Say Anything, then called Sayanything, began their career when the band was still in high school. They self-released two EP's and one LP entitled Baseball. Baseball and the band's first EP, Junior Varsity, are both out of print and are no longer available. The band's second EP entitled Menora/Mejorah was released online. All of these early albums have a pop punk sound reminiscent of blink-182 and of Max's favorite band, Saves the Day.
In August 2004 they released ...Is a Real Boy on Doghouse Records. The album was produced by Tim O'Heir (Sebadoh, All-American Rejects, Superdrag) with arrangements by Stephen Trask (Grammy nominated for Hedwig & the Angry Inch). While recording the album Max Bemis had a nervous breakdown during which he took to the streets of New York until his girlfriend found him and ended up in a mental hospital for a few weeks. He attributes the breakdown to stress and bipolar disorder.
Some time after ...Is a Real Boy was released, a set of 8 songs entitled Vs. AIDS Demos were leaked onto the internet by an unknown source. Soon the band told fans that the demos were part of an AIDS benefit album that had been scrapped, and told anyone who had attained them not to distribute them to anyone else (Max Bemis later stated on his website, "that shit sucks," in regard to the demos).
Say Anything signed with J Records (Maroon 5, Alicia Keys), owned by BMG Entertainment, one of the "big four" record labels. Under J Records they re-released ...Is a Real Boy with a bonus disc entitled ...Was a Real Boy containing seven of the eight Vs. AIDS Demos. This album, originally scheduled to be released on October 25th, 2005, was delayed over 4 months to February 28th, 2006. Some copies ended up leaking out through various retailers, notably Tower Records' website. Most leaks occurred due to retailers shipping pre-orders before J-Records had a chance to stop them. Soon copies of the album were selling for over $50 on eBay.
Say Anything released their third album, In Defense of the Genre, under J Records in 2007. Produced by Brad Wood, the album had two discs containing 27 songs, many of them featuring guest appearances by high-profile musicians such as Gerard Way and Hayley Williams.
In November 2009, Say Anything released their fourth full-length studio album, Say Anything. This is the band's first album under RCA Records. It contains 13 tracks, including "Hate Everyone," which was the album's first single.
On August 19, 2010 it was confirmed that Say Anything and RCA Records had parted ways. Soon after (September 29) it was announced via Say Anything's official website that Alex Kent would be leaving the band, and that Kenny Vasoli of The Starting Line would be temporarily taking over as bassist for their upcoming tour. As of so far no permanent bassist has been selected to replace Kent.
In December 2012, Bemis announced that drummer Coby Linder, the only other remaining original member of the band, had left Say Anything on amicable terms to pursue other projects.
That Is Why
Say Anything Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thinking about the dancer at the bar
Well how was I to know
That a crush could just implode
'Til it became a grudge eclipsing every star
And yes I know my addictions run the gamut
The drugs, the smokes, the booze, the 24
Or skew me less bipolar
Let me list the things about you I abhor
Horrible, you're
So easy, talk sleazy
You led me off the plank and left me queasy
And that is why
You can't rock my world
You swore that you were taken when I met you
But yes you did undress me from afar
A genteel concubine
You skip amongst the mines
Just a product of the endless empty grind
You lack the curves that prove a proper lady
A slender slave with sluttish, sleepy eyes
Though once I was emoting
And Bono-lyric quoting
I have found another be my guest and die
With starry eyes, she's
Warm-glancing, entrancing
And now I'm through with all your sick sad ranting
And that is why
You can't rock my world
I've lost you
And now I glide through the silky sky
It's so blue
And you're just old news
That is why
So screwed
Cadaver gone blue
This has died
Your machine has grown gangrene
And now I see right through your lies
With
Ripe wonder, I plunder
Her village now that I know that I've become her
And that is why
You can't rock my
That is why
That is why
You'll never ever ever ever ever ever in a god damn millennium
Be my girl
In the song "That Is Why" by Say Anything, the singer reflects on a failed relationship and the reasons behind it. He reveals that he's addicted to drugs, smoking, and drinking, but that's not why the relationship ended. It was the dancer at the bar who he had a crush on, which later turned into grudge as it eclipsed every star of the relationship. He then goes on to list all the things he abhors about the woman, calling her horrible and easy, and says that she can't rock his world. He accuses her of being a product of the endless empty grind and claims that she lacks the curves that prove a proper lady.
The singer then introduces a new woman in his life with starry eyes, who's warm-glancing and entrancing. He contrasts her with the previous woman, saying that he's done with all the sick sad ranting, and ends by telling the previous woman that she will never be his girl again. Overall, the song portrays the singer's journey of moving on from a failed relationship and finding someone new who he believes is better for him.
Line by Line Meaning
Today I sat and smoked myself to cancer
I spent my day smoking so much that I could potentially get cancer
Thinking about the dancer at the bar
Reflecting on how I feel about the female dancer that was at the bar I was at
Well how was I to know
I couldn't have possibly anticipated what happened next
That a crush could just implode
My feelings towards this person could have just fallen apart suddenly
'Til it became a grudge eclipsing every star
Until my feelings turned bitter and overshadowed every other good thing
And yes I know my addictions run the gamut
I'm aware that I have multiple addictions
The drugs, the smokes, the booze, the 24
I am addicted to drugs, smoking, alcohol, and partying
But you can't make the turkey colder
You can't change something that has already happened
Or skew me less bipolar
You can't make me any less bipolar than I am
Let me list the things about you I abhor
I'm going to tell you all about the things I hate about you
Horrible, you're
You're terrible
So easy, talk sleazy
You're very easy and talk in a perverted way
You led me off the plank and left me queasy
You betrayed me and made me feel uncomfortable
And that is why
This is the reason
You can't rock my world
You can't make me happy or change my life
You swore that you were taken when I met you
You told me that you were in a committed relationship when we first met
But yes you did undress me from afar
However, you did make me feel vulnerable and exposed even from a distance
A genteel concubine
You act like a refined mistress
You skip amongst the mines
You play recklessly with danger
Just a product of the endless empty grind
You're just another person going through the motions of life without any real purpose
You lack the curves that prove a proper lady
You don't have the physical attributes of what is considered a proper lady
A slender slave with sluttish, sleepy eyes
Instead, you're thin and act like a seductive slave with tired or sleepy eyes
Though once I was emoting
I used to have deep feelings for you
And Bono-lyric quoting
I even showed my affection by quoting Bono's lyrics
I have found another be my guest and die
I've moved on and found someone else to love or obsess over
With starry eyes, she's
She has beautiful, shining eyes
Warm-glancing, entrancing
She is warm and captivating
And now I'm through with all your sick sad ranting
I'm finally done listening to your depressing and bitter complaints
And that is why
This is the reason
You can't rock my world
You can't make me happy or change my life
I've lost you
You're no longer mine
And now I glide through the silky sky
I'm flying high and feeling free
It's so blue
The sky is beautiful
And you're just old news
You're nothing new or special anymore
That is why
This is the reason
So screwed
You're messed up or damaged
Cadaver gone blue
You're dead or lifeless
This has died
Our relationship is over
Your machine has grown gangrene
Your body has become rotten or diseased
And now I see right through your lies
I can finally see how dishonest and deceitful you are
With
Together with
Ripe wonder, I plunder
I curiously explore and take from something that is promising or interesting
Her village now that I know that I've become her
I'll take advantage of her and her community now that we are in a relationship
And that is why
This is the reason
You can't rock my
You can't make me happy or change my life
That is why
This is the reason
That is why
This is the reason
You'll never ever ever ever ever ever in a god damn millennium
You will never, under any circumstance, be my girlfriend
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MAX BEMIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind