Dropout Year started out in June 2004, when ex-singer Adam Henderson, Brandon Reter, and ex-drummer Justin Childers (playing as a 3-piece originally known as Far From Home) asked Adam Goodman (a high school friend) to join the band after he witnessed them perform a concert at the Recher Theatre in Towson, Maryland. The band, with manager (and future singer) Steve Reter, completed and released two demo CD's over the next two years. Their first studio EP was titled Seven Unreturned Phone Calls (a quote from the movie "Say Anything") . The EP was recorded with Paul Leavitt (All Time Low, Over It) and the sold-out CD release party was held at the Recher Theatre on August 4, 2006.
In the summer of 2007, they parted ways with their original drummer Justin. Jordan Young was asked to audition after he sent them a video of him drumming, and was officially chosen a few weeks later. Later that year they won national exposure by being selected as a Taco Bell Feed The Beat winner, along with A Day To Remember, Blameshift, and Mayday Parade. Two months later, they were featured as an AP&R band in the October '07 issue of Alternative Press Magazine. From the article: "Everything they touch is currently turning to harmonic gold. They won DJ Rossstar's first national unsigned band contest and this year's Comcast On Demand Music Video Contest and were featured as one of the top unsigned bands in the country by TheDailyChorus.com."
In January of 2008, they parted ways with their singer Adam Henderson. Soon after, it was announced that long-time manager and friend Steve Reter would be the new lead singer and Dan Ciarrocchi would be added on bass (formerly of Bravo Romeo Bravo). In October, they spent three weeks in the studio recording their forthcoming album with producer and ex-Hidden In Plain View member Rob Freeman. The album, titled The Way We Play, was released on April 7, 2009.
Dropout Year has recently won the Ernie Ball contest, playing the Vans Warped Tour 2009. They also won the contest in 2007 and were featured that year on the Warped Tour. The band continued to tour throughout the summer of 2009, including a Hot Topic-sponsored Mall Tour through the Northeast states.
In the Fall of 2009, the band parted ways with drummer Jordan Young and bassist Dan Ciarrocchi, for amicable reasons. Jordan Young joined the band Rookie of the Year for 2 months and is currently pursuing new opportunities. Dan is going back to school, and working on solo material.
Steve, Brandon and Adam recorded a free Holiday album with former drummer Justin Childers in the Winter of 2009, called The Seven Levels of the Candy Cane Forest. The EP was posted for free download to the public on December 22, 2009. Dropout Year is continuing as a 3-piece band, and is currently working on new material to record in 2010.
Counting Down
Dropout Year Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and living days that I've have lived through before.
along with meeting face to face with a town filled with people i don't know anymore.
but there's a van outside with nothing but its will to drive,
and memories reminding me of times i felt alive.
these cities are made of canvas begging to be painted in red.
this is our signature; it won't soon fade away.
counting down the days where we can live our lives this way,
counter it with nights spent getting in over our heads.
forgetting what we left back, no regrets or take backs.
we're doing this in style. if i can keep myself intact
and this is how i feel at the start,
then my veins are like the roads on a map filled with life,
and attached to my heart. and it beats for these moments.
it beats for moments just like this. where halfway home is halfway gone,
exactly where i need to be.
looking through this rear view i see what we've been through.
looking through this rear view i see what we've been through.
we'll stay side by side and ride these lines, cause we'll be counting down.
The lyrics to this song are about feeling stuck in a routine and wanting to break free from it. The singer is tired of waking up only to go through the same motions every day and sees the towns and people around him as unfamiliar. However, despite feeling disconnected from his surroundings, he finds solace in the memories of times when he felt truly alive. There's a sense of restlessness and yearning for something more as he describes the van waiting outside, ready to drive towards new adventures and experiences.
The chorus talks about counting down the days until they can live their lives on their own terms, without worrying about the future. The line "counter it with nights spent getting in over our heads" suggests that they are willing to take risks and fully embrace the present moment. The imagery of a map and roads filled with life in the singer's veins emphasizes the idea that these moments of freedom and adventure are what makes him feel most alive.
The mention of looking through the rearview mirror and seeing what they've been through brings a sense of nostalgia, as they remember the experiences that brought them to where they are now. And in the end, they will stay side by side and keep counting down, ready for whatever comes next.
Line by Line Meaning
i've grown sick of waking up to lay down
I am tired of waking up every day to go through the same routine.
and living days that I've have lived through before.
I feel like I am living the same day over and over again.
along with meeting face to face with a town filled with people i don't know anymore.
I am surrounded by strangers in a town that used to be familiar to me.
but there's a van outside with nothing but its will to drive,
We have a van that is filled with the determination to travel and explore.
and memories reminding me of times i felt alive.
My memories of past adventures and experiences keep me feeling alive.
these cities are made of canvas begging to be painted in red.
Each new city we visit is like a blank canvas, waiting for us to make our mark and have an impact.
this is our signature; it won't soon fade away.
Our unique style and presence will be remembered and will leave a lasting impression on the places we visit.
counting down the days where we can live our lives this way,
We are eagerly awaiting the next opportunity to live our lives on the road.
having no regard for what tomorrow brings.
We are living completely in the present and not worrying about the future.
counter it with nights spent getting in over our heads.
We balance out our carefree lifestyle with some wild and reckless nights.
forgetting what we left back, no regrets or take backs.
We are not looking back or dwelling on our past, and we have no regrets about our choices.
we're doing this in style. if i can keep myself intact
We are living our best life and making a statement wherever we go, as long as we can handle the challenges of this lifestyle.
and this is how i feel at the start,
I am confident and excited about the beginning of this adventure.
then my veins are like the roads on a map filled with life,
The thrill of traveling is coursing through my veins, giving me energy and life.
and attached to my heart. and it beats for these moments.
I am passionate about these moments of freedom and adventure.
it beats for moments just like this. where halfway home is halfway gone,
These are the moments that make me feel alive, where adventure and the unknown are the best parts of life.
exactly where i need to be.
I feel like I am exactly where I am supposed to be, living my life on the road.
looking through this rear view i see what we've been through.
Reflecting on our journey so far, I can see how much we have experienced and grown.
we'll stay side by side and ride these lines, cause we'll be counting down.
We'll stick together and follow where the road takes us, eagerly anticipating the next adventure.
Contributed by Lillian O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.