALKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind