Relient K is an American rock band formed in 1998 in Canton, Ohio by Matt T… Read Full Bio ↴Relient K is an American rock band formed in 1998 in Canton, Ohio by Matt Thiessen (lead vocals, guitar, piano), Brian Pittman (bass), and Matthew Hoopes (guitar, backing vocals), during the band's junior year in high school and their time at Malone College. The band is named after guitarist Hoopes' automobile, a Plymouth Reliant K car, with the spelling intentionally altered to avoid trademark infringement over the Reliant name.

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.

Register
Relient K Lyrics

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Found it funny when the punchline was You
And you don't like my punk boy attitude
You didn't smile when I checked out that girl
Or when my sin kept me in the world

And then I claim all I wanna do
Is praise Your Name
I hate my sin, Destroy it Lord

Cleanse me from within

And now I'm trying
To keep the bad stuff away
But I forget to
Keep Your word and pray
I love You, Jesus
I need Your love in my life

I love You Jesus
I want to be like You, Christ

Overall Meaning

In Relient K's song "Register", the lyrics speak about the struggle between worldly sin and the desire for a holy, Christ-like life. The first stanza speaks of the irony of finding humor in the punchline being oneself, but also recognizing that one's punk attitude may not be fully aligned with a Christian lifestyle. The reference to checking out a girl and being trapped in sinful behavior further emphasizes this internal struggle.

The following stanza shifts to a plea for forgiveness and cleansing from sin. The singer wants to be able to praise God's name but recognizes the barrier that his own sinful behavior creates. The lyrics then shift to an acknowledgement of the ongoing struggle to resist temptation and stay aligned with Christ. The desire to be more like Christ underscores the overarching message of the song.

Line by Line Meaning

Found it funny when the punchline was You
It was ironic that I found the truth in You, Jesus.

And you don't like my punk boy attitude
You, Jesus, don't approve of my rebellious behavior.

You didn't smile when I checked out that girl
You, Jesus, disapprove of my lustful thoughts and actions.

Or when my sin kept me in the world
You, Jesus, didn't approve of my sinful ways that kept me away from You.

And then I claim all I wanna do Is praise Your Name
Despite my past mistakes, now all I want to do is worship and honor You, Jesus.

I hate my sin, Destroy it Lord Cleanse me from within
I am aware of my wrongdoing and ask for Your help, Jesus, in purging it from my being.

And now I'm trying To keep the bad stuff away
I am making an effort, with Your guidance, Jesus, to steer clear of sinful behavior.

But I forget to Keep Your word and pray
Sometimes, I get caught up in my daily life and forget to follow Your teachings and regularly communicate with You, Jesus.

I love You, Jesus I need Your love in my life
I love You dearly, Jesus, and require Your unconditional love in my existence.

I love You Jesus I want to be like You, Christ
My adoration for You, Jesus, is profound, and I hope to faithfully emulate You throughout my life.

Contributed by Parker P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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