Plain White T's are a pop-punk band formed in 1997 in Illinois, United Stat… Read Full Bio ↴Plain White T's are a pop-punk band formed in 1997 in Illinois, United States. They are best known for "Hey There Delilah", an acoustic song performed solely by singer Tom Higgenson originally released in 2005 and later hit #1 in the US in 2007.

For over a decade, Plain White T's have been playing to packed audiences craving for that perfect pop-punk punch. Their journey, which began in a small suburban basement playing covers, has taken the band to Warped Tour three times, and landed them opening slots for bands like Jimmy Eat World and AFI. Plain White T's are road warriors in the truest sense and with their first major label album, Every Second Counts, the band is ready to rock in a big way.

PWT's story started back in high school, when frontman Tom Higgenson first stepped into Chicago's famed rock club the Metro and saw his future on the stage. With the local music scene exploding nationally courtesy of bands like Smashing Pumpkins and Veruca Salt, he decided the time was ripe for his own dreams to be realized. Armed with paper, pen, and guitar, Tom went to task, experimenting with lyrics and melodies on a four-track in his parents' Villa Park, Illinois home. Once he'd reached a level of comfort with his songwriting, he worked up the courage to hand off a tape to Christian Lane, singer of 90's buzz band Loud Lucy, and to his surprise, Christian actually listened to it.

Once he'd recruited a group of school pals, including guitarist Dave Tirio, it was only a matter of a couple years before Plain White T's, who'd attracted a loyal following thanks to Tom's ridiculously melodic tales of teen angst and loveless nights, were playing the Metro themselves.

The music industry took notice of that success and after selling thousands of copies of their self-released 2002 debut, Stop, PWT's were picked up by Fearless Records who re-issued the album along with 2005's All That We Needed. But it was their heartfelt, acoustic-tinged "Hey There Delilah" that cemented their status as potential hitmakers.

Tom's songwriting evolved after the success of the romantically frank "Delilah," which really was a departure for a band known for their energetic powerpop. On Hollywood Records debut, Every Second Counts, Tom, along with bandmates Mike Retondo (bass and vocals), De'Mar Hamilton (drums), and Tim Lopez (guitar, vocals), continues to turn the personal into the universal. Throughout the album, he sings of hook-ups and break-ups and the emotional rollercoaster in between. A prime example is lead single "Hate (I Really Don't Like You)." In a similar vein, the lyrics for "Friends Don't Let Friends Dial Drunk" also showcases Tom's offbeat take on love and life, while its melody sucks you in with every turn of phrase. Delving slightly deeper into emotional territory are upbeat tracks like "Our Time Now" and "Come Back to Me" as well as one of the album's quieter numbers, "Write You a Song."

In 2008, the group released the album 'Big Bad World'. The album had two hit singles: "1, 2, 3, 4" and "Natural Disaster". Both were on the American Top 40 at numbers 1 and 2 for three consecutive weeks. By late 2008, the band had joined the Rock Band Live tour with Panic! at the Disco, Dashboard Confessional and The Cab. Later that year, the band played at the Give It a Name festival in the UK. In 2007, the band performed the single "Our Time Now" on an episode of the Nickelodeon television series, iCarly. "Our Time Now" was also the theme song of the ABC Family dramedy series, Greek.

The band's "Rhythm of Love" single was the first to be released from the group's 2010 album, The Wonders of the Younger.' The song reached number five on the Hot AC chart, and was in the top ten in 2010 as well. In 2012, the band also covered The Ramones' "Pet Sematary" for the song soundtrack of the 2012 Disney film Frankenweenie. Should've Gone to Bed, a four-song EP, was released on April 9, 2013.

The band left Hollywood Records after creative conflicts with the label during the production of the American Nights album. 'American Nights' was released by Megaforce Records on March 31, 2015.

In 2015, they also appeared on Blues Traveler's album Blow Up the Moon, co-writing the song "Nikkia's Prom." On November 22, 2015, the band released a music video for "American Nights" featuring Higgenson's son, Lennon.

In May 2017, Plain White T's released a music video for their song "Land of the Living." The band, which had left their label Fearless Records in 2005, returned to the label. As of April 2017, the band have said that they are currently writing new music.

Comin With the Quickness
Plain White T's Lyrics

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Comin' with the quickness
As you hid below the bows
But i don't even feel it Anymore guess i have a new sound
Can't you see its cold now Everywhere we go now

[Chorus]
I just wanna go home now
Just let me go home now

I wanna go home now
Just let me go home now
I wanna go home now
Just let me go home

I don't even care for you
You don't seem to care for me
So why do we go on like this?
Cant you see it's killing me
Every time we talk now
Were only lying to ourselves

[Chorus]

Comin' with the quickness
As you hid below the bows
But i don't even feel it Anymore guess i have a new sound
Can't you see its cold now
Everywhere we go now
I just wanna go home now
Just let me go home now
I wanna go home now
Just let me go home now

I wanna go home now
Just let me go home now
I wanna go home now
Just let me go home now
I wanna see my friends now
Just let me be alone now
i just wanna be alive now
Just let me live my life now
Just let me go home now

Just let me go home now
I wanna go home

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Plain White T's song "Comin With the Quickness" are quite straightforward. The song talks about the desire to go back home, away from a difficult situation. The verses describe a relationship that is not working out, and how the lies and pretending has become unbearable. The line "Can't you see it's killing me" depicts the emotional turmoil that the singer is facing.

The chorus repeats the desire to go back home and the frustration of not being able to leave. The line "Just let me go home" is repeated multiple times for emphasis. The verses also talk about the singer's sorrow and detachment from the person they are addressing. They do not care for the other person, and vice versa. The song is about reaching a breaking point in a relationship, where nothing is left to hold onto.

Overall, the lyrics of the song convey the need for escape from a situation that has become unbearable. The desire for going back home is a universal feeling that everyone can relate to. The song's impact comes from the simple and direct lyrics which carry an emotional weight that is hard to miss.

Line by Line Meaning

Comin' with the quickness
Acting quickly and with urgency

As you hid below the bows
As someone tries to avoid confrontation or responsibility

But i don't even feel it Anymore guess i have a new sound
Not being affected by a situation anymore and finding a different perspective/attitude

Can't you see its cold now
Recognizing a change in the atmosphere that is not favorable

Everywhere we go now
Noticing that the negative atmosphere follows them everywhere

I just wanna go home now
Feeling the need to escape from the situation

Just let me go home now
Asking for permission to leave

I don't even care for you
Feeling apathetic towards the other person

You don't seem to care for me
Feeling unimportant and neglected by the other person

So why do we go on like this?
Questioning the relationship and its purpose

Cant you see it's killing me
Feeling emotionally drained and hurt