Sum 41 released their debut album, All Killer No Filler, in 2001 and achieved mainstream success through the album's first single, "Fat Lip", which reached number-one on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart; it remains the band's most successful single to date. As of February 2017, they have since released five more studio albums: Does This Look Infected? (2002), Chuck (2004), Underclass Hero (2007), Screaming Bloody Murder (2011) and 13 Voices (2016).
The band was formed by singer-songwriter Deryck Whibley and drummer Steve Jocz, after Whibley convinced Jocz to join his band. Jocz was a drummer in another band and Whibley was convinced that "he was the best drummer around". The duo then added Dave Baksh as lead guitarist a year later and after going through several bassists, ended up picking Jason McCaslin to complete their lineup.
On May 10, 2006, Dave Baksh announced in a statement through his management company that he was leaving Sum 41 to work with his new band, Brown Brigade, which has a more "classic metal" sound. Baksh cited "creative differences" as the reason for his departure but claimed that he was still on good terms with the band. On March 9, 2010, Steve Jocz confirmed that new lead guitarist Tom Thacker will take part in the writing and recording.
On April 18, 2013, drummer Steve Jocz announced he would be leaving the band via his official Facebook page, leaving Whibley as the sole founding member of the band. Their follow up album will be the band's second collaboration as a trio and first with Whibley and McCaslin as the only two bandmates from their original release left.
In 2015 Frank Zummo became the drummer of the band replacing Jocz after his departure in 2013. On July 9, 2015, the band launched a PledgeMusic campaign for its comeback album. On July 23, 2015, the band played its comeback show at the Alternative Press Awards, which featured former lead guitarist Dave Baksh, joining the band on stage 9 years after officially leaving the band. The band's set also featured DMC as guest. Since the performance, rumors speculated that Dave had returned to the band rather than being just a guest. On August 14, 2015, Sum 41 announced through Alternative Press that Baksh had made his official return to the group, and will appear on the group's sixth album. On December 26, 2015, Sum 41 teased two new songs on Instagram's account. On January 1, 2016, Deryck Whibley published on the Facebook page that the new album is almost finished.
The band is set to perform on the 2016 Warped Tour. On May 11, 2016, the group announced its signing to Hopeless Records. On June 1, 2016, the band announced that an album was set to be released in the fall of 2016. On June 6, 2016, the group announced that the album would be titled '13 Voices and that it is scheduled for release on October 7, 2016. The first song off of the upcoming album, "Fake My Own Death", was released on June 28, 2016 through Hopeless Records' official YouTube channel, along with a music video for the song. The song was performed on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on October 3, 2016. The album's first official single, "War", was released on August 25, 2016.[61] On September 28, 2016, the album's eighth track, "God Save Us All (Death to POP)" was leaked online, before being officially released (along with a live music video) on September 29, 2016.
Their seventh studio album, Order in Decline, was released July 19, 2019. The second single from the album "A Death in the Family" was released along with a music video on June 11. On June 18, "Never There" was released as the third single, along with a video. On July 8, the band released "45 (A Matter of Time)" as the fourth single, along with a video. On May 28, 2021, the band released a version of "Catching Fire" featuring Nothing, Nowhere, along with a music video.
On February 22, 2022, the band announced a U.S. tour with Simple Plan called the Blame Canada tour. The tour is set to run from April to August 2022. On March 23, 2022, the band announced their eighth studio album, 'Heaven and Hell', which is set to be a double album. 'Heaven' will be a pop punk album much like the band's early material while 'Hell' is a continuation of the band's more recent heavier metal sound.
Studio Albums:
'All Killer No Filler' (2001)
'Does This Look Infected?' (2002)
'Chuck' (2004)
'Underclass Hero' (2007)
'Screaming Bloody Murder' (2011)
'13 Voices' (2016)
'Order in Decline' (2019)
'Heaven and Hell' (2024)
Website: www.sum41.com
Dear Father
Sum 41 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know you as complete unknown
I guess it's better you don't bother
All our truth should be left alone
Be left alone...
Be left alone...
I learned the things you never showed me
Took the chances you'd have blown
And to this day the one and only
You remain a complete unknown
Complete unknown...
Complete unknown...
[Chorus:]
You're out there somewhere
I don't know if you care at all
It seems that you don't
It's as if the day will never come
So you remain a complete unknown
So many years I've been ignored
You've been gone without a trace
I'm getting used to knowing you're just a name without a face
Without a face...
Without a face...
[Chorus x 2]
I addressed this letter to "dear father"
I know you as complete unknown
I guess it's better you don't bother
All our truth should be left alone
You're out there somewhere
But don't know if you care at all
It seems that you don't
It's as if the day will never come
So you remain a complete unknown
[Chorus]
You're out there somewhere
I don't know if you care
The song "Dear Father" by Sum 41 is a very touching and emotional song that delves into the complexities of strained father-son relationships. The lyrics convey the deep pain and sense of abandonment that the singer feels because of his father's absence. The lyrics "I addressed this letter to 'dear father'" indicate that the singer is writing a letter to his father, whom he knows as a complete unknown.
The singer expresses his feelings of resentment towards his father for never being there to teach him the things he needed to know. He evaluates how he had to learn everything on his own, and the consequences he had to deal with due to his father's negligence. The chorus "You're out there somewhere, I don't know if you care at all" highlights the singer's doubts whether his father cares about him or not. The lyrics convey the fact that the singer feels neglected by his father, which has left him feeling incomplete and emotionally drained.
Moreover, the song expresses that the singer has given up hope of ever establishing a relationship with his father. The lyrics "It's as if the day will never come, so you remain a complete unknown" show that the singer no longer expects to reunite with his father. The song "Dear Father" is a powerful expression of the pain and emotional turmoil that many people experience when their fathers are absent from their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
I addressed this letter to 'dear father'
I am writing a letter to you, my father.
I know you as complete unknown
You are a stranger to me, a person I don't really know.
I guess it's better you don't bother
It's best if you don't try to connect with me.
All our truth should be left alone
We should not delve into our past or try to uncover any secrets.
Be left alone...
Let's not speak about it any further.
Be left alone...
I don't want this to be a topic of discussion.
I learned the things you never showed me
I grew up without being taught important lessons by you.
Took the chances you'd have blown
I did things despite knowing that you would advise me against it.
And to this day the one and only
You are still the only one in my mind.
You remain a complete unknown
Even though you're my father, I still don't know much about you.
Complete unknown...
A mysterious figure in my life.
Complete unknown...
I don't really know you as a person.
You're out there somewhere
You exist somewhere in this world, but we are not in touch.
I don't know if you care at all
I'm not sure if you think about me or have any feelings for me.
It seems that you don't
Based on your lack of communication, it appears that you don't care about me.
It's as if the day will never come
The day when we can connect with each other will never arrive.
So many years I've been ignored
I've spent so many years without you, feeling alone and unimportant.
You've been gone without a trace
You disappeared from my life without a clear explanation or goodbye.
I'm getting used to knowing you're just a name without a face
I'm adjusting to the idea that you're just a name and not a real presence in my life.
Without a face...
I have never actually seen you in person.
[Chorus x 2]
Repeating the same sentiments expressed earlier in the song.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DERYCK WHIBLEY, DERYCK JASON WHIBLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
J-BOOT
on In Too Deep
"I LIKE POOP!!!"