Guitarist Eddie Reyes, who had played in The Movielife, Mind Over Matter and Inside, and guitarist Jesse Lacey of the Rookie Lot founded Taking Back Sunday in Amityville, New York in November 1999. Lacey moved to bass with the addition of guitarist John Nolan. The group also included vocalist Antonio Longo of One True Thing and drummer Steven DeJoseph. After Lacey left the band, Nolan contacted Adam Lazzara to fill in on bass, which resulted in Lazzara moving from North Carolina to New York. Lazzara had met the band when they played a show near his hometown in North Carolina and had offered to try out.
DeJoseph left, leaving the band without a drummer. Mark O'Connell, a friend of Reyes, heard about the vacancy and joined the group. After recording Taking Back Sunday's self-titled EP, Longo left the band and eventually played with The Prizefighter and the Mirror. In December 2000, Lazzara switched from bass to lead vocals. He never thought he would become the group's singer: "I remember getting into Reyes' Windstar with that EP and just driving around singing those songs, just to make myself actually do it." O'Connell suggested that the group needed a bassist, and brought in Shaun Cooper of Breaking Pangaea. In February 2001, Taking Back Sunday released a five-track demo before touring for a year.
Prior to the release of their debut album Tell All Your Friends, a music video for "Great Romances of the 20th Century" was released on March 4, 2002. It was directed by Christian Winters, a friend of the band. Winters made the video before the group signed with Victory, and the record company enjoyed it. The song was distributed to radio stations on March 12, and the full album was released on March 25.
Around this time, Nolan (citing exhaustion from touring) left the band, and Cooper followed shortly afterwards. According to Lazzara, Nolan and Cooper were "having trouble because everything was happening so fast. Going from being home to being gone all the time and having your whole life consumed and almost defined by the band that you’re in is a lot to handle". The band briefly considered breaking up. Nolan and Cooper formed Straylight Run with Nolan's sister, Michelle, and Breaking Pangaea drummer Will Noon. Taking Back Sunday added Fred Mascherino on guitar and vocals as well as Matt Rubano on bass.
The group's second album, Where You Want To Be, was released on July 27, 2004, on Victory Records. Although sounding slightly different from Tell All Your Friends by using some different musical instruments, the new album managed to do well commercially; propelled by the single "A Decade Under the Influence", Where You Want To Be went on to debut at the No. 3 spot on the Billboard 200 albums chart, with around 220,000 copies sold. It became one of the best-selling independent rock albums within a year, selling 634,000 copies by June 2005. Rolling Stone Magazine listed Where You Want To Be as one of the top fifty records of 2004. Instead of spending marketing money towards trying to get radio play, Victory Records used the internet and fans to spread the word about the upcoming album. They targeted consumers familiar with Victory Records as well as fans of emo music. They distributed a label sampler that included songs from Where You Want To Be to get fans excited about the release. They used the Taking Back Sunday street team, consisting of about 25,000 individuals, to promote the album. In return fans could get pre-sale tickets, win shoes and other various prizes.
Taking Back Sunday toured frequently for eight months in support of Where You Want to Be. The band received even more mainstream exposure by appearing on late night talk shows Jimmy Kimmel Live!; as well as contributing Where You Want to Be's second single, "This Photograph Is Proof (I Know You Know)", to the soundtrack for Spider-Man 2. They also contributed the song "Your Own Disaster" to the Elektra soundtrack.
On June 10, 2005, it was announced that the band had signed with major label Warner Bros. Records and would begin recording their third album later in 2005. That month, the group contributed "Error: Operator" to the video-game adaption of Fantastic Four, and it was later added to the film's soundtrack as well.
