It didn't take long for I the Mighty to start making an impression on the West Coast. The quartet landed on the music director's desk at local modern rock station Live 105 around the release of Hearts and Spades, and from there it's been one milestone after another. I the Mighty have found regular radio airplay, opening slots for Deftones, Hawthorne Heights, and There For Tomorrow, as well as packed venues up and down the West Coast. Not to mention glowing reviews and coverage in Alternative Press, AMP Magazine, and on AbsolutePunk.net
"We wanted to introduce I the Mighty and Hearts and Spades to as many people as possible, so we decided to put together a 'track hunt' and make each of the songs available on different social media sites and later on Purevolume.com," explains singer Brent Walsh. "We researched how our fans and friends discovered music online and embraced that by giving them a reason to connect with us (the EP for free) and then we tried to build a personal friendship with each one." The band's marketing strategy has been an unquestionable success, with over 3,500 full EP downloads within the first 3 months of release.
In addition to their high-energy live set, I the Mighty have paired new media intellect with traditional promotion to help build a loyal and enthusiastic group of fans.
They were signed to Equal Vision records and released three albums before breaking up in 2020 due to frontman Brent Walsh receiving sexual assault allegations.
Pet Names
I the Mighty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Turn the TV up so that I can fall asleep
And drown out all my thoughts
The ones in which you love to haunt me
Stoned, feet on the cement
Cursing at my cell phone,
All the way to your apartment
Oh, I can hear that you're not alone, no
Do you think fate is just a lie
We tell ourselves
To help us fall asleep at night?
I'm waking up sideways, laying in the driveway
Trying to forget the thought of you
I'm drowning my sorrow even though it's hollow
Taking tequila shots at noon
That's why I followed you home
Even though it's insane
Watch you silence your phone
Whenever it shows my name
Tell me a beautiful lie
Tell me it's only for tonight
Tell me he's only your friend
Say you remember when
I used to call you miss and you kissed me on the neck
Used to call me baby
Now you never call me back
I swear it's this game that we play,
If only you would see it that way
Do you think we could spend the night indulging ourselves
Just to recall what it was like?
I'm waking up sideways, laying in the driveway,
Trying to forget the thought of you
I'm drowning my sorrow even though it's hollow
Taking tequila shots at noon
That's why I followed you home even though it's insane
Watch you silence your phone whenever it shows my name
I can't let you go
I can't let you go
I'm waking up sideways, laying in the driveway
Trying to forget the thought of you
I'm drowning my sorrow even though it's hollow
Taking tequila shots at noon
That's why I followed you home even though it's insane
Watch you silence your phone whenever it shows my name
The lyrics of I the Mighty's song "Pet Names" address the pain and desperation of unrequited love. The singer finds themselves consumed by thoughts of the person they desire, and their attempts to forget are fruitless. The first verse expresses the singer's insomnia and attempts to drown out their thoughts with the TV. Despite this, they are haunted by the thoughts of the person they want. The second verse describes the singer's attempts to physically reach the object of their affection, visiting their apartment and eavesdropping on them. The chorus highlights the singer's longing for a temporary reprieve from their pain, asking for a "beautiful lie" to help them forget. The bridge asks a philosophical question about the nature of fate.
The third verse describes the singer's attempts at self-destructive behavior to cope with their continued longing for the person they want. They follow the person home and see them silence their phone to avoid them. The fourth verse reminisces about the past, when the relationship was on more equal footing, and the singer wonders if it's possible to return to that state. The repetition of the line "I can't let you go" underscores the singer's inability to move on from their feelings, despite their attempts to do so.
Overall, "Pet Names" is a poignant examination of the agony of unreturned love, and the ways that we try to cope with the feelings it provokes.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm sick, I think I'm on the brink
I'm feeling ill and I believe I'm teetering on the edge of something, possibly emotionally or mentally.
Turn the TV up so that I can fall asleep
I need to drown out my own thoughts with background noise so I can fade out of reality for a little while.
And drown out all my thoughts
I want to escape from my own mind and find some kind of mental peace or distraction for a while.
The ones in which you love to haunt me
My thoughts are plagued by memories of you and how you appear to be present in every aspect of my life, even though you're not physically with me anymore.
Stoned, feet on the cement
I'm under the influence of some mind-altering substance, while standing firmly on the ground.
Cursing at my cell phone, all the way to your apartment
I'm so angry that I can't help but yell out loud at my phone, while heading towards your place.
Pressing my ear to the door
I'm straining to hear what's happening on the other side of your door, trying to discern who might be with you.
Oh, I can hear that you're not alone, no
I can hear noises that suggest you're not by yourself, and this realization is causing me emotional pain.
Do you think fate is just a lie we tell ourselves to help us fall asleep at night?
Could it be that we only believe in fate as a coping mechanism to aid our sleep, as a world without destiny or forethought can seem frightening and uncertain?
