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.
Write You a Song
Plain White T's Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got debts that I'm trying to pay
I can't buy you nice things, like big diamond rings
But that don't mean much anyway
I can't give you the house you've been dreaming
If I could I would build it alone
I'd be out there all day, just hammering away
Make us a place of our own
I will write you a song
That's how you'll k my love is still strong
I will write you a song
And you'll know from this song that I just can't go on without you
I don't k I'd make a good soldier
I don't believe in being violent and cruel
I don't know how to fight, but I'll draw blood tonight
If somebody tries hurting you
I will write you a song
That's how you'll k my love is still strong
I will write you a song
And you'll know from this song that I just can't go on without you
It's set on the table (it's out on the table)
Both of us knew all along (knew all along)
I've got your loving and you've got my song
I don't know how to make lots of money
I don't know all the right things to do
I can't say where we'll go, but the one thing I know
Is how to be a good man to you
Until I die that's what I'll do
I will write you a song
That's how you'll k my love is still strong
I will write you a song
And you'll know from this song that I just can't go on without
I will write you a song (I will write you a song)
That's how you'll k my love is still strong (love is still strong)
I will write you a song
And you know from this song that I just can't go on without you
"Write You a Song" by Plain White T's is a heartfelt song about a man who may not have a lot, but he has love to give. The first verse talks about how the singer doesn't have a lot of money, but he has debts to pay. He can't buy his significant other big, fancy things like diamond rings, but he knows that those things aren't as important as their relationship. In fact, he wishes he could build them a home from scratch with his own two hands.
The chorus is where the singer tells his beloved that he will write them a song to show how much he loves them. He lets them know that his love is still strong and that he just can't go on without them. The second verse talks about how the singer may not be tough or violent, but he will fight for the person he loves if they're in danger. The bridge talks about how their love is mutual, and how the singer has the person's heart while they have his song. The final verse talks about how the singer may not always know what the future holds, but he knows that he wants to be a good man to this person for the rest of his life.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't know how to make lots of money
I'm not wealthy.
I got debts that I'm trying to pay
I owe money.
I can't buy you nice things, like big diamond rings
I can't afford expensive gifts.
But that don't mean much anyway
Material things aren't as important as other things.
I can't give you the house you've been dreaming
I can't afford to buy the house you want.
If I could I would build it alone
If I knew how to build a house, I would do it myself to make you happy.
I'd be out there all day, just hammering away
I would work hard to build us a home.
Make us a place of our own
I want to create a home for us.
I will write you a song
I will express my love through music.
That's how you'll k my love is still strong
Through the song, you will understand that my love for you is still strong.
And you'll know from this song that I just can't go on without you
You will know that I can't live without you in my life.
I don't k I'd make a good soldier
I don't think I would be a good soldier, as I am not violent.
I don't believe in being violent and cruel
I am against violence and cruelty.
I don't know how to fight, but I'll draw blood tonight
I may not know how to fight, but I will defend you.
If somebody tries hurting you
If anyone tries to harm you.
It's set on the table (it's out on the table)
Our love for each other is clear to see/understand.
Both of us knew all along (knew all along)
We've known all along about our love for each other.
I've got your loving and you've got my song
We have each other's love, and I have given you a song.
I don't know all the right things to do
I may not k the best way to handle situations.
I can't say where we'll go, but the one thing I know
I don't k what the future holds, but I know I want to be a good partner for you.
Is how to be a good man to you
I know how to treat you with love and respect.
Until I die that's what I'll do
I will always treat you with love and respect for the rest of my life.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TOM HIGGENSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind