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.
Stay Away
Rooney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They're smooth operators
Looking for a way in
Stay away from me tonight
I've made other plans
And you'll just be distracting me in a good way
She doesn't know that I love her
Yes, I love her
I can't be the one who's always taking chances
See me down so you get down
No, you've got me all wrong
I just want to kiss your lips
And you kiss back
Leave us alone
Your friends and my friends should go far away
The lyrics to Rooney's song "Stay Away" are about the singer warning someone to stay away from his friends, who are "smooth operators" looking to get with someone. The singer then tells that person to stay away from him that night because he has made other plans and doesn't want to be distracted. The singer admits that he loves someone (presumably not the person he is warning to stay away), but he can't always be the one taking chances. The song then takes a bit of a turn as the singer tells the listener to see him down so they can get down, saying that they have got him all wrong and all he wants is to just kiss their lips and have them kiss back. The song ends with the singer telling the listener to leave them alone and for their friends and the singer's friends to go far away.
The lyrics can be interpreted in a few different ways, but at its core, it seems to be about the singer's own romantic struggles and insecurities. He loves someone but isn't always sure how to express it, and he doesn't want to be distracted from his plans or be the one constantly taking risks. However, he also has a desire for intimacy and connection, expressed through the desire to kiss and be kissed back. The warning to stay away from his friends could imply that the singer has been hurt or burned in the past by people trying to get with his friends, or it could simply be a way to set boundaries and protect himself.
Line by Line Meaning
Stay away from my friends
Don't try to befriend my friends to get closer to me
They're smooth operators
My friends are good at recognizing when someone is trying to use them to get to me
Looking for a way in
They know what you're trying to do
Stay away from me tonight
I don't want to be around you tonight
I've made other plans
I have already made other arrangements that don't involve you
And you'll just be distracting me in a good way
You'll distract me from my plans in a way that I'll enjoy, but I still don't want you around tonight
She doesn't know that I love her
The person I'm interested in is not aware of my feelings for them
Yes, I love her
I have feelings of love for this person
Make a move on me, baby
Don't be afraid to initiate things with me
I can't be the one who's always taking chances
I need you to show me that you're serious and want to take risks for our relationship
See me down so you get down
Don't try to bring me down just so you can feel better
No, you've got me all wrong
You're misunderstanding my intentions and feelings
I just want to kiss your lips
I am physically attracted to you and want to be intimate with you
And you kiss back
I hope that you will reciprocate my physical affection
Leave us alone
Stop interfering with our relationship
Your friends and my friends should go far away
We want privacy and space away from our mutual friends
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ROBERT SCHWARTZMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind