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.
Sunlight
Plain White T's Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On your raging sea
When you've all but given up
Float back to me
When the waves come down
And your arms get weak
When you're tired of bailing out
[Chorus]
'Cause I can see sunlight
Through my window
If you open your eyes you'll
Find your way back home
Sunlight
Through my window
If you open your eyes you'll
Find your way back home
When you're all alone
Stuck in the dark
When you've lost your way in life
I won't be far
When the seasons change
And you fall apart
When the winter chill is near
I won't be far
[Chorus]
Baby,
Can you hear me?
Come home
Baby,
I need you near me
Come home
(Home)
(Home)
[Chorus]
Well it's lonely now
In this hotel room
And these sheets are empty, love
Waiting for you.
"Sunlight" by Plain White T's is a song about being there for your loved one through their hardest times. The lyrics refer to the idea of being someone's anchor during their storm or being their light when they are in the dark. The song speaks to the concept of offering one's self as a source of comfort and support when others are going through a difficult time. The first verse asks the listener to consider coming back to the one singing the song when they feel like they're drowning in a sea of their own problems. The following lines assure the listener that they are not alone and that they are loved, and that when they look out their own window, there's a reason for hope.
In the second verse, the lyrics reference feeling stuck and lost in life. The singer promises that they will not be far away when the listener feels like they are falling apart. The chorus repeats the message of the first verse that there is sunlight to be found, and the listener is urged to open their eyes and find their way back home. The bridge of the song is a plea to the listener to come home and find comfort in the love of the singer. The final line of the song references the emptiness one can feel when missing a loved one.
Overall, "Sunlight" is a soothing and comforting song that urges the listener to find hope and comfort in their loved ones during their hardest times.
Line by Line Meaning
When the storm won't end
When you're facing a difficult situation that doesn't seem to be improving
On your raging sea
In the midst of chaos and turmoil
When you've all but given up
When you're at the point of surrendering and losing all hope
Float back to me
Turn to me for support and guidance to help you weather the storm
When the waves come down
When things calm down and get easier
And your arms get weak
When you're feeling tired and overwhelmed
When you're tired of bailing out
When you're exhausted from trying to fix the situation
Float back to me
Find comfort and strength in my presence
'Cause I can see sunlight
I have hope and optimism that things will get better
Through my window
I have a clear view of what lies ahead
If you open your eyes you'll
If you're willing to look past your despair
Find your way back home
You can find your way back to your inner strength and resilience
When you're all alone
When you feel isolated and disconnected
Stuck in the dark
Stuck in a place of uncertainty and fear
When you've lost your way in life
When you're feeling lost and directionless
I won't be far
I'll always be there to guide you home
When the seasons change
As time passes and life changes
And you fall apart
When you're struggling to hold it together
When the winter chill is near
When it feels like things are getting colder and harder
I won't be far
I'll always be there for you, no matter what
Baby, Can you hear me?
Asking for your attention and presence
Come home
Return to safety and comfort
Baby, I need you near me
Expressing a desire for connection and support
Come home
A plea to come back to safety and love
Well it's lonely now
Feeling alone and disconnected
In this hotel room
In a place of transition and uncertainty
And these sheets are empty, love
Expressing a longing for connection and intimacy
Waiting for you.
Hoping for a return to love and safety.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: REED CALHOUN, REED MICHAEL CALHOUN, TIM LOPEZ, TIMOTHY JOHN LOPEZ, TOM HIGGENSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cappuccinouwu4269
When the storm won't end
On your raging sea
When you've all but given up
Float back to me
When the waves come down
And your arms get weak
When you're tired of bailing out
Float back to me
'Cause I can see sunlight
Through my window
If you open your eyes you'll
Find your way back home
Sunlight
Through my window
If you open your eyes you'll
Find your way back home
When you're all alone
Stuck in the dark
When you've lost your way in life
I won't be far
When the seasons change
And you fall apart
When the winter chill is near
I won't be far
'Cause I can see sunlight
Through my window
If you open your eyes you'll
Find your way back home
Sunlight
Through my window
If you open your eyes you'll
Find your way back home
Baby,
Can you hear me?
Come home
Baby,
I need you near me
Come home
'Cause I can see sunlight
Through my window
If you open your eyes you'll
Find your way back home
Sunlight
Through my window
If you open your eyes you'll
Find your way back home
Well it's lonely now
In this hotel room
And these sheets are empty, love
Waiting for you.
@cappuccinouwu4269
When the storm won't end
On your raging sea
When you've all but given up
Float back to me
When the waves come down
And your arms get weak
When you're tired of bailing out
Float back to me
'Cause I can see sunlight
Through my window
If you open your eyes you'll
Find your way back home
Sunlight
Through my window
If you open your eyes you'll
Find your way back home
When you're all alone
Stuck in the dark
When you've lost your way in life
I won't be far
When the seasons change
And you fall apart
When the winter chill is near
I won't be far
'Cause I can see sunlight
Through my window
If you open your eyes you'll
Find your way back home
Sunlight
Through my window
If you open your eyes you'll
Find your way back home
Baby,
Can you hear me?
Come home
Baby,
I need you near me
Come home
'Cause I can see sunlight
Through my window
If you open your eyes you'll
Find your way back home
Sunlight
Through my window
If you open your eyes you'll
Find your way back home
Well it's lonely now
In this hotel room
And these sheets are empty, love
Waiting for you.
@UniqueGirlXliving
they are so real, thats what i love about them. this song is just honest unlike other modern songs that dont even have a meaning.
@SkyscrapersMY
Plain White Ts never die
@lyremetrics
Skyscrapers MY for real ❤️
@marcusofrome
I had never heard this group before until I browsed into them today. I have been missing a real treat! These guys are great! I'm glad I found them.
@punkrockpopqueen
This is awesome you guys, I love the feeling in it. Gives me chills :)
@heartx3lisa
i like the song...definitely has a lot of meaning and depth to it.
@lesterfranz6453
2019 already... but this still my fav song ever. Good song never die.. ❤❤❤❤
@hannahwolkowitz3382
This is my favorite song on their album Big Bad World. SO good.
@mariahwilson1562
this is truly touching. your story is beautiful, and I am sure this song will help many people through tough times, and your hope is truly inspired