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.
So Damn Clerver
Plain White T's Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And in my mind you were mine, what did I know?
I didn't listen when they said
That you were fake, manipulating boys to bed
I thought they had you wrong
The morning you were gone
I can see the games you play
Nobody can break hearts better
Why do you have to be so damn clever?
Turns you on
Always getting what you want
Made me believe that we'd be together
Why do you have to be so damn clever?
We were over from the start
Intertwined just in time to fall apart (fall apart)
I can't believe I missed the signs
You were cold and they all told me not to try
But I thought they had you wrong
The morning you were gone
Just vanished from my life
Didn't even say goodbye
Every time I see you face
I can see the games you play
Nobody can break hearts better
Why do you have to be so damn clever?
Turns you on
Always getting what you want
Made me believe that we'd be together
Why do you have to be so damn clever?
You pulled all the right strings
Saying all the right things
Now that you've gotten what you wanted you don't want it anymore
Every time I see you face
I can see the games you play
Nobody can break hearts better
Why do you have to be so damn clever?
Turns you on
Always getting what you want
Made me believe that we'd be together
Why do you have to be so damn clever?
Oh
Why do you have to be so damn clever?
Oh
Why do you have to be so damn clever?
Oh
Made me believe that we would be together
Why do you have to be so damn clever?
The lyrics to Plain White T's's song So Damn Clever tell the story of a man realizing that the woman he has been seeing has been playing him all along. He had thought that he was in control of the relationship, but in his mind, she was already his. He ignored warnings from others that she was manipulating him, but once she disappears from his life, he finally sees the truth. The chorus questions why she has to be so clever and good at breaking hearts, noting that she always gets what she wants.
The song perfectly captures the feeling of being blindsided by someone you thought you knew, and the frustration that comes with knowing that they played you. The lyrics also touch on the idea that some people are just naturally manipulative and good at getting what they want from others. Despite the singer's frustration with this woman, he also seems to respect her skills, which is a complex and interesting dynamic.
Overall, So Damn Clever is a poignant reflection on heartbreak and betrayal, and the lyrics showcase a deep understanding of the complexities of relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Thought that I was in control
I believed that I was the one with power over the relationship
And in my mind you were mine, what did I know?
I was delusional for thinking that you belonged to me
I didn't listen when they said
Despite receiving warnings, I ignored them
That you were fake, manipulating boys to bed
People were cautioning me that you were a manipulative person who used boys for your own benefit
Every time I see your face
Whenever I encounter you or think about you
I can see the games you play
I can instantly recognize the tricks and manipulations that you use in relationships
Nobody can break hearts better
No one can shatter someone's heart the way you do
Why do you have to be so damn clever?
Why do you have to be so skilled at deceiving people to get what you want?
Turns you on
It excites you
Always getting what you want
You continuously receive your desired outcome without fail
Made me believe that we'd be together
You made me think that we would remain in a relationship forever
We were over from the start
Our relationship was doomed from the very beginning
Intertwined just in time to fall apart (fall apart)
We became close and connected, only to separate later
I can't believe I missed the signs
I'm surprised I didn't recognize the warning signs of your true nature
You were cold and they all told me not to try
You were distant and everyone advised me against pursuing a relationship with you
Just vanished from my life
You disappeared from my life suddenly and without any explanation
Didn't even say goodbye
You didn't have the decency to give me a farewell or closure
You pulled all the right strings
You knew precisely how to manipulate me and make me fall for you
Saying all the right things
Your words were so convincing that I trusted you completely
Now that you've gotten what you wanted you don't want it anymore
Once you achieved your goal of having me, you abandoned me
Oh
Indicates a sound of frustration or disappointment
Made me believe that we would be together
You made me think that we would remain in a relationship forever
Why do you have to be so damn clever?
Why do you have to be so skilled at deceiving people to get what you want?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MATTHEW GERRARD, TOM HIGGENSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind