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.

Sing My Best
Plain White T's Lyrics

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Wake up in the morning
Long way from home
Alarm clock is a warning
I'm still alone
Set up for a letdown
Opened my eyes
New name for the same town
It's no surprise

Its another rough day alright
But I can't wait til tonight, tonight, tonight, tonight
I can't wait til tonight, tonight, tonight, tonight

Wake up in the morning
Another day
Grey skies bring the storm in
Things never change
Stare out of the window
Through tired eyes
So hard just to let go
It's no surprise

That its another rough day alright
But I can't wait til tonight, tonight, tonight, tonight
I can't wait til tonight, tonight, tonight, tonight

Tonight I'll get up on that stage
And all my problems seem to go away
Tonight I'll get up in those lights
And I will sing my best for you tonight

No I can't wait til tonight, tonight, tonight, tonight

I can't wait til tonight, tonight, tonight, tonight
I can't wait til tonight

Overall Meaning

The song “Sing My Best” by Plain White T's is about the struggle of everyday life and how music can be a way to escape from that struggle. The lyrics express feelings of loneliness and disappointment that comes with living in the same town for a long time. The singer wakes up feeling like he is far away from where he is supposed to be and the alarm clock serves as a reminder of the reality of his situation. He is set up for a letdown before he even opens his eyes to the same town that has a new name.

The chorus of the song is the singer's expression of hope for the future. Although today may be hard, he is looking forward to tonight because he will be able to perform on stage and forget about his problems. The lights and the opportunity to sing his best for the audience become a way to relieve himself from the pain he feels.

The song's message is one that many people can relate to. Life can be tough, but we all have things we turn to for comfort and release. Music can be that salvation for people who feel lost in their everyday lives.

Line by Line Meaning

Wake up in the morning
Starting a new day

Long way from home
Feeling far from where I belong

Alarm clock is a warning
The start of a stressful day

I'm still alone
Emotionally isolated

Set up for a letdown
Prepared for disappointment

Opened my eyes
Finally getting up

New name for the same town
Nothing has changed

It's no surprise
Expecting the same result

Its another rough day alright
A day filled with troubles

But I can't wait til tonight, tonight, tonight, tonight
Eager for the upcoming evening

Another day
Continuation of the struggle