On September 21, 2005, it was announced that Taking Back Sunday had begun recording their third album with Eric Valentine. The group chose Valentine because he had produced Queens of the Stone Age's Songs for the Deaf (2002) and Third Eye Blind's self-titled album (1997). On April 25, 2006, Taking Back Sunday released their third album, entitled Louder Now, on Warner Bros. Records. The members' comments on the album reflected the dramatic change the band had undergone in the two years since their last release. Matt Rubano noted that the move to a major label was not something the band took lightly, but it was a move that made sense given the band's tumultuous past. Lazzara stated that fans seemed to feel their live shows had more energy than their recordings, and that Louder Now brought more of that across.
Taking Back Sunday received mainstream exposure by appearing on the late night talk shows The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and Late Night with Conan O'Brien, as well as the teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation in an episode entitled "What's It Feel Like To Be A Ghost?".
In December 2006, the band released its first documentary, Louder Now: PartOne, featuring behind-the-scenes tour footage and four live concerts. Following months of touring to support Louder Now, Taking Back Sunday appeared in the American leg of Live Earth on July 7, 2007. During the summer of 2007, Taking Back Sunday was also a part of Linkin Park's Projekt Revolution tour, along with My Chemical Romance, HIM, and several other bands.
On October 30, 2006, the band's former record label, Victory Records, released Notes from the Past, which featured four songs from Tell All Your Friends, six songs from Where You Want To Be, and two B-sides: The Ballad of Sal Villanueva and Your Own Disaster ('04 mix). The band then released Louder Now: Part Two on November 20, 2007, a DVD of unreleased live concert footage from their show at Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, California, which included special features such as the video for "Twenty-Twenty Surgery", made to be released in Europe. The DVD was packaged with a companion CD featuring eight live tracks, two B-sides that were previously unreleased in America, and a special "Twelve Days of Christmas" track.
In October 2007 the band announced that Taking Back Sunday and guitarist Fred Mascherino would be parting ways, which came after he decided to focus on his then upcoming solo album with The Color Fred. He was later replaced by Matthew Fazzi, who would provide guitar and backing vocals. Mascherino went on to reveal in later interviews: "There were just problems between the five of us about writing, who was going to do it and how we were going to do it, we weren't being very productive because we were fighting too much about that stuff. The band was more about cooking food than making music." This statement inspired the band to write the track "Capital M-E", which features lyrical references to Mascherino's departure and the comments he made afterward. In 2010, Fred Mascherino posted a picture of himself and Adam Lazzara with the caption, "Today was a good day" indicating that he and Lazzara have since made up and are on good terms again.
On November 6, 2008, Taking Back Sunday revealed in Rolling Stone that their fourth studio album was to be titled New Again and would feature the tracks "Winter Passing", "Lonely Lonely", "Catholic Knees", and "Carpathia". They stated that "Winter Passing" was "a slow dance like the last song at your 8th grade dance that moves more like an R&B tune than a rock and roll song", and that "Carpathia" will include the first bass solos in any Taking Back Sunday song. They also commented that "Catholic Knees" is "one of the heavier songs we've ever written", and that "Lonely Lonely" is "relentless – two and a half minutes of punching you in the face".41 In the build-up to the release of New Again, the band released a number of tracks—the first of which was "Carpathia"—on December 21, 2008 as free digital downloads to those who purchased the band's Christmas holiday set, with a physical limited vinyl release of the track as well as a live version of "Catholic Knees" released on April 18, 2009, secondly title track "New Again" as a free single download from the band's website on April 16, 2009, followed by the first full single "Sink into Me", released on April 20, 2009, premiering on BBC Radio 1's Zane Lowe show, and being made available digitally short after. On May 16, 2009, "Everything Must Go" was released to stream on the band's MySpace. Every Monday, the band released a new song on their MySpace from New Again labeling it "New Music Monday".
On August 18, 2009, the band released a digital live album entitled Live from Bamboozle '09. The album consists of 13 live tracks recorded at The Bamboozle, where they played in May of the same year. On February 12, 2010, the band released a previously unreleased b-side from New Again, entitled "Winter Passing", on their official website.
