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.
Penny
Plain White T's Lyrics
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It's 3 o'clock in the morning
When you left me you promised there was no one else
At least that was your story
Well ok, I know I'm not perfect
But what makes him so fucking cool?
He's just another little punk like the rest of them
The kid's just another tool
I guess he's perfect for you
Why are you two alone at his house?
You told me people would be over
Then you lie right to my face
You try to tell me you didn't drive over
Well ok, I know that you're lyin'
I saw your car with my very own eyes
Why would you lie about something so stupid?
Unless you've got something to hide
I think you do
I guess he's perfect for you
Don't try to explain, don't try to deny it
I don't want to hear anymore of your lyin'
I can see the way you talk to him
And that's enough to make me hate the kid
So when you find out that he's a dick, don't come crawling back
Why are you always over at his house?
What the hell do you do there?
You're tellin' me that you don't mess around
And I'm telling you that I really don't care
Well ok, go have your fun
Go out with Penny if it's what you gotta do
But if you tell him that you love him
Make sure he knows that you told me that too
Yeah, you told me that too
I guess he's perfect for you
Thought I was perfect for you
I guess he's perfect for you
In "Penny," Plain White T's presents a heartbroken lover struggling to come to terms with the fact that his girlfriend has moved on with someone else. He is tormented by the thought of what his ex-girlfriend is doing with this new person, particularly when he finds her car parked outside of his house at 3 am. He questions why she would choose this guy over him and wonders why she would lie to him about where she's been. The boyfriend is clearly still in love with his ex, but the pain of being replaced has forced him to lash out and label the person new person in her life as a "little punk" and a "tool."
The lyrics convey a sense of betrayal and anger. The singer is deeply hurt and has no other outlet for his emotions than to accuse his ex-girlfriend of lying and cheating on him. The song ends on a bitter note as he tells her not to crawl back to him when she realizes the new guy isn't all he's cracked up to be. This sense of rejection is amplified by the repetition of the phrase "I guess he's perfect for you." The song is ultimately about moving on from a heartbreak, realizing that the person you once loved has found a new love.
Line by Line Meaning
What's your car doing outside his house?
Why is your car parked outside his house at this time of the night?
It's 3 o'clock in the morning
It's very late at night, almost early morning.
When you left me you promised there was no one else
When you broke up with me, you said there was no other person involved.
At least that was your story
That was the version of events you told me.
Well ok, I know I'm not perfect
I understand that I'm not perfect either.
But what makes him so fucking cool?
What is so impressive about him that you chose him over me?
He's just another little punk like the rest of them
He's just like any other guy out there, nothing special.
The kid's just another tool
He's just another instrument you're using.
I guess he's perfect for you
I guess he's the right match for you.
Why are you two alone at his house?
Why are you both together inside his house?
You told me people would be over
You said there would be other people there with you.
Then you lie right to my face
Then you tell a lie to me directly.
You try to tell me you didn't drive over
You attempt to tell me you didn't drive there.
Well ok, I know that you're lyin'
I understand that you're not telling the truth.
I saw your car with my very own eyes
I personally saw your car parked outside his house.
Why would you lie about something so stupid?
Why would you tell such a foolish lie?
Unless you've got something to hide
Unless you have a secret or something to conceal.
I think you do
I believe you have a hidden agenda.
Don't try to explain, don't try to deny it
Don't try to justify or deny your actions.
I don't want to hear anymore of your lyin'
I don't want to listen to any more of your lies.
I can see the way you talk to him
I can observe the way you communicate with him.
And that's enough to make me hate the kid
That's sufficient to make me dislike him.
So when you find out that he's a dick, don't come crawling back
So if you realize he's a terrible person, don't try to come back to me.
Why are you always over at his house?
Why do you spend so much time at his house?
What the hell do you do there?
What do you even do there?
You're tellin' me that you don't mess around
You're claiming that you're not engaging in any romantic activity.
And I'm telling you that I really don't care
And I'm informing you that I'm not interested in that information.
Well ok, go have your fun
Well, go ahead and enjoy yourself.
Go out with Penny if it's what you gotta do
Go out with Penny if that's what you need or want to do.
But if you tell him that you love him
But if you confess your love to him.
Make sure he knows that you told me that too
Make sure he's aware that you previously told me that same thing.
Yeah, you told me that too
Yes, you mentioned that to me as well.
Thought I was perfect for you
I believed I was suitable for you.
I guess he's perfect for you
I suppose he's the ideal match for you instead.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TOM HIGGENSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind