Rival Schools is a Post Hardcore band from New York, United States that was… Read Full Bio ↴Rival Schools is a Post Hardcore band from New York, United States that was formed in 1999 by members from several influential 80's and 90's hardcore bands (including Gorilla Biscuits, Quicksand, CIV, Youth Of Today, Burn, Project X, Judge, Moondog, Warzone, Side by Side and Iceburn). The band started from the ashes of a short lived project, World's Fastest Car which had Artie Shepard of Mind Over Matter and Bad Trip fame involved, but the project went no further than demos. Apparently Walter and Artie had a difference of opinions hence the split. Artie then started Errortype: 11.

* Walter Schreifels - vocals, guitar
* Cache Tolman - bass
* Sam Siegler - drums
* Ian Love - guitar (left in 2002)

The band decided to start a series of EPs where multiple groups form a single band and they looked to Jonah Matranga formerly of Far, New End Original and Gratitude. The lone result was titled Rival Schools United by Onelinedrawing, released on 24th July 2001. Their full-length album titled United By Fate was released on 28th August the same year on Island Records. Shortly after the release of United By Fate, the band released their first single, Used for Glue. The second single released from the album was Good Things. Both releases enjoyed heavy rotation on MTV, both in the US and UK.

Ian Love left the band in 2002, and played as part of an Experimental-Rock band named Cardia, releasing an eponymous album in 2003.

A second album was expected for spring/summer 2003, but it did not surface. However, the master tapes of the album were leaked onto the internet, comprised of eleven tracks:

01- Just a Second
02- The Perspective Reach
03- I Don't Know
04- Your Answer
05- See What You Got
06- Looking
07- Don't Change
08- Shared Information
09- Surrendering Position
10- Seems So Real
11- Get Out of This Place

Rival Schools parted ways in September 2003. Schreifels formed a new band called Walking Concert, releasing an album in 2004. The second album will now be released sometime in 2006.

Sammy Siegler joined Nightmare of You and briefly provided percussion for Limp Bizkit.

The band reformed for shows in Summer 2008 and a new album is expected.

The band was originally named Rival Schools United by Fate, after a video game, but due to legal reasons had to change their name to just Rival Schools.

Take One for the Team
Rival Schools Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Take one for the team
That way you can compromise
It's time a pulled a tree
Careful with the merchandise
There are always falling
Which my way
Is it true, ignore it
Will come back to you someday

[Chorus]
Be careful
And prepare
How much you need
Well how much is there
How well you spend it for
Is it logical?
What are you waiting for
Take one

Aren't we related
Take it you need to teach it more
Things are overstated
Generation

It comes back to you someday

[Chorus]
Be careful
And prepare
How much you need
Well how much is there
How well you spend it for
Is it logical?
What are you waiting for
Take one

See the world is plentiful
Sometimes it is logical
If you have so much to many don't have at all
See the world is plentiful
Doesn't make much sense at all
If you have so much to many don't have at all

Can't be overstated
Love is what we are living for

Take one for it
Take one for it

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Rival Schools' song "Take One for the Team" seem to be encouraging listeners to compromise and make sacrifices for the benefit of others. The repeated phrase "Take one for the team" implies that sometimes we need to put our own needs aside and do what is best for the group as a whole. The line "Careful with the merchandise" could be interpreted as a warning to be cautious with whatever resources or talents we possess, because they are valuable and must be used wisely.

The chorus emphasizes the importance of being prepared and making logical decisions about how we spend our time, money, and other resources. The line "How much you need, well how much is there" suggests that we should be mindful of our limits and not take more than we can handle. The verse that begins "See the world is plentiful" seems to be acknowledging that there is abundance in the world, but that it is not distributed equally, and so those who have more should be willing to share with those who have less.

Overall, the song seems to be advocating for a sense of responsibility and empathy towards others. It suggests that we should be willing to make sacrifices and collaborate with others to achieve common goals, rather than just looking out for ourselves.

Line by Line Meaning

Take one for the team
Sacrifice for the collective's benefit

That way you can compromise
Compromising requires sacrifice from some individuals

It's time a pulled a tree
It is time to take action and do something substantial

Careful with the merchandise
Be cautious with what is valuable to you

There are always falling
There will always be obstacles and setbacks

Which my way
Which way my fortune will turn

Is it true, ignore it
Ignore what is not truthful

Will come back to you someday
The consequences of your actions will catch up to you eventually

Be careful
Take caution before proceeding

And prepare
Make necessary arrangements

How much you need
Evaluate how much is required