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.
Song 2
Plain White T's Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got my head checked by a jumbo jet
It wasn't easy but nothing is, no
(Woo-hoo)
When I feel heavy metal
(Woo-hoo)
(Woo-hoo)
Well, I lie and I'm easy all of the time
But I'm never sure why I need you
Pleased to meet you
I got my head done when I was young
It's not my problem, it's not my problem
(Woo-hoo)
When I feel heavy metal
(Woo-hoo)
And I'm pins and I'm needles
(Woo-hoo)
Well, I lie and I'm easy all of the time
And I'm never sure why I need you
Pleased to meet you
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, oh yeah
The song "Song 2" by Plain White T's is actually a cover of a song with the same name by the band Blur. The lyrics consist of short, simple phrases that describe a feeling of excitement and adrenaline. The "woo-hoo" in the chorus serves as a kind of battle cry, urging the listener to join in and share the feeling.
The opening lines, "I got my head checked by a jumbo jet, it wasn't easy but nothing is, no" describe a feeling of being overwhelmed, perhaps by a loud noise or intense experience. The lines "when I feel heavy metal, and I'm pins and I'm needles" further the theme of sensory overload. The singer admits to being "easy all of the time" and not understanding why they need the person they are singing about, but still being "pleased to meet you" regardless.
Overall, the lyrics to "Song 2" convey a sense of wild abandon and excitement, with the repetition of the "woo-hoo" chant serving as a unifying thread throughout the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Woo-hoo, woo-hoo, woo-hoo
Sound effect of excitement and energy.
I got my head checked by a jumbo jet
I was hit so hard that it was equivalent to a jumbo jet hitting my head.
It wasn't easy but nothing is, no
It was a difficult experience, but nothing in life is easy.
(Woo-hoo)
When I feel heavy metal
(Woo-hoo)
And I'm pins and I'm needles
(Woo-hoo)
I feel pressure and anxiety as if overwhelmed with heavy emotions.
Well, I lie and I'm easy all of the time
But I'm never sure why I need you
Pleased to meet you
I pretend to be carefree and uncomplicated, yet I never understand why I am attached to you. Nice to meet you.
I got my head done when I was young
It's not my problem, it's not my problem
I experienced trauma when I was younger, but it's no longer my fault or concern.
(Woo-hoo)
When I feel heavy metal
(Woo-hoo)
And I'm pins and I'm needles
(Woo-hoo)
I feel pressure and anxiety as if overwhelmed with heavy emotions.
Well, I lie and I'm easy all of the time
And I'm never sure why I need you
Pleased to meet you
I pretend to be carefree and uncomplicated, yet I never understand why I am attached to you. Nice to meet you.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, oh yeah
Sound effect of repeating catchy lyrics.
Lyrics © DistroKid, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Damon Albarn, David Rowntree, Graham Coxon, Steven Alexander James
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind