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
Thirteen
Bowling for Soup Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Better get me out of here
Once again my head is screamin'
Gotta get her off my mind
She's stayin'
And I'm prayin'
That she doesn't know what's on my mind
She's stayin'
Complaining
Cause she doesn't know what's on my mind
When she's around
Suddenly I've got this feeling
I can't stop it anymore
Wake me again I'm dreamin'
Gotta get this off my mind
She's stayin'
And I'm prayin'
That she doesn't know what's on my mind
When she's around
She's stayin'
Complaining
Cause she doesn't know what's on my mind
When she's around
Pinch my arm because I'm dreamin'
Better get me out of here
Once again my head is screamin'
Gotta get her off my mind
She's stayin'
And I'm prayin'
That she doesn't know what's on my mind
When she's around
She's stayin'
Complaining
Cause she doesn't know what's on my mind
When she's around
The lyrics to Bowling for Soup's song "Thirteen" revolve around the theme of unrequited love. The singer is clearly infatuated with someone who doesn't seem to feel the same way, and he's struggling to get her off his mind. The opening lines, "Pinch my arm because I'm dreamin', better get me out of here, once again my head is screamin'," suggest that he's in a state of disbelief or shock, like he can't believe this is happening.
The singer's thoughts turn immediately to the girl he's pining over. He's hoping that she doesn't know how he feels, but he also seems frustrated that she doesn't seem to be picking up on his signals. He's praying that he can keep his emotions under wraps when she's around, but he's also annoyed that he has to put up this front. The lines, "She's stayin' and I'm prayin', that she doesn't know what's on my mind when she's around, she's stayin', complaining, 'cause she doesn't know what's on my mind when she's around," illustrate this conflict.
Towards the end of the song, the singer seems to realize that he can't keep his feelings bottled up forever. He's got this feeling that he can't ignore anymore, and he's desperate to find a way to express himself. The repetition of the lines, "Wake me again, I'm dreamin', gotta get this off my mind" suggests that he's stuck in this cycle of yearning and hoping, but he's not sure how to break out of it.
Overall, "Thirteen" is a heartfelt and relatable song about the pain of unrequited love. It captures the frustration and confusion that often come with feeling drawn to someone who doesn't feel the same way.
Line by Line Meaning
Pinch my arm because I'm dreamin'
I am hoping that this situation is not real
Better get me out of here
I need a way out of my current situation
Once again my head is screamin'
I am obsessing and cannot stop thinking
Gotta get her off my mind
I need to stop thinking about this person
She's stayin'
The person I am thinking about is present
And I'm prayin'
I am hoping that they do not know my true feelings
That she doesn't know what's on my mind
I do not want this person to know how I feel
When she's around
My feelings are strongest when in their presence
Complaining
I am frustrated with my situation
Cause she doesn't know what's on my mind
I am afraid of being rejected
Suddenly I've got this feeling
My emotions are overwhelming me
I can't stop it anymore
I am unable to control my feelings
Wake me again I'm dreamin'
I am hoping to wake up from this reality
Contributed by Charlie R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.