The band formed in 1997, constisting of Andrew Jordan (vocals & guitar), Ryan "Judas" DePaolo (backing vocals & guitar), Ryan Kienle (bass) and Aaron Stern (drums).
They have released two albums: Stories and Alibis (2003) and Voices (2006), one EP named West for Wishing (2003) and one split EP with Motion City Soundtrack .
Matchbook Romance headlined the Epitaph Tour in early 2005, playing alongside their label mates Motion City Soundtrack, From First to Last, The Matches and Scatter the Ashes.
As of March 12, 2007, Matchbook Romance have parted ways and have gone on an indefinite hiatus.
As of March 12, 2009, Matchbook Romance have announced that they are reuniting and have 3 tour dates up with more dates and news to come.
Promise
Matchbook Romance Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I asked You not to go?
To forget everyone, forget everything
And start over with me
Would you take my hand and never let me go
Promise me you'll never let me go
And now the stars aren't out tonight
But neither are we to look up at them
Why does Hello feel like Goodbye?
And these memories can't replace
These wishes I wished and dreams I've chased
Take this broken heart and make it right
I feel like I've lost everything when You're gone Left remembering what it's like
To have you here with me
I thought you should know
You're not making this easy
I never thought I'd be the one to say
Please don't, well please don't leave me
I feel like I've lost everything when You're gone
Left remembering what it's like
To have you here with me
I thought you should know
You're not making this easy
You're not making this easy(easy, easy, easy)
Take my hand, and never let me go
Take my hand, and never let me go
Promise me...
You'll never let go
Never let me go
Never let me go
You'll never let me go
I feel like I've lost everything when You're gone
Left remembering what it's like
To have you here with me
I thought you should know
You're not making this easy(x5)
I'll fall asleep tonight, cause
That brings me closer to You
The song "Promise" by Matchbook Romance is an emotional plea to a loved one not to leave the singer. He asks the person to forget everyone and everything and start over again with him. The chorus contains the central request: "Take my hand and never let me go. Promise me you'll never let go." The lyrics express the fear and desperation that can result when someone you love is leaving you. The singer is left with memories and wishes that can never be fulfilled, and he is struggling to deal with his loss.
In the second verse, the singer talks about the absence of stars in the sky and compares this to the absence of the loved one. He wonders why saying goodbye feels like saying hello, and he wishes he could have those moments back again. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the need for the other person to stay. Finally, the singer admits that he never thought he would be the one to plead with someone not to leave him, but the pain he feels at the thought of losing this person is unbearable. In the end, he falls asleep with the hope that one day he will be able to be with his loved one again.
Line by Line Meaning
What would You say
What would your response be
If I asked You not to go?
If I begged you to stay
To forget everyone, forget everything
To leave your current life behind
And start over with me
And begin a new life together
Would you take my hand and never let me go
Would you stay with me forever
Promise me you'll never let me go
Promise me that you'll never leave me
And now the stars aren't out tonight
The stars are not visible in the sky tonight
But neither are we to look up at them
We are not outside looking at the stars
Why does Hello feel like Goodbye?
Why does our greeting feel like a farewell
And these memories can't replace
These past experiences cannot be erased
These wishes I wished and dreams I've chased
My hopes and aspirations that I have pursued
Take this broken heart and make it right
Mend my broken heart and make it whole again
I feel like I've lost everything when You're gone
I feel like my world falls apart when you leave
Left remembering what it's like
Reminiscing the good memories
To have you here with me
When you were physically present with me
I thought you should know
I want you to understand
You're not making this easy
You are making this situation difficult for me
I never thought I'd be the one to say
I never imagined myself pleading
Please don't, well please don't leave me
I beg of you, do not abandon me
Take my hand, and never let me go
Hold my hand and stay with me forever
Promise me...
Vow to me
You'll never let go
You will never leave me
Never let me go
Stay with me forever
I'll fall asleep tonight, cause
I will be sleeping tonight because
That brings me closer to You
That allows me to feel nearer to you
Lyrics Ā© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Bluewater Music Corp., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JACK KNIGHT, STEVEN A JORDAN, TIJUAN FRAMPTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
George Peterson
What would You say
If I asked You not to go?
To forget everyone, forget everything
And start over with me
Would you take my hand and never let me go
Promise me you'll never let me go
And now the stars aren't out tonight
But neither are we to look up at them
Why does Hello feel like Goodbye?
And these memories can't replace
These wishes I wished and dreams I've chased
Take this broken heart and make it right
I feel like I've lost everything when You're gone Left remembering what it's like
To have you here with me
I thought you should know
You're not making this easy
I never thought I'd be the one to say
Please don't, well please don't leave me
I feel like I've lost everything when You're gone
Left remembering what it's like
To have you here with me
I thought you should know
You're not making this easy
You're not making this easy(easy, easy, easy)
Take my hand, and never let me go
Take my hand, and never let me go
Promise me...
You'll never let go
Never let me go
Never let me go
You'll never let me go
I feel like I've lost everything when You're gone
Left remembering what it's like
To have you here with me
I thought you should know
You're not making this easy(x5)
I'll fall asleep tonight, cause
That brings me closer to You
Chris Axelson
I'm mostly a death metal type guy who was in his early 20s when this kinda of emo was popular, and I liked a good amount of it. Taking Back Sunday, Brand New, Fall Out Boy, ect. I always appreciated songs that were catchy.
Let me tell you something: this is one of the greatest songs I've ever heard. The dynamics, the arrangement. It's fucken unreal. The chorus is so epic, it's punishing with the double kicks. The whole instrumental is heavy as fuck. It's just the perfect song. 1000000000/10 absolutely phenomenal.
TCSwizz2
š
EyelessCrown7
I totally agree with you man! Not only this song, but there are lots of other matchbook romance songs I could say the same thing about. I wish they would come back
Phil R
Yeah they're good mate. Im 37, married, 3 kids, mortgage, working 70hrs a week. Living the fuckin dream.. i only really listen to them when im drunk, reminiscing thinking i should have tried a little harder with this chick or that chick and how my life would be different. Probably not, same shit different bitch
jsvmusic
It's March 2020 and I still love this song.
Ty Lucas
June 2020 and kicks so much ass
the_gift 182
March 2021. Midnight. Damn. What am I doing? š
Anne Almazan
Me too
Lex Norwood
May 2021 and I fell down the emo rabbit hole šš
6xxluixx6
Its November 2022, and I still luv this song too <3