I'm waking up sideways, laying in the driveway
I'm disoriented and unsure of my surroundings as I come to consciousness, having possibly passed out or collapsed on the ground.
Trying to forget the thought of you
All I want is to be free from the weight of my emotions for you, however temporarily.
I'm drowning my sorrow even though it's hollow
I'm numbing myself with alcohol, even though I know it's an empty way to deal with my pain.
Taking tequila shots at noon
It's very early in the day, but I'm already self-medicating with alcohol to numb the hurt I'm feeling from our situation.
That's why I followed you home even though it's insane
I know it's not sane to stalk you, but my emotions are so overwhelming that I can't seem to resist the urge to see you, even if it's just from a distance.
Watch you silence your phone whenever it shows my name
I can see that you're intentionally avoiding communication with me by rejecting my calls, even though it hurts me deeply.
Tell me a beautiful lie
Please tell me something soothing that may not necessarily be true, but at least makes me feel better in the moment.
Tell me it's only for tonight
Even if it's a lie, tell me that we only have to hold onto each other for this one fleeting moment in time.
Tell me he's only your friend
Even if it's not true, tell me that the other person who was with you is merely a platonic friend and nothing more.
Say you remember when
Perhaps if you can reminisce about a nice moment we shared, it can help soften the pain that comes with the possibility of losing you altogether.
I used to call you miss and you kissed me on the neck
We had an affectionate relationship in which we had terms of endearment for each other, and you showed me physical love in ways that were intimate and special.
Used to call me baby, now you never call me back
You used to be just as loving and endearing towards me, but now you seem purposefully distant and cold, refusing to even return my calls or texts.
I swear it's this game that we play, if only you would see it that way
I'm convinced that there's some kind of unwritten, cruel game that we're both playing with each other, but if you could just understand my point of view, we could both get on the same page and work towards healing our relationship.
Do you think we could spend the night indulging ourselves, just to recall what it was like?
Maybe we can give into our vices and desires, even if only for a short while, just to remember the passion and connection that we used to share.
I can't let you go
No matter how much I may try, the thought of losing you, and all that you represented to me, is unbearable and something that I cannot face, let alone accept.
Writer(s): Blake Dahlinger, Brent Walsh, Chris Hinkley, Courtney Ballard, Ian Pedigo, Jared Poythress
Contributed by Zoe D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@bianconneri1897
I'm sick, I think I'm on the brink
Turn the TV up so that I can fall asleep
And drown out all my thoughts
The ones in which you love to haunt me
Stoned, feet on the cement
Cursing at my cell phone,
All the way to your apartment
Pressing my ear to the door
Oh, I can hear that you're not alone, no
Do you think fate is just a lie
We tell ourselves
To help us fall asleep at night?
I'm waking up sideways, laying in the driveway
Trying to forget the thought of you
I'm drowning my sorrow even though it's hollow
Taking tequila shots at noon
That's why I followed you home
Even though it's insane
Watch you silence your phone
Whenever it shows my name
Tell me a beautiful lie
Tell me it's only for tonight
Tell me he's only your friend
Say you remember when
I used to call you miss and you kissed me on the neck
Used to call me baby
Now you never call me back
I swear it's this game that we play,
If only you would see it that way
Do you think we could spend the night indulging ourselves
Just to recall what it was like?
I'm waking up sideways, laying in the driveway,
Trying to forget the thought of you
I'm drowning my sorrow even though it's hollow
Taking tequila shots at noon
That's why I followed you home even though it's insane
Watch you silence your phone whenever it shows my name
I can't let you go
I can't let you go
I'm waking up sideways, laying in the driveway
Trying to forget the thought of you
I'm drowning my sorrow even though it's hollow
Taking tequila shots at noon
That's why I followed you home even though it's insane
Watch you silence your phone whenever it shows my name
@octah008
The lyrics to all the songs in this record are too sad and relatable. Brent is still struggling from a breakup, which is what the lyrics kind of imply in most of the songs. Like the tone of his voice and the instruments really speak to me on a personal level which not a lot of song writers can do for me. Honestly, I'd give this record a 9 - 9.5/10
@christophervaughn9580
Octah right I get the same feeling which is comforting haha
@redhawk77
but.. didnt they get back together? they break up again??
@bakawolffskates
11/10
@Sinistercrackhead
I the mighty deserves soo much recognition. If youve been with them since their eps. You know how much their sound changes with every release. Some more than others but such a talented group none the less.
@steviboi
Definitely the best song on the album
@jessesimmons9238
This album is the their best. Every song a one of a kind and would all be great singles.
@wertknickster
Favorite from the album. I love the sound of The whole release.
@davidlester3247
Great song. This song could very easily be their breakout hit if it ever got any airplay.
@kayzteef
Such an incredible album