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.
What If
Plain White T's Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What if I don't succeed
What if I give it all that I got and I still don't got what they need
What if I don't get anywhere at all
Would I consider myself a failure
Would I be that small
What if she doesn't like me
What if all the girls that ever like me are not the kind of girls that I like
What if I meet the right one and screw it up
Would I consider myself a failure
Would I give up
I'm gonna keep shining denied just makes me want it more
I'll keep shining each time push harder than before
I can't live my life always worried about what if
Cause what if I die tomorrow then I never even lived
What if they don't like me
What if they think I'm a joke
What if they act nice to my face
But they hate me and I don't even know
What if they end up stabbing me in the back
Would I consider myself a failure or would I fight back
I'm gonna keep shining denied just makes me want it more
I'll keep shining each time push harder than before
I can't live my life always worried about what if
Cause what if I die tomorrow then I never even lived
What if nobody likes me
What if I don't succeed
What if I give it all that I got and it's not good enough till I bleed
What if I don't get anywhere at all
Would I consider myself a failure
Would I be that small
No!
I'm gonna keep shining denied just makes me want it more
I'll keep shining each time push harder than before
I can't live my life always worried about what if
Cause what if I die tomorrow then I never even lived
I'm gonna keep shining denied just makes me want it more
I'll keep shining each time push harder than before
I can't live my life always worried about what if
Cause what if I die tomorrow then I never even lived
The song "What If?" by Plain White T's is a reflection on the struggles and uncertainties that many people face in their daily lives. The first verse sets the tone for the song by presenting a series of "what if" scenarios that evoke feelings of doubt and insecurity. The singer questions if they will be liked, succeed, or be considered a failure if they give their all and still fall short.
In the second verse, the singer shifts the focus to their romantic life. They wonder if they will ever meet someone they like who also likes them back. The fear of failure is present here as well, with the singer questioning whether they would give up if they made a mistake with the right person.
The chorus then comes in with a message of perseverance and tenacity. The singer acknowledges that they cannot live their life in fear of what might happen, because they could die tomorrow without having lived at all. They vow to keep shining and pushing themselves harder each time they face an obstacle, rather than giving up because of a fear of failure.
Overall, the song is a powerful reminder to not let fear of failure and uncertainty hold us back in life. By choosing to keep shining and pushing ourselves, we can live a life that is full of meaning and purpose.
Line by Line Meaning
What if nobody likes me
What if I'm not accepted by anyone
What if I don't succeed
What if I fail at achieving my goals
What if I give it all that I got and I still don't got what they need
What if I put in all my effort and it's not enough for others' expectations
What if I don't get anywhere at all
What if I'm unable to make any progress in life
Would I consider myself a failure
Would I see myself as a loser
Would I be that small
Would I feel insignificant
What if she doesn't like me
What if the person I'm interested in doesn't reciprocate
What if I'm not her type
What if I don't meet her expectations
What if all the girls that ever like me are not the kind of girls that I like
What if I don't share the same taste with those who have an interest in me
What if I meet the right one and screw it up
What if I ruin my chance with someone I'm compatible with
Would I give up
Would I lose hope and stop trying
I'm gonna keep shining denied just makes me want it more
Rejection only motivates me to work harder
I'll keep shining each time push harder than before
I'll strive for success by pushing myself beyond my limits
I can't live my life always worried about what if
I can't constantly worry about the negative possibilities
Cause what if I die tomorrow then I never even lived
Because I don't want to regret not living my life to the fullest
What if they don't like me
What if others dislike me
What if they think I'm a joke
What if they make fun of or belittle me
What if they act nice to my face
What if they pretend to be friendly towards me
But they hate me and I don't even know
But they have negative feelings towards me that I'm unaware of
What if they end up stabbing me in the back
What if they betray me in the future
Would I consider myself a failure or would I fight back
Would I give up or stand up for myself
What if I give it all that I got and it's not good enough till I bleed
What if I work myself to exhaustion but still can't meet others' expectations
No!
I won't let my fears control me
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: TOM HIGGENSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind