The band consists of vocalist Dan Marsala, lead guitarist Ryan Phillips, rhythm guitarist and back up vocalist Philip Sneed, bassist Adam Russell and drummer Josh Wills. Initially named Big Blue Monkey, they changed their name to Story of the Year in 2002 because a blues group of the same name had already existed.
It would not be until eight years after forming that Story of the Year saw its first piece of commercial success in its major label debut, Page Avenue, containing the popular singles "Until the Day I Die" and "Anthem of Our Dying Day". A second album, In the Wake of Determination, followed in 2005, but did not achieve the success of its predecessor. The band has returned with their third album The Black Swan, their first on Epitaph Records, which was released on April 22, 2008.
The band toured with Linkin Park on the Meteora World Tour in 2004 along with P.O.D. and Hoobastank.
The band's fourth, The Constant, was released on February 16, 2010 through Epitaph Records.
On March 8, 2013 it was announced that the band are planning on a world tour.
Sidewalks
Story of the Year Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The water soaks into rocks
That fell at the bottom of the road (At the end of the town.)
The town that we lived in.
The memories shaken apart from the weeds that grow
Over the sidewalks,
Running away from the streets we knew,
Like the time we thought was made for you.
Or
Out on the front porch,
Watching the cars as they go by
(Eighteen blue, twenty one grey)
Looking ahead for the first time that we could drive,
Out on our own,
To speed away
From the sidewalks,
Running away from the streets we knew,
Sidewalks,
Like the time we thought was made for you.
Or
All of the days have passed us by,
All of the sun is gone away.
Sidewalks,
Running away from the streets we knew,
Sidewalks,
Running away from the streets we knew,
Sidewalks,
Like the time we thought was made for you.
(Sidewalks)
The bridges are crumpled,
(Sidewalks)
The water soaks into rocks,
That fell at the bottom of the road
The lyrics of "Sidewalks" by Story of the Year bring to life the memories of growing up in a small town that is now abandoned. The bridge that once connected the town is now in ruins and water seeps into the rocks that have fallen to the bottom of the road. The singer reminisces about the town he lived in and how the memories are intertwined with the weeds that cover the sidewalks. The sidewalks represent a way to escape the familiarity of the streets and explore the world outside. There is a sense of longing for the freedom that comes with leaving the town and the desire to hold on to the memories that were made.
The song's lyrics are melancholic and nostalgic, reminding the listeners of their own memories of growing up and the desire to escape the confines of a small town. The use of imagery such as the crumpled bridge, the water-soaked rocks, and the overgrown sidewalks helps to evoke a sense of abandonment and the passing of time.
Line by Line Meaning
The bridge is all crumbled.
The physical bridge is in ruins and serves as a metaphor for how things have fallen apart.
The water soaks into rocks
The water indicating time has eroded the foundation of the town, represented by the rocks.
That fell at the bottom of the road
The rocks ultimately symbolizing the entire town's decay and decline.
The town that we lived in.
The place the artist and the people they care about used to call home.
The memories shaken apart from the weeds that grow
The town's overgrowth of weeds serves as a symbol for the artist's memories which are now fragmented and fading.
Over the sidewalks, Running away from the streets we knew,
The sidewalks represent their past and present, while the streets represent their future, which they're trying to leave behind.
Sidewalks, Like the time we thought was made for you.
The sidewalks serve as a metaphor for their past, their former haven, where memories were made that they thought would last.
Out on the front porch, Watching the cars as they go by (Eighteen blue, twenty one grey) Looking ahead for the first time that we could drive, Out on our own, To speed away
The nostalgia of sitting on the porch, watching cars pass by, noting the colors and the longing to be in control of a car, to speed away.
All of the days have passed us by, All of the sun is gone away.
The good times can never last and are just a distant memory for the artist now.
Sidewalks, Running away from the streets we knew,
The sidewalks as a reference to their past which they want to leave behind.
Sidewalks, Like the time we thought was made for you.
As earlier, the sidewalks are a metaphor for the good times of the past, and how the young narrator thought it would last forever.
(Sidewalks) The bridges are crumpled,
The previous line about sidewalks is repeated to reinforce its meaning about their past.
(Sidewalks) The water soaks into rocks, That fell at the bottom of the road
Again the repetition creates emphasis on the metaphor of the town and the passage of time.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ADAM RUSSELL, DAN MARSALA, JOHN FELDMANN, JOSHUA WILLS, PHILLIP SNEED, RYAN PHILLIPS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@akiff.kingemre9511
Sidewalks
Story Of The Year
The bridge is all crumbled.
The water soaks into rocks
That fell at the bottom of the road (At the end of the town.)
The town that we lived in.
The memories shaken apart from the weeds that grow
Over the sidewalks,
Running away from the streets we knew,
Sidewalks,
Like the time we thought was made for you.
Or
Out on the front porch,
Watching the cars as they go by
(Eighteen blue, twenty one grey)
Looking ahead for the first time that we could drive,
Out on our own,
To speed away
From the sidewalks,
Running away from the streets we knew,
Sidewalks,
Like the time we thought was made for you.
Or
All of the days have passed us by,
All of the sun is gone away.
Sidewalks,
Running away from the streets we knew,
Sidewalks,
Running away from the streets we knew,
Sidewalks,
Like the time we thought was made for you.
(Sidewalks)
The bridges are crumpled,
(Sidewalks)
The water soaks into rocks,
That fell at the bottom of the road
:)
@mattwolf5271
There is seriously nothing like the feeling when you stumble upon a hidden gem from your teenage years ❤.
@bridget1721
Saw them with Yellowcard and mayday parade last summer and I was transported right back to being 14/15 and hearing these songs for the first time. It was such a good night 😊
@wenaldy
2004. High school memory. Life was much simpler back then.
@nitsuj182
Agreed! I was a freshmen when this song came out on TV! :'(
@librasteps8153
wenaldy So Much Simpler, It Almost Hurts To Tyoe These Words
@jessicat9999
wenaldy I was just thinking the same thing. I wish i could rewind to simpler times
@thisguy8106
I remember I was a junior in high school and going through a "rough breakup" when this song came out. Listening to this brings back every memory of all that surrounded what this song meant to me back then. Bittersweet.
@brandonh7798
wenaldy
2004 grad I saw them early that summer in San Diego playing at the Soma great memories
@nandwan2371
Somebody, somewhere in the world at this very moment, is vibing with you and jamming this. The beauty of music.
@dabhyun7
count me in :) coming here after listen to And The Hero Will Drown(all time my fav) 😊