The group started out originally as a swing jazz trio when its members were in high school, though members Sloan Anderson and Chris Depew had been playing together since middle school. Their first EP, As You Were was self-released in 2003, followed by two further EPs, Heartbreak and Masturbation (2004) and My Best Defense (2005). After that they promoted several national tours in 2005 and 2006, including touring with the Vans Warped Tour as well as scoring regular airplay on Denver radio station KTCL with the song "Zombies Ate My Neighbors" (named after the video game), which became a local hit. Single File were also named one of MySpace's Top 10 Unsigned Bands in 2006.
In early 2006 Single File recorded their debut full-length, which was tentatively titled Benson Shady Grove, with producer Ed Rose (who has worked with such bands as Motion City Soundtrack, The Get Up Kids, Senses Fail, Emery, Reggie and the Full Effect, The Spill Canvas, and The New Amsterdams). However, instead of releasing the full-length, the band put the project on hiatus and continued touring. In July 2007, they released an iTunes-exclusive EP, No More Sadface, on Reprise Records instead, which hit #43 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart. Upon releasing the EP, the group opened for The Fray on several tour dates in America. Following this, the group opened for Saves the Day on their US tour.
Their debut full-length has been retitled Common Struggles (former titles include Young Goodman Brown: A Book of Short Stories and Benson Shady Grove), is to be produced by Howard Benson, and was slated for release on Reprise in 2008. The album's release date was later changed to April 7, 2009.
Girlfriends
Single File Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To all the sleepless nights, of which
You don't quite really remember.
Whatever, it's all the same.
yeah, 'cause right about now
All my girlfriends are breaking up with me.
And all my good friend?
Oh, so what if I'm a burn out, baby?
You don't got to celebrate it.
The writing's on the bathroom wall,
I don't think I could read it
At least not, not in my condition.
But whatever, it's all the same.
yeah, 'cause right about now
All my girlfriends are breaking up with me.
And all my good friends?
Yeah, they're selling me out.
Oh, so what if I'm a burn out, baby?
You don't got to celebrate it.
All my girlfriends are breaking up with me. (all my girlfriends)
And all my good friends?
Yeah, they're selling me out(all my good friends)
Oh, so what if I'm a burnout, baby?
You don't got to celebrate it.
I'm sending a telephone message
For human ears to bear:
We're going to rock and roll heaven
I hope to see you there
I really hope to see you there
I really hope to see you there
'Cause I've grown quite accustomed to the mess
To all the sleepless nights, of which
I don't quite really remember
Whatever, it's all the same
Yeah, 'cause right about now
All my girlfriends are breakin' up with me,
And all my good friends?
Yeah, they're sellin' me out.
Oh, so what if I'm a burnout, baby,
You don't gotta celebrate it.
All my girlfriends are breakin' up with me.(all my girlfriends)
And all my good friends?
Yeah, they're sellin' me out.(all my good friends)
Oh, so what if I'm a burnout, baby? (all my girlfriends)
Oh, so what if I'm a burnout, baby? (all my girlfriends
Oh, so what if I'm a burnout, baby...
You don't gotta celebrate it.
The song "Girlfriends" by Single File is a tale of self-awareness and acceptance. The singer has grown accustomed to living in a mess and having sleepless nights, and the consequences of his lifestyle are starting to catch up to him. All his girlfriends are breaking up with him, and his good friends are selling him out. Despite his burnout status, he does not want to be celebrated for it. In a moment of vulnerability, he sends a message to someone that he hopes to see them in rock and roll heaven.
This song is a reflection of many issues that young adults face today. It touches on the difficulties of maintaining relationships while struggling with self-destructive habits. The repetition of "all my girlfriends are breaking up with me" and "all my good friends are selling me out" emphasizes the feeling of being alone and abandoned. The message of the song is that it's okay to be imperfect, but it's not okay to glorify destructive behavior.
Line by Line Meaning
I've grown quite accustomed to the mess
I am used to the chaos in my life
To all the sleepless nights, of which You don't quite really remember
I have had many nights without sleep and can't quite recall all that happened
Whatever, it's all the same. yeah, 'cause right about now
It doesn't really matter to me what's happening at the moment
All my girlfriends are breaking up with me
All of the women I date are leaving me
And all my good friend? Yeah, they're selling me out.
Even my close friends are betraying me
Oh, so what if I'm a burn out, baby? You don't got to celebrate it.
It doesn't matter if I am exhausted, you don't have to cheer for me
The writing's on the bathroom wall, I don't think I could read it
There is graffiti on the bathroom wall that I can't decipher
At least not, not in my condition. But whatever, it's all the same. yeah, 'cause right about now
I am not in a state to understand it, but it doesn't matter to me anyway
I'm sending a telephone message For human ears to bear: We're going to rock and roll heaven I hope to see you there
I am calling to tell you about a concert in heaven and I hope you can come
All my girlfriends are breakin' up with me, And all my good friends? Yeah, they're sellin' me out. Oh, so what if I'm a burnout, baby, You don't gotta celebrate it.
Reiteration of my friends and significant others leaving me, and it doesn't matter if I am tired, you don't have to congratulate me on it
Contributed by Camden B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.