Joel Marquard (guitarist and keyboardist) and Ian Metzger (lead vocals and acoustic) started playing together in roughly 2002. Marquard convinced Metzger that they needed to start a band, but Ian was reluctant due to a somewhat negative experience with the Christian band called Justifide he co-founded in 1999. He finally gave in and Marquard quickly found PJ Waxman, who initially, started out playing drums for the band until they realized what a talented guitar player he was. PJ is also known for voicing the character of "Plucky", which is Ducky's little sister in the animated film "The Land Before Time", though it didn't make it into the film officially. Despite the film's success, PJ felt his calling was in music. Once PJ took the role of guitarist, DATH were still left without a drummer and bass player. They tried out several people but nothing worked. Joel received a phone call from an old friend and former band mate named Chuckie Duff who played bass and had recently bought some recording equipment that he wanted to try out. So that next day he came over and recorded three songs (Sweet Talk, Daysleeper, Run in the Front.) The songs were successful but Ian was burnt out on trying to find people for the band, and determined to move to California. Duff kept listening to the demo and fell more and more in love. He was determined to not let them give up. He called Marquard and offered to play bass and promised him they'd find a drummer. Ian decided to give it a shot. Duff was right and Marquard found drummer Mark Kulvinskas through an ad on Craigslist. So Joel, PJ, Duff and Mark practiced the songs with Ian still in California, and got them down. Chuckie booked a show at Borders Bookstores and flew Ian down. He met the drummer, they practiced with Ian and played that night. Several more shows were played like this and Ian decided to move back. The decision was made to make an album famed Arizona record producer, songwriter of The Go Reflex and former keyboardist of The Ataris, Bob Hoag. Near the album's completion, the band started talking to, and eventually signing a contract with the popular indie label, Equal Vision Records. Small Steps, Heavy Hooves was critically acclaimed, and the band grew to a much higher status through endless touring with major label bands such as Jimmy Eat World, Paramore, The Plain White T's, and Motion City Soundtrack. Marquard left the band in September 2007 due to the heavy touring schedule and Robert Cissell was an obvious choice to replace him. They completed several more laps around the country and recorded Drunk Like Bible Times in early 2008. In September 2009, bassist Chuck Duffie left the group in order to "focus on graduate school and his studio." He was replaced by Patrick Taylor in January 2010. Unfortunately the band decided to part ways in July of 2011 to pursue separate ambitions.
Bad News
Dear and the Headlights Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Those sad feathery talks that float on all that
Tattered teenage applause clapped out further with no pause
On collegiate palms of course their hands so soft
Ancient postures of awe for low level modern shocks
Now happening a lot like like any synaptic
Cavalry's typical barrage on your tired soul
Bad news for you, haven't felt this way in a long time
Haven't felt this way in a long time
Bad news for you, haven't felt this way in a long time
Haven't felt this way in a long time
Cautious sticks stuck in fictitious craws capsized on your chatty shores
Half dead, half seem worse yet you still keep talking
In between coughing fits and soon to be Heimliched bits
Of ideas which you could not yet digest
Put that rag to your face, lay down that's a better pace
Go back to cliches like "I should kill myself" or "I should lose some weight"
I'm sure either way you'd feel just the very same
Quiet now someone's coming
Bad news for you, haven't felt this way in a long time
Haven't felt this way in a long time
Bad news for you, haven't felt this way in a long time
Haven't felt this way in a long time
Bad news for you
Haven't felt this way in a long time
Haven't felt this way in a long time
The opening lines of "Bad News" by Dear and the Headlights delve into a stream-of-consciousness narrative that reflects on the fleeting nature of youthful ideals and the disappointment of mid-twenties life. The lyrics reference "tattered teenage applause" and "collegiate palms", which alludes to the idea of applause slowly fading away and the ideals of youth being replaced by the realities of adulthood. The song's title reflects the underlying sense of uncertainty and the dissatisfaction with life that the lyrics evoke. The chorus, repeated multiple times throughout the song, declares: "Bad news for you, haven't felt this way in a long time", which implies a sense of hopelessness and frustration that has been building up for some time.
The second and third verses continue with this bleak tone, referring to the "ancient postures of awe" that are characteristic of modern life's everyday challenges. The lyrics assert that these challenges occur with a kind of relentlessness that gives way to nothingness, which makes it hard to cope with. The idea of feeling "half-dead" and "half-seem worse" evokes the sense of being overwhelmed by life's demands, which can cause physical and emotional unrest. The lyrics suggest taking a break, but even that seems to provide no solace or relief as the singer asks the singer to "go back to cliches like 'I should kill myself' or 'I should lose some weight'", which indicates that these acts wouldn't bring any satisfaction or happiness either.
In summary, "Bad News" by Dear and the Headlights is a song that deals with the disillusionment and dissatisfaction of mid-twenties life. The lyrics capture the sense of being stuck in a cycle where even the things that once held meaning lose their luster. The chorus is particularly striking, which conveys the idea that despite the passage of time, things aren't necessarily getting better. The song possesses a raw honesty and vulnerability that many people can relate to in their own experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
On some mentioning of thoughts and of mid-twenties tangent plots
Upon bringing up thoughts and tangents about one's mid-twenties
Those sad feathery talks that float on all that
Talking about difficult topics with a light, almost ethereal tone
Tattered teenage applause clapped out further with no pause
The recognition received in adolescence that loses its value as one grows up
On collegiate palms of course their hands so soft
A reference to the idea that college students are privileged and inexperienced
Ancient postures of awe for low level modern shocks
Our tendency to put too much importance on insignificant things
Now happening a lot like like any synaptic
These insignificant things occur too frequently to be worth noting
Cavalry's typical barrage on your tired soul
Life's constant challenges and obstacles that drain one's energy
You cannot shrug it off, just start your inconsequential white withdrawal it's
The inability to cope with life's challenges, leading to a feeling of withdrawal and isolation
Bad news for you, haven't felt this way in a long time
Acknowledging the negative emotions one is experiencing
Cautious sticks stuck in fictitious craws capsized on your chatty shores
Fake or superficial ideas and beliefs that make it hard to express oneself truthfully
Half dead, half seem worse yet you still keep talking
Feeling drained and exhausted while still trying to keep up a façade
In between coughing fits and soon to be Heimliched bits
Struggling to express oneself even physically
Of ideas which you could not yet digest
Being unable to fully process or understand one's own ideas and emotions
Put that rag to your face, lay down that's a better pace
Suggesting taking a break and allowing oneself to rest
Go back to cliches like "I should kill myself" or "I should lose some weight"
Returning to harmful thought patterns and societal pressures
I'm sure either way you'd feel just the very same
Implying that neither drastic action would really satisfy or solve the underlying issues
Quiet now someone's coming
Ending the conversation because of the presence of someone else
Bad news for you, haven't felt this way in a long time
Reiterating the sense of negativity and despair
Haven't felt this way in a long time
Emphasizing that these emotions are not a common occurrence
Bad news for you
Highlighting the unwelcome nature of these feelings
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@KittyCatComa
"Should I kill myself or should I lose some weight" has been playing in my head for more than a decade now. I still haven't done either. :)
@ryanderangedmanclason8247
Dear and the Headlights my beloved 😩
@RGodling
I love you Chloe 💜