On March 29, 2010, Matt Rubano and Matthew Fazzi announced that they were no longer members of Taking Back Sunday. The band's official website also posted a picture of the original line-up with the members' eyes crossed out, indicating a possible reunion of the Tell All Your Friends era lineup. On March 31, 2010, tbsnewagain tweeted a link to a video announcing the new lineup of the band. The video ended with a quick stream of words which ended with, "Sometimes it takes some time to remember where you were headed in the first place and the people you intended to go there with. There's no hard feelings, just the future."
On April 12, the band made an official announcement confirming that John Nolan and Shaun Cooper had re-joined the band. It was announced that they would soon begin the recording process of their fifth studio album with Louder Now producer Eric Valentine. On the same day, Adam Lazzara did an interview with Alternative Press, in which he discussed how the original line-up got back together and how both Matt Rubano and Matt Fazzi were not fired, but rather "let go". The band finished writing in El Paso with around 15 songs completed, according to Mark O'Connell. Pre-production on the new album began on August 17, 2010, the same day their live acoustic album Live from Orensanz was released. On December 20, 2010, the band put out a new Christmas song entitled "Merry Christmas I Missed You So Much". On April 6, 2011, the band played at Maxwell's in Hoboken, New Jersey, to record footage for an upcoming video for the song "El Paso". Adam Lazzara requested that the audience put away their phones and cameras during the recording. They played the song three times during the set. During this performance, the band also debuted a new song entitled "Faith (When I Let You Down)", live for the first time. "Faith (When I Let You Down)" was released as the official first single from the album on May 3, 2011, with an acoustic version of "Great Romances of the 20th Century" as the b-side. On June 7, 2011, the second official single "This Is All Now" was released on iTunes, with the b-side being an acoustic version of "Ghost Man on Third". On June 26, 2011 in an interview with Robert Herrera of Punkvideosrock.com, Mark and Shaun stated that the reason they returned to their original lineup was because they no longer felt it was Taking Back Sunday without the original members. Mark stated they were miserable as a band, weren't having fun, and didn't like the direction the band was going so they decided to reach out to the original members and after meeting with the band in Texas found that "the chemistry was still there."
On July 8, 2011, Taking Back Sunday released an official music video for "Faith (When I Let You Down)". On November 3, 2011, Taking Back Sunday released an official music video for "You Got Me". This is the second single from their self-titled album. The video was created with the help of Steve Pedulla and Ward McDonald and it features guitarist Eddie Reyes dancing solo on a theater stage.
On June 7, 2013, Taking Back Sunday took to Twitter to confirm that the recording of their 6th studio album had begun. They announced on Facebook that the album will be released in early 2014.
On January 11, 2014, Taking Back Sunday revealed that a new album, Happiness Is, was available for pre-order on iTunes, as was a new track: "Flicker, Fade". Happiness Is was released on March 18, 2014 through Hopeless Records.
On June 27, 2016, the band's next album, Tidal Wave, was announced for release on September 16. Material for the album was written in between tours for Happiness Is.
On April 13, 2018, it was announced that founding guitarist Eddie Reyes has parted ways with the band. This was later confirmed by Reyes stating the reason for his departure was due to his battle with alcoholism and hope to join the band again in the future. In the meantime, he has also stated to have started a new band.
On October 12, 2018, the band began announcing a compilation album to celebrate their 20th anniversary, along with a world wide tour. The album is to be titled Twenty, and was released on January 11, 2019. Twenty consists of hits from Taking Back Sunday's previous albums. Along with two new songs.
On October 15, 2021, the band released a cover of Weezer’s My Name Is Jonas. The band would play this during soundcheck and eventually their live shows during their extensive 2019 tour, and the cover was recorded during one of their days off.
As of March 2022, Taking Back Sunday are currently in the early stages of working on their eighth studio album.
