Although Rooney had flirted with enlisting Ric Ocasek to produce, they eventually opted to rehire Keith Forsey, the producer responsible for the the strong batch of demos that had gotten them signed in the first place. Rooney's sunny, self-titled debut arrived in 2003 and its sales spiked considerably the following year when the band appeared on Fox's popular teen drama The O.C. (the first in a long line of bands to do so). Later that year, the concert DVD Spit and Sweat was released, highlighting the group's transformation from teenage musicians into a road-seasoned outfit. Rooney began recording their follow-up later that year with producer Tony Hoffer, but the album was eventually scrapped despite several songs being posted on the band's MySpace page. A second attempt to record their sophomore album was made in fall 2005, this time with Howard Benson in the producer's seat. Although it was slated for a 2006 release, this version too was scrapped as friction between the band and its label increased.
Following a 2006 tour with Kelly Clarkson, Rooney returned to the studio with producer John Fields for a third -- and successful -- attempt at recording their second album. The slightly darker, but no less catchy Calling the World was released in summer 2007 and debuted on the Billboard charts at number 42. By this point, though, the band's relationship with Geffen had suffered too much damage and Rooney eventually left the label's roster in 2009. That same year, the band celebrated their independent status by self-releasing an EP, Wild One, and launching a brief tour. They didn't remain independent for long, though, eventually partnering with Warner Bros. for the release of their third full-length album, the self-produced Eureka, in June 2010. Although bassist Matt Winter played on the record, he left the band's lineup several months before its release, with Brandon Schwartzel climbing aboard in his place. By the end of 2011, support for the record had mostly ceased and Rooney essentially entered into a lengthy hiatus. Schwartzman remained busy with a number of projects, including two solo records and a pair of film scores. Following years of silence regarding his band's fate, Schwartzman revealed in early 2016 that he had completed a new Rooney album entirely on his own. Released in May 2016, Washed Away was the fourth LP under the Rooney banner, and was supported on the road by a completely retooled lineup. In June 2017, the band issued the single "Second Chances" in anticipation of the release of the El Cortez EP, which arrived in July of that year.
If It Were Up To Me
Rooney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm breathing down her neck. Maybe I should give her time.
If it were up to me, she would know that she'll be the one who, when I'm dead, will use my bed.
And she'll spend her life thinking of us and making a fuss.
If it were up to me, she would know that our love, our love, is the best love, best love.
If it were up to me.
Our love, our love, is real love, so just let it be.
I want you to know I've done our charts and it says that we work as one.
If it were up to me, she would know that our love,
Our love, is the best love, best love, if it were up to me.
Yes our love, our love, is real love, so just let it be.
Well your mother likes my smile and your father likes my lifestyle.
Should I ask them what I asked you to get the answer? Yes, to get the answer.
It's easy. It's easy. It's easy.
The lyrics to Rooney's song "If It Were Up To Me" tell a story of a man who is deeply in love with someone and wishes that she knew how much he loves her. He admits that he has been pressuring her but also acknowledges that she needs time. If he had it his way, she would know that they are meant to be together and that his love for her is real. He believes that they are like the Jackson Five and the Temptations - they work as one. He even muses about asking her parents for their approval because he thinks they like him. The repeated "It's easy" at the end of the song could be interpreted as his conviction that their love is easy and meant to be.
Overall, the lyrics are a mixture of devotion, optimism, and a hint of impatience. The singer desperately wants the woman he loves to see that they belong together and that their love is special. He paints a picture of a future where they are happily together, she is the one who sleeps in his bed after he's gone, and their love is the best kind of love.
Line by Line Meaning
She doesn't have the answer yet, the answer yet.
She is uncertain about something important, but she hasn't found the answer yet.
I'm breathing down her neck. Maybe I should give her time.
I am pressuring her and being too close to her, and I should consider giving her more space to make her own decisions.
If it were up to me, she would know that she'll be the one who, when I'm dead, will use my bed.
If I had my way, she would understand that she is the one I love and trust enough to share my bed with after I pass away.
And she'll spend her life thinking of us and making a fuss.
She will devote herself to our relationship and always hold it as a priority, even if it means causing a scene sometimes.
If it were up to me, she would know that our love, our love, is the best love, best love.
In my opinion, our love is the most special and fulfilling kind of love that can exist.
Our love, our love, is real love, so just let it be.
Our love is genuine and meaningful, so there's no reason to try to change it or question its authenticity.
I want you to know I've done our charts and it says that we work as one.
I have analyzed our compatibility and discovered that we complement each other perfectly, like the famous musical groups the Jackson Five and the Temptations.
Well your mother likes my smile and your father likes my lifestyle.
I have noticed that your parents seem to appreciate certain qualities about me, such as my positive demeanor and my way of living.
Should I ask them what I asked you to get the answer? Yes, to get the answer. It's easy. It's easy. It's easy.
Should I try to confirm their approval of me by asking them what I already asked you? Yes, it should be an easy question for them to answer and resolve any doubts or concerns I have.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ROBERT SCHWARTZMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind