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.
Why?
Rooney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I've only given my energy away
When I meet a newbie I slowly crack and spill the past
I realize this is phony
But there is so much love since you've passed away
Why? Try?
Everything he won was theirs
But mother read the files
And saved the name he shed
Why?
Why? Try?
Because I can't go on without you
Since you've passed away
When I'm turning Japanese
I always think you're mad at me
But I am no conformist
I just like to free my troops
Like to free my troops
why why why why why why why try
because i cant go on with out you
since you passed away
why try
because i cant go on without you
why try
because i cant go on with you
since you passed away
why try
because i cant go on without you
The Rooney song "Why?" contains lyrics that are difficult to interpret without knowing the context behind them. The first verse expresses a feeling of being stuck in the past since their loved one passed away. The singer has only gone a hundred miles and is still feeling the same way. They've given their energy away, which could mean that they are still mourning and unable to move on from the loss. The line "When I meet a newbie I slowly crack and spill the past" indicates that they are unable to help but talk about their past with their loved one. However, they are aware that this could be considered phony as they should be trying to move on from their past.
The second verse talks about a legal battle where suits are claiming everything that the singer won is theirs. However, their mother reads the files and saves the name their loved one shed. This could mean that there was a legal issue after their loved one passed away, and the suits want to claim what they had won. Still, the singer's mother reads the files and saves the name their loved one shed.
Overall, the song is about coping with the loss of a loved one and trying to move on from it. The repeated line "Why? Try?" could mean that the singer is questioning if they should continue to try to move on or not since they can't go on without their loved one.
Line by Line Meaning
I've only driven a hundred miles since you're gone
It has only been a short time since you left
And I've only given my energy away
I've been feeling drained and have not been able to fully function
When I meet a newbie I slowly crack and spill the past
I tend to open up too quickly to new people and share my emotions about the past
I realize this is phony
I know that sharing too much too soon can come across as inauthentic
But there is so much love since you've passed away
I still feel love even though you're gone
The suits they tried claim that everything he won was theirs
There were legal battles over who rightfully deserved credit for the work that was accomplished
But mother read the files
Someone else intervened and saved the true legacy of the person in question
And saved the name he shed
They saved his reputation and name that may have otherwise been dragged through the mud
When I'm turning Japanese, I always think you're mad at me
When I'm engaging in something culturally different, I feel like you would judge me for it
But I am no conformist
I am my own person and not trying to conform to anyone else's expectations
I just like to free my troops
I enjoy letting loose and having fun with my friends and loved ones
why why why why why why why try
Questioning the motivation to try in the face of overwhelming grief
because i cant go on with out you since you passed away
The reason why trying feels so impossible is because I am struggling to go on without you
why try
Continuing to question whether putting forth effort is even worth it
because i cant go on without you
The only reason why trying to move forward feels impossible is because I am hurting without you
Contributed by Leo G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Wojciech Ziółek
Lyrics:
Baby, were you ever happy
Is it just lately, you seem like you just hate me
And last night, I keep on thinking 'bout last night
It felt like we were over, you brush me off your shoulder
No, I don't want to lose you
If I stay, I'll lose you
Any way it goes
It all goes bad
Don't hold it all against me
Baby, I'm so sorry
And I don't, I don't know why
I wanna throw it all away
Sabotage it, say goodbye, bye
I wanna cry I'm not with you
But my heart is running dry
(I don't know why)
And I don't know why
(I don't know why, why, why, why)
Baby, why you wanna do this?
I don't wanna keep on
Keep on going nowhere
It's not you, it doesn't seem like you
Maybe we're the wrong match
Maybe it's just timing
Why?
Why you wanna stay here?
If there's no more love here
You know it's not the last time
You say you've been changing
But are you rearranging
Your broken heart
I wanna throw it all away
Sabotage it, say goodbye, bye
I wanna cry I'm not with you
But my heart is running dry
(I don't know why)
And I don't know why
(I don't know why, why, why, why)
(Let me see what you get)
(Let me see what you get, baby)
No, I don't wanna lose you
If I stay, I'll lose you
Any way it goes
It all goes bad
Don't hold it all against me
Baby, I'm so sorry
And I don't, I don't know why
I wanna throw it all away
Sabotage it, say goodbye, bye
I wanna cry I'm not with you
But my heart is running dry
(I don't know why)
And I don't know why
(I don't know why, why, why, why)
Yeah I can stay and say I do
I don't even wanna try, try
I could tell you what you want
To hear but I don't wanna lie
(I don't know why)
I don't know why
(I don't know why, why, why, why)
(Let me see what you get)
(Let me see what you get, baby)
I don't know why
I don't know why, why, why, why
Floraline
There are no bad Rooney songs. I've been loving them since they put out their first CD. Rob, you were so fun in "The Virgin Suicides", too. XO.
Wojciech Ziółek
Lyrics:
Baby, were you ever happy
Is it just lately, you seem like you just hate me
And last night, I keep on thinking 'bout last night
It felt like we were over, you brush me off your shoulder
No, I don't want to lose you
If I stay, I'll lose you
Any way it goes
It all goes bad
Don't hold it all against me
Baby, I'm so sorry
And I don't, I don't know why
I wanna throw it all away
Sabotage it, say goodbye, bye
I wanna cry I'm not with you
But my heart is running dry
(I don't know why)
And I don't know why
(I don't know why, why, why, why)
Baby, why you wanna do this?
I don't wanna keep on
Keep on going nowhere
It's not you, it doesn't seem like you
Maybe we're the wrong match
Maybe it's just timing
Why?
Why you wanna stay here?
If there's no more love here
You know it's not the last time
You say you've been changing
But are you rearranging
Your broken heart
I wanna throw it all away
Sabotage it, say goodbye, bye
I wanna cry I'm not with you
But my heart is running dry
(I don't know why)
And I don't know why
(I don't know why, why, why, why)
(Let me see what you get)
(Let me see what you get, baby)
No, I don't wanna lose you
If I stay, I'll lose you
Any way it goes
It all goes bad
Don't hold it all against me
Baby, I'm so sorry
And I don't, I don't know why
I wanna throw it all away
Sabotage it, say goodbye, bye
I wanna cry I'm not with you
But my heart is running dry
(I don't know why)
And I don't know why
(I don't know why, why, why, why)
Yeah I can stay and say I do
I don't even wanna try, try
I could tell you what you want
To hear but I don't wanna lie
(I don't know why)
I don't know why
(I don't know why, why, why, why)
(Let me see what you get)
(Let me see what you get, baby)
I don't know why
I don't know why, why, why, why
T ismun
I think it's "What you see if what you get, what you see is what you get baby"
Strawberry Dreamland
Haven't heard rooney's music for awhile.. And their music still awesome 😍
Jorganti
Such a catchy song, definitely deserves more views
lennonope
It's already 2021 and it still sound AWESOME 💕
Meher A
I was initially here for Soko but this turned out to be really nice.
Tony Wellington
SOKO SUX
Evy Reinders
I came here for Soko and I hate it.
Sarah York
Ha! I was initially here for Rooney. I have never heard of Soko before. I am obsessed with the sound of this song. So cool! :D