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.
Sweet Talk
Dear and the Headlights Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't want to let you down
I'd rather let you fall apart
And so you back off
A bit less obvious
Oh you forgot I called
Don't take it personal personal honey
You need to be alone
Well you can call me when you're bored
I'll sing a song low
Over the telephone
In lower decibels
So you can hear it and hear it and hear it and hear it
And lost it though
You've lost that privilege
With a hundred more
Hold his hand now
Out on the mission field
Your hearts compatible
Mine breaks alone alone alone
Your new boyfriend
You got your new boyfriend
You got your new boyfriend
You got your new boyfriend
I bet he likes you more than he likes me 'cause
I'm the former one
He's the latter one
He'd never say it but it's right
I'm sorry that was rude of me
Forget I said a thing
But don't forget it when you're starring at him
Say something you mean
Don't be polite
Kiss, kill nothing in between
I can't sit still, sit still
Get canceled, can't sit still
Not when you got, you got, you got
Your new boyfriend
You got your new boyfriend
You got your new boyfriend
You got your new boyfriend
I bet he likes you more than he likes me 'cause
I'm the former
He's the latter one
He'd never say it but it's right
Passed on up and over
Said she did
Said she didn't come on
Pass me up
Let me go
Throw away
Let me go
Oh it's ok not to be the same
Be the same
You've got him, oh
You've got him, oh
The song "Sweet Talk" by Dear and the Headlights is a melancholic reflection on a past relationship that has moved on, and the singer is left with only heartbreak and regret. The singer is trying to pretend that everything is ok, but he's unable to hide the pain he feels. He doesn't want to let his former partner down, but he also knows he can't be what she wants.
The lines "Speak dumb like every other one, Don't want to let you down" indicate that the singer knows he's not as smart or successful as her new partner, but he doesn't want to disappoint her. He'd rather let her fall apart on her own, knowing that his presence will only add to her confusion. As the song progresses, we realize that he's struggling to come to terms with his new reality. He's aware that she's moved on, but he can't let go of his feelings. The lines "You got your new boyfriend, I bet he likes you more than he likes me" reinforce his anxiety and sense of inferiority.
One of the most poignant aspects of the song is the chorus, which repeats the lines "You got your new boyfriend". Each time it's repeated, the melody and intensity of the music increase, reflecting the singer's growing frustration and sadness. Ultimately, the singer realizes that he can never be what she wants and accepts the inevitability of her new relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Speak dumb like every other one
Pretend to be unintelligent like everyone else
Don't want to let you down
I don't want to disappoint you
I'd rather let you fall apart
I would rather let you break down completely
And so you back off
And so you retreat from me
A bit less obvious
A little less noticeable
Oh you forgot I called
You overlooked the fact that I tried to contact you
Don't take it personal personal honey
Don't get offended, my dear
I know you've just been busy or
I understand that you've been occupied or
You need to be alone
You require solitude
Well you can call me when you're bored
You can contact me when you're unoccupied
I'll sing a song low
I will sing a soft tune
Over the telephone
Through the phone lines
In lower decibels
At a lower volume
So you can hear it and hear it and hear it and hear it
So you can listen to it repeatedly
And lost it though
And lost that right
You've lost that privilege
You are no longer entitled to that benefit
With a hundred more
With numerous other opportunities
Hold his hand now
Take his hand now
Out on the mission field
In the area of work or duty
Your hearts compatible
Your hearts are capable of coexisting
Mine breaks alone alone alone
My heart is broken by myself
Your new boyfriend
Your current partner
You got your new boyfriend
You found your new partner
I bet he likes you more than he likes me 'cause
I think that he is more fond of you than he is of me because
I'm the former one
I am the previous one
He's the latter one
He is the later one
He'd never say it but it's right
He wouldn't confess it but it's true
I'm sorry that was rude of me
I apologize for being impolite
Forget I said a thing
Disregard what I just said
But don't forget it when you're starring at him
But don't forget it when you're looking at him
Say something you mean
Speak truthfully
Don't be polite
Don't be courteous
Kiss, kill nothing in between
Either kiss or break up, there is no middle ground
I can't sit still, sit still
I can't remain seated calmly
Get canceled, can't sit still
Get cancelled, I can't sit calmly
Not when you got, you got, you got
Not when you obtained, you obtained, you obtained
Passed on up and over
Moved past and over
Said she did
She claimed she did
Said she didn't come on
She claimed she didn't, come on
Pass me up
Go ahead of me
Let me go
Allow me to leave
Throw away
Discard
Oh it's ok not to be the same
It's okay to be different
Be the same
Be alike
You've got him, oh
You have him, oh
You've got him, oh
You have him, oh
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ALEX BRADY EPTON, NAEEM JUWAN HANKS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Snooty-Pookie
it makes me sad that these guys never got the highlight that they deserved.
@DGincorporated1
Sneak Chamber I'm really sad about it too... I'm from Mexico and would've loved to see them touring here
@Snooty-Pookie
actually, you may have a band like this in your own area!
that's how i got to talk, meet, and know this band in the first place. they were on facebook, my friend spoke to them and we got into the venue for free simply because they just wanted anyone to listen to them. super humble people, super awesome music, and a totally unforgettable experience.
never forget: even if you didn't get to see this particular band, always listen for the sound of good tunes!
@bdizz19
Imagine 275k ppl at the concert tho (views/concert)
@DavidHernandez-or1dp
Heroes of the unspoken heartbreak
@pardontheplay
It doesn't make me sad, it makes me feel greatly that they could always be appreciated. Be Love Always Truly, when you may.
@mileinmymoccasins2596
I have never met someone that knew who dear and the headlights was. If I ever meet a man who loves DATH I will marry him in an instant. I've shown this band to people before and they just say "it's good." It's not just good. I can feel this music man. In my bones.
@corybray9523
Mile in My Moccasins check out the gentle hits. 3 of the 5 are back together
@tylerv6341
Cory Bray is The Gentle Hits their name?
@corybray9523
Tyler V Yes. They are touring in 2020.