We Were Younger Then
Taking Back Sunday Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Are strung up by their necks
Singing
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Blessed be the lord
And now I'm drifting through the streets
Drinking gypsy wine saying
I can't believe how strange it is to be alive right now
I see the good people trying
I remember when comfort was not an option
(But we were younger then)
Disciplined and strange
Focused and restrained
We were younger then
If you need some quiet time
To process all that guilt
Well the desert lasts for days and out there
There's nothing else to do
Round here they turn ocean into land
And sell that land for gold
Use that gold to build themselves bigger better homes
I see cranes on the horizon
I remember when comfort was not an option
(We were younger then)
Disciplined and strange
Focused and restrained
We were younger then
When I go to sleep
I hardly ever dream
And when I'm wide awake
I can't believe what I see
I see the good people trying
I remember when comfort was not an option
(We were younger then)
Disciplined and strange
Focused and restrained
We were younger then
When I go to sleep
I hardly ever dream
When I'm wide awake
I can't believe what I see
Only in pictures before have I seen
Anything like from where I am standing
Looking I can't tell where the city stops
And the nothing begins
Only in pictures before have I seen
Anything like from where I am standing
Looking I can't tell where the city stops
And the nothing begins, begins, begins
(And the nothing begins)
Only in pictures before have I seen
Anything like from where I am standing
Looking I can't tell where the city stops
And the nothing begins, begins, begins
(We were younger then)
Only in pictures before have I seen
(We were younger then)
Anything like from where I am standing
(We were younger then)
Looking I can't tell where the city stops
And the nothing begins, begins
(We were younger then)
The lyrics of Taking Back Sunday's song "We Were Younger Then" appear to be a nostalgic recollection of simpler times, juxtaposed with a more complicated present. The first verse introduces the controversial and violent act of Arab architects being strung up by their necks, followed by the phrase "Hallelujah, hallelujah, blessed be the Lord." This could be interpreted as either a condemnation of such acts in the name of religion, or a questioning of faith in general. The singer then describes themselves as "drifting through the streets, drinking gypsy wine," emphasizing a sense of aimlessness and disconnectedness from the world around them.
In the second verse, the singer reflects on the contrast between their youth and the present, describing the way that good people are still trying to make a difference, yet the world around them has changed. The lines "disciplined and strange, focused and restrained" suggest a sense of purpose and intentionality that the singer perceives they and their peers had in the past, but now seems to be lacking. The bridge and final verse continue the theme of a surreal and overwhelming present, where the singer has trouble distinguishing between reality and dreams.
The repeated phrase "we were younger then" serves as a poignant reminder that time marches on and things are not as simple as they once were. Overall, the lyrics of "We Were Younger Then" evoke a sense of longing for a simpler past, but also recognition of the complex reality of the present.
Line by Line Meaning
Arab Architects
The song opens with this line, which suggests an exotic or foreign location.
Are strung up by their necks
This line paints a violent picture of oppression and persecution.
Singing
The Arab Architects are singing, despite their struggles and suffering.
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Their song is a prayer or cry of hope, praising the Lord.
Blessed be the lord
Continuing with religious imagery, this line emphasizes their faith even in dark times.
And now I'm drifting through the streets
The singer shifts focus to their own experiences, feeling aimless and disconnected.
Drinking gypsy wine saying
The singer is drinking to cope with their alienation or anxiety.
I can't believe how strange it is to be alive right now
This line encapsulates the confusion and disorientation that the singer is feeling.
I see the good people trying
The singer sees hope and resilience in others, despite the challenges they face.
I remember when comfort was not an option
Looking back to the past, the singer recalls a time when life was even more difficult.
(But we were younger then)
The singer acknowledges that their memories may be influenced by nostalgia or idealization.
Disciplined and strange
This phrase suggests a sense of detachment or isolation, perhaps a coping mechanism.
Focused and restrained
The singer remembers a time when they were more disciplined and focused despite the challenges.
If you need some quiet time
The lyrics shift again to address an unnamed listener, offering advice or solace.
