* 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.
Travel by Telephone
Rival Schools Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
While you make things hard for me
Wouldn't hurt you at all if I didn't have to
Give in it's our first fight
Now that I see this side
I want to more than I did before
This night has opened my eyes
I know you, hope I do now
I know you, hope I do now
We come closer
Temptations, they crumble by your side
You say you wouldn't hurt me at all
Can't be sure that you mean it
If it's worth holding on to, we can't stay in between it
I know you, hope I do now
Communication's down
I know you, hope I do now
We come closer
A comfort to us all
Insured against a fall from normal life
Afraid to be at it alone
To shoulder I wonder is it safe for now
This could go either way
This could work out between us, or never again
Make it clean, how realistic we mean to
I know you
The song "Travel By Telephone" by Rival Schools conveys the message of a couple going through their first argument, trying to come to a resolution, and trying to keep their relationship strong. The opening line "Must have been a mistake, while you make things hard for me" denotes that the argument started by mistake, possibly due to miscommunication. The lyrics "Wouldn't hurt you at all if I didn't have to" shows that the singer values the relationship and does not want to hurt their partner in any way. The line "I want to more than I did before. This night has opened my eyes," reveals that the argument has made them realize the importance of the relationship, and how it has brought them closer together.
The verse "Temptations, they crumble by your side. You say you wouldn't hurt me at all. Can't be sure that you mean it. If it's worth holding on to, we can't stay in between it," evokes a sense of vulnerability in the singer. They want to believe their partner's words, but there is still apprehension. The lines "A comfort to us all. Insured against a fall from normal life. Afraid to be at it alone. To shoulder I wonder is it safe for now," reveals the singer's fear of falling apart and how important the relationship is to them.
Overall, the song is about the complexities of relationships, but the message is hopeful. The singer realizes the value of their partner and is willing to work on the relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Must have been a mistake
I believe there was an error in this situation
While you make things hard for me
You are causing difficulties for me
Wouldn't hurt you at all if I didn't have to
I have no intentions of harming you unnecessarily
Give in it's our first fight
Let's compromise because this is our initial disagreement
Now that I see this side
I understand your perspective
I want to more than I did before
I am more willing to work things out now
This night has opened my eyes
This evening has given me a better understanding of our relationship
I know you, hope I do now
I am confident in my knowledge of who you are
Communication's down
We are having difficulty communicating
We come closer
As we navigate this situation, we are growing closer
Temptations, they crumble by your side
Being with you weakens my desire to give in to temptations
You say you wouldn't hurt me at all
You claim you would never cause me harm
Can't be sure that you mean it
I am uncertain if your words are genuine
If it's worth holding on to, we can't stay in between it
We must decide if our relationship is important enough to work on and commit to
A comfort to us all
This situation brings us some sense of ease
Insured against a fall from normal life
We have some assurance of protection against any negative effects on our usual routines
Afraid to be at it alone
I am hesitant to face this situation by myself
To shoulder I wonder is it safe for now
I am questioning whether or not it is safe to rely on others for help
This could go either way
There are multiple potential outcomes for this situation
This could work out between us, or never again
Our relationship may improve or come to an end
Make it clean, how realistic we mean to
Let's be honest about our intentions and what we hope to achieve
I know you
I understand who you are and what you are like
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: WALTER ARTHUR SCHREIFELS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind