"My Friends Over You" is credited to all five members of the band: Jordan Pundik (vocals), Chad Gilbert (guitar), Ian Grushka (bass guitar), Steve Klein (rhythm guitar), Cyrus Bolooki (drums). The group had nearly completed recording their third album, Sticks and Stones, before deciding to develop a song that might match the popularity of their previous biggest single, "Hit or Miss". It was the last song written for the album and evolved from a sole riff to a full song within a day or two. The song lyrically revolves around a relationship where one partner chooses their close friends over romance. "You're with a girl and she wants to take that next step. And though you think the girl's awesome and you're having so much fun with her, because of experiences in the past with other relationships and things that are going on in your life at the current time, you're just not ready to make that step," said Gilbert. Jon Wiederhorn at MTV described the storyline as "angst-ridden teenage memories about awkward relationships and peer pressure."
The music video for the single was directed by the Malloys and features the band playing on a stage in front of a live audience. It features many jokes, ranging from "Typical Video Girls" to the band playing the song with animated oversized heads. The video also features a cameo by the three members of the Transplants (Travis Barker, Tim Armstrong, and Rob Aston), Toby Morse of h2o, and Brody Dalle of the Distillers. It was the final video played on MuchUSA before the shift to Fuse. The scene after the second chorus where guitarist Chad Gilbert moves very fast while the rest of the band freezes is a parody of System of a Down's "Toxicity" video.
My Friends Over You
New Found Glory Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For another night in a row
This is becoming too routine for me
But I didn't mean to lead you on
And it's alright to pretend
That we still talk
It's just for show, isn't it?
It's my fault that it fell apart
Just maybe
You need this
And I didn't mean to
Lead you on
You were everything I wanted
But I just can't finish what I've started
There's no room left here on my back
It was damaged long ago
Though you swear that you are true
I'd still pick my friends over you
My friends over you
Please tell me everything
That you think that I should know
About all the plans you made
When I was nowhere to be found
And it's alright to forget
That we still talk
It's just for fun, isn't it?
It's my fault that it fell apart
Just maybe (maybe)
You need this (you need this)
And I didn't (and I didn't) mean to
Lead you on
You were everything I wanted
But I just can't finish what I've started
There's no room left here on my back
It was damaged long ago
Though you swear that you are true
I'd still pick my friends over you
My friends over you
Just maybe you need this
You need this
And I didn't mean to
Lead you on
You were everything I wanted
But I just can't finish what I've started
There's no room left here on my back
It was damaged long ago
Though you swear that you are true
I'd still pick my friends over
You were everything I wanted (everything I wanted)
But I just can't finish what I've started
There's no room left here on my back
It was damaged long ago
Though you swear that you are true
I'd still pick my friends over you
My friends over you
The lyrics of My Friends Over You by New Found Glory depict a situation in which the singer is struggling with a toxic relationship. They admit that being with their partner has become too routine but try to keep up appearances because their partner needs the relationship more than they do. The singer feels guilty for leading their partner on but affirms that their friends come before their significant other. They refuse to be burdened by the past on their back, stating that they can’t finish what they started, and would still choose their friends over their partner.
The chorus repeats the line, "You were everything I wanted but I just can't finish what I've started," revealing that the singer had high hopes for the relationship but is no longer able to see it through. They acknowledge that their partner has been faithful, but this alone is not enough to make the relationship work.
The song’s lyrics highlight the difficulty of breaking free from a relationship that's no longer healthy, though one’s fear of hurting the other person’s feelings can often cloud our judgement. The singer sings honestly and openly about needing to prioritize their personal values over those of their partner’s, emphasizing that choosing oneself over someone else is not a betrayal, but rather an act of self-care.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm drunk off your kiss
I am under your influence and I cannot think straight due to your kiss.
For another night in a row
This has happened before, and it is beginning to be too frequent.
This is becoming too routine for me
I have grown tired of this situation and it feels like an unwanted habit.
But I didn't mean to lead you on
I did not intend to give the false impression of a romantic interest in you.
And it's alright to pretend
It is okay to act as if things are still okay between us.
That we still talk
That we maintain a communication that we both know is superficial.
It's just for show, isn't it?
It is merely for public display, and we both know that it is fake.
It's my fault that it fell apart
I am responsible for the end of our relationship.
Just maybe
Perhaps it is a possibility.
You need this
You require this situation to exist.
And I didn't mean to
I did not intend to cause harm or deception.
You were everything I wanted
You possessed all the qualities I desired in a significant other.
But I just can't finish what I've started
I am unable to commit to a long-term relationship with you.
There's no room left here on my back
I have no capacity to take on further commitments or obligations.
It was damaged long ago
This part of me was already broken before you came along.
Though you swear that you are true
Even though you promise to be honest and loyal to me.
I'd still pick my friends over you
If it came down to a choice, I would choose my friends over you.
Please tell me everything
I need to know every detail.
That you think that I should know
I need to be informed of the information that you believe is relevant.
About all the plans you made
I need to know of any intentions you have made without consulting me.
When I was nowhere to be found
When I was absent and not available to be contacted.
And it's alright to forget
It is acceptable to ignore the fact that we are not truly in communication.
It's just for fun, isn't it?
It is just harmless enjoyment, and we both know it is not serious.
Just maybe (maybe)
Perhaps it is likely.
You need this (you need this)
You desire this situation to persist.
You were everything I wanted (everything I wanted)
You were the ideal partner I had envisioned myself with.
My friends over you
I prioritize my friendships over my romantic relationship with you.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Chad Everett Gilbert, Cyrus William Bolooki, Ian R Grushka, Jordan I Pundik, Stephen Lee Klein
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@stefanpaun641
where's my people in their 30s and 40s listening to this now?
@eduardametzker4986
Almost 30. 🙋🏻♀️ 29 now! Still love the song! Haha
@JoshuaSprays
39 checking in
@jimimans
34 check
@devinrahmat685
I was late 10 years. Now iam on my 20's
@syrusezrabuni713
35 here
@lancethefilmguy9392
Can't believe this song is 20 years old. Time flies my friends.
@wherethesignalends
HOW!?
@SelfMadeDocumentary
@@wherethesignalends by measuring periods between the past, present and future. But that's a simple, albeit vague answer to an incredibly complex topic
@angrygun7826
@@SelfMadeDocumentary LOL