In 2000, Dave Douglas replaced Stephen Cushman on drums. In 2004, John Warne, formerly of Ace Troubleshooter replaced Brian on bass guitar. In 2005,Jon Schneck joined on with additional guitars, as well as banjo, bells, and backing vocals. In 2008, Ethan Luck, formerly of The O.C. Supertones and Demon Hunter replaced Dave on drums.
The band has released 9 albums, including 2 Christmas albums, as well as 6 EPs, and some other miscellaneous projects. Starting in 2000 with their second album, Relient K was signed to Gotee Records, a Christian record label. In 2004, their album Mmhmm shot them into mainstream popularity when it released at #15 on Billboard 200, and was released on Gotee, Mono Vs. Stereo (both Christian record labels), as well as Capitol, a secular label. They stayed with Gotee/Capitol until 2007, and their album Five Score and Seven Years Ago released at #6. Their latest album, Forget and Not Slow Down was released in 2009 with Mono Vs. Stereo. The band has done very well in both the Christian and mainstream music industries. The band has received numerous awards including a Grammy Award nomination in 2003 for Best Rock Gospel Album and two Dove Awards. The band has sold over 2 million records, with three albums being given gold certification by the RIAA.
The band's musical style has changed over the years, starting off as very pop-punk, and maturing into a unique sort of pop-alternative-rock, with many songs varying in style, and some including acoustic guitars, piano, banjo, synths, bells, etc. Through the years, their lyrics and songwriting have matured, but they have not lost their silly side and sense of humor. They still often reference their Christian faith throughout their songs.
Matt Thiessen, the band's main songwriter, also has a solo side project, Matthew Thiessen and the Earthquakes. He has also collaborated with Owl City. Dave Douglas also had a solo side project, Agnes.
My Girl
Relient K Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And now he's missing her because he knows he's missing out
And now it's haunting him, her memory's like a ghost
And he's so terrified 'cause no one else even comes close
He's the guy that you should feel sorry for
He had the world but he thought that he wanted more
I owe it all to the mistake he made back then
So then along comes me, this undeserving mess (undeserving mess)
Who would believe my life would be so blessed? (Life would be so blessed)
Two years ago when he left all that debris (left all that debris)
Who would have known he would leave everything I need?
He's the guy that you should feel sorry for
He had the world but he thought that he wanted more
I owe it all to the mistake he made back then
I owe it all to my girl's ex-boyfriend
If it wasn't for him
I would still be searching
If it wasn't for him
I wouldn't know my best friend
If it wasn't for him
He would be able to see that
If it wasn't for him he'd be as happy as me
When she and I settle down you can bet
That he is gonna have to settle for less
He's someone I would hate to be
I got the girl and he's left with just a memory
He's the guy that you should feel sorry for
He had the world but he thought that he wanted more
I owe it all to the mistake he made back then
I owe it all to my girl's ex-boyfriend
If it wasn't for him
I would still be searching
If it wasn't for him
I wouldn't know my best friend
If it wasn't for him
He would be able to see that
If it wasn't for him he'd be as happy as me
The song "My Girl's Ex-Boyfriend" by Relient K tells the story of a man who is now happily in a relationship with a woman who used to date a man who was not good to her. The song is essentially about how the singer is grateful for the mistakes that the ex-boyfriend made in the past, because without those mistakes, the singer may never have ended up with the girl he loves.
The first verse describes how the ex-boyfriend was always unsure about their relationship, and now that he's no longer with her, he misses her and regrets everything he did wrong. The second verse is about how the singer feels like an "undeserving mess" who somehow lucked out and ended up with the girl of his dreams. He reflects on how the debris that the ex-boyfriend left behind two years ago ended up being the exact thing that brought the singer and the girl together.
The chorus plays on the theme of how the ex-boyfriend thought he had everything, but he still managed to mess it up. The singer owes everything to his girl's ex-boyfriend, because if he didn't make the mistakes he did, the singer wouldn't have ended up with his best friend and the love of his life. The bridge makes it clear that the ex-boyfriend is missing out on true happiness because of his mistakes, and the final chorus is a reiteration of how the singer is grateful for those same things.
Line by Line Meaning
When he was seeing her you could see he had his doubts
The ex-boyfriend had doubts about his relationship with the singer's girlfriend when they were together.
And now he's missing her because he knows he's missing out
The ex-boyfriend is regretful about losing his girlfriend because he realizes what he is missing out on.
And now it's haunting him, her memory's like a ghost
The ex-boyfriend is haunted by memories of his past relationship, unable to let go of what he has lost.
And he's so terrified 'cause no one else even comes close
The ex-boyfriend is scared because he hasn't found anyone else who compares to his former girlfriend.
He's the guy that you should feel sorry for
The ex-boyfriend is a sympathetic figure who deserves pity.
He had the world but he thought that he wanted more
The ex-boyfriend was unsatisfied with what he had and wanted more out of his life and relationship.
I owe it all to the mistake he made back then
The singer is grateful for the ex-boyfriend's past mistakes because it led to him getting together with his current girlfriend.
So then along comes me, this undeserving mess (undeserving mess)
The artist feels undeserving of his good fortune and relationship with his girlfriend.
Who would believe my life would be so blessed? (Life would be so blessed)
The artist is amazed at how lucky he is to have his girlfriend in his life.
Two years ago when he left all that debris (left all that debris)
Two years ago, when the ex-boyfriend left the relationship, he left behind a lot of emotional wreckage.
Who would have known he would leave everything I need?
The singer had no idea that the ex-boyfriend leaving would pave the way for him to find everything he needed in a relationship.
If it wasn't for him
I would still be searching
Without the ex-boyfriend's mistakes, the artist would still be searching for the right relationship.
If it wasn't for him
I wouldn't know my best friend
The singer wouldn't have met his girlfriend and formed a close bond with her without the ex-boyfriend's mistakes.
If it wasn't for him
He would be able to see that
If it weren't for the ex-boyfriend's past mistakes, he would be able to see that the singer is in a happy and fulfilling relationship.
If it wasn't for him he'd be as happy as me
If the ex-boyfriend hadn't made past mistakes and lost his girlfriend, he could be as happy as the singer in his current relationship.
When she and I settle down you can bet
That he is gonna have to settle for less
The ex-boyfriend will come to realize that he lost out on a great relationship and will have to settle for someone who isn't as good for him.
He's someone I would hate to be
The artist doesn't envy the ex-boyfriend and wouldn't want to be in his current situation.
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: MATTHEW THIESSEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ピカリFritzyBeat
Wow~ Most of the songs on this album I honestly haven't listened to in a long time, there's always been other songs you guys did later on that I liked more... but then there is this one XD I can't say it's been TOO long since I've heard this song, it's definitely still in that best-of playlist I open up all the time ;P
Prior2Popular
This makes me way too happy
Jessie Bullock
Hahahaha hahahaha! My friend told me about this song for a long time when I was in high school but I never believed him. Then I heard you guys do it live. I laughed so hard at your show.
Hal Emmerich
imagine being Matt Thiessen in 1996 blaming his ex's behavioral problems on listening to a second-rate industrial rocker
HattieJosh
Not even second rate, third rate at this point
Brian Patrick
This is the version I remember from my youth group, less ska-like. I prefer it to the other one honestly.
The Shöcker Pit
I really thought for a long while that this song was meant to be ironic, I guess I was wrong
i don’t giv a f*ck
👏👏👏👏👏👏
Ryan
Anyone here after the Marilyn Manson abuse news?
EMILY 🦋 COFFEY
Wondered if it was too soon to say that lol