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.
Staples
Relient K Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Since you almost hit the tree.
Cause it hasn't been that long
Since you hit the pole because of speed.
Do you remember
The ambulance it took you there?
Do you remember
They shaved your head.
Where's all your hair.
The doctor said,
"We need some staples for his head."
The doctor said,
"Another foot you could be dead."
The doctor said,
"We need some staples for his head."
The doctor said,
"You should have took the bus instead."
All you could hear
Was kachunk, kachunk, kachunk.
All you could hear
Was the doctor putting staples in this punk.
[repeat]
He could have died that day.
Which means that he would not be here.
He would have gone away,
Friends and family we'd shed our tears.
But the good thing would be
Is that we would always know.
He would be living
With Jesus Christ in his new home.
[repeat]
The lyrics of Relient K's song Staples narrate a story of a person who almost died in a car accident. The song opens with the description of how it hasn't been long since the person almost hit a tree and hit a pole because of speed. The lyrics take us through the memories of the accident, including the ambulance ride, cutting of pants, the loss of hair, and the critical nature of the injury that required stapling of the head. The doctor reveals that he needed staples to help the person's head, that the person could have died, and that they should have taken the bus instead.
The chorus repeats the sound of the doctor stapling the person's head with "kachunk, kachunk, kachunk." In the concluding verse, the song takes a hopeful turn as the singer reminds us that the person who almost died could have gone away, but they would have lived with Jesus Christ in their new home. Staples offers an intense, introspective, and narratively driven insight into the importance of living a better and cautious life.
Line by Line Meaning
Cause it hasn't been that long
Not much time has passed
Since you almost hit the tree.
Since you narrowly avoided a collision with the tree
Since you hit the pole because of speed.
Since you crashed into a pole due to excessive speed
Do you remember
Recalling a traumatic memory
The ambulance it took you there?
The ambulance that transported you to the hospital
They cut your pants your favorite pair?
They had to cut your favorite pants to treat your injuries
They shaved your head.
They shaved a portion of your head to treat injuries
Where's all your hair.
Jokingly wondering where the shaved hair went
The doctor said,
The medical professional shared some information
"We need some staples for his head."
Staples are required to treat a head injury
"Another foot you could be dead."
The severity of the injury indicates how close death was
"You should have took the bus instead."
Reflecting on the accident and suggesting alternate modes of transportation
All you could hear
Recalling a specific sound
Was kachunk, kachunk, kachunk.
Describing the sound of staples being inserted into one's head
Was the doctor putting staples in this punk.
Describing the medical professional treating the patient
He could have died that day.
Reflecting on the potential outcome of the accident
Which means that he would not be here.
The hypothetical scenario where the person who was in the accident did not survive
He would have gone away,
Reflecting on the loss of their loved one
Friends and family we'd shed our tears.
Acknowledging the emotional impact of such a loss
But the good thing would be
Finding something positive in a difficult situation
Is that we would always know.
Reflecting on the fact that the memory of their loved one would not fade away
He would be living
Referring to the afterlife
With Jesus Christ in his new home.
Describing a comforting belief about where their loved one ended up after passing away
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRIAN LEE PITTMAN, MATTHEW ARNOLD THIESSEN, MATTHEW RYAN HOOPES, STEPHEN CUSHMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Vicky R
'Cause it hasn't been that long
Since you almost hit the tree
'Cause it hasn't been that long
Since you hit the pole because of speed
Do you remember (do you remember)
The ambulance it took you there?
Do you remember (do you remember)
They cut your pants your favorite pair?
They shaved your head
Where's all your hair?
The doctor said, "We need some staples for his head."
The doctor said, "Another foot you could be dead."
The doctor said, "We need some staples for his head."
The doctor said, "You should have took the bus instead."
All you could hear was kachunk, kachunk, kachunk
All you could hear was the doctor putting staples in this punk
All you could hear was kachunk, kachunk, kachunk
All you could hear was the doctor putting staples in this punk
He could have died that day
Which means that he would not be here
He would have gone away
Friends and family we'd shed our tears
But the good thing would be
That we would always know
He would be living
With Jesus Christ in his new home
He could have died that day
Which means that he would not be here
He would have gone away
Friends and family we'd shed our tears
But the good thing would be
That we would always know
He would be living
With Jesus Christ in his new home
FritzyBeat
oh man, what a classic X3
It's so great to log into youtube and find my inbox filled with Relient K :'D
Shirley Boia
Es genial esa banda. Me alegra la vida.
Vicky R
'Cause it hasn't been that long
Since you almost hit the tree
'Cause it hasn't been that long
Since you hit the pole because of speed
Do you remember (do you remember)
The ambulance it took you there?
Do you remember (do you remember)
They cut your pants your favorite pair?
They shaved your head
Where's all your hair?
The doctor said, "We need some staples for his head."
The doctor said, "Another foot you could be dead."
The doctor said, "We need some staples for his head."
The doctor said, "You should have took the bus instead."
All you could hear was kachunk, kachunk, kachunk
All you could hear was the doctor putting staples in this punk
All you could hear was kachunk, kachunk, kachunk
All you could hear was the doctor putting staples in this punk
He could have died that day
Which means that he would not be here
He would have gone away
Friends and family we'd shed our tears
But the good thing would be
That we would always know
He would be living
With Jesus Christ in his new home
He could have died that day
Which means that he would not be here
He would have gone away
Friends and family we'd shed our tears
But the good thing would be
That we would always know
He would be living
With Jesus Christ in his new home
Matt Thomas Telford
I'm glad to see an active relient K channel!
daniegamin
I got my subscription box bombed by Relient K.
It's a good day.
Caleb Nadeau
+daniegamin Ikr.
daniegamin
also They uploaded this not even a week after I added all there songs to my soundcloud playlist.
Nehemias Lucas
molaaaaaaa
Caleb Nadeau
This sounds different on Spotify. Hm...
NotMyDivision
YES I REMEMBER *KA-CHUCK-KA-CHUCK-KA-CHUCK*!!!