To process all that guilt
The singer recognizes that their listener may be struggling with feelings of guilt or regret.
Well the desert lasts for days and out there
The desert is a metaphor for a place of solitude or reflection.
There's nothing else to do
The singer suggests that this environment is conducive to introspection or meditation.
Round here they turn ocean into land
Returning to their own experiences, the singer comments on the transformation of the environment around them.
And sell that land for gold
This line suggests exploitation or greed, with a focus on profit over preservation.
Use that gold to build themselves bigger better homes
The wealth generated by exploiting the environment is used to reinforce societal hierarchies and increase individual comfort.
When I go to sleep
The song repeats lines from earlier in a cyclical way, reinforcing a sense of repetition or stagnation.
I hardly ever dream
The singer may be feeling an emotional numbness, disconnected from their subconscious.
And when I'm wide awake
The repetition of the earlier line emphasizes that the singer is always feeling disconnected or outside of their experience.
I can't believe what I see
The singer sees the world as strange or foreign, offering a sense of unease or alienation.
Only in pictures before have I seen
Visual imagery is used to emphasize the stark contrast between past and present, between imagination and reality.
Anything like from where I am standing
The singer's sense of disconnection is emphasized with a focus on perspective.
Looking I can't tell where the city stops
This line suggests a sense of confusion or uncertainty, unable to distinguish between artificial and natural elements.
And the nothing begins
The final line of the song reinforces a sense of dissolution or insignificance, with a focus on emptiness or negation.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gabby Rivera
Arab Architects
Are strung up by their necks
Singing
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Bless it be the lord
And now I'm drifting through the streets
Drinking gypsy wine singing
I can't believe how strange it is to be alive right now
I see the good people trying
I remember when comfort was not an option
(But we were younger then)
Disciplined and strange
Focused and restrained
We were younger then
If you need some quiet time
To process all that guilt
Well the desert lasts for days and out there
There's nothing else to do
Round here they turn ocean into land
And sell that land for gold
Use that gold to build themselves bigger better homes
I see cranes on the horizon
I remember when comfort was not an option
(We were younger then)
Disciplined and strange
Focused and restrained
We were younger then
When I go to sleep
I hardly ever dream
And when I'm wide awake
I can't believe what I see
I see the good people trying
I remember when comfort was not an option
(We were younger then)
Disciplined and strange
Focused and restrained
We were younger then
When I go to sleep
I hardly ever dream
When I'm wide awake
I can't believe what I see
Only in pictures before have I seen
Anything like from where I am standing
Looking I can't tell where the city stops
And the nothing begins
Only in pictures before have I seen
Anything like from where I am standing
Looking I can't tell where the city stops
And the nothing begins, begins, begins
(And the nothing begins)
Only in pictures before have I seen
Anything like from where I am standing
Looking I can't tell where the city stops
And the nothing begins, begins, begins
(We were younger then)
Only in pictures before have I seen
(We were younger then)
Anything like from where I am standing
(We were younger then)
Looking I can't tell where the city stops
(We were younger then)
And the nothing begins, begins
(We were younger then
Witness Me
I love how they've matured with us over the years. There's a Taking Back Sunday song for every one of my emotions.
Amanda S
yes! They've grown up with us! <3 them
Soxcessful
The Pop Punkers have aged gracefully into a sound that shows a broader landscape. Everything is possible with these guys. Impressive.
Ryan McGrath
Out of all the times I've listened to Happiness Is, this song hit me hard in so many ways.There's something about this song that puts me at ease with a very comforting sense of bliss, especially at the end. I definitely would love to hear this song live.
Andrew Ilagan
This song is like two songs in one. Awesome. Pretty good album. Never fails. :)
Daniel James
masterpiece, adams voice is unreal again
lifeatpaddyspub
I adore this song right now, I just love the "Only in pictures before have I seen...."
jgwentworth34
Best song on the album.
tazmissionplex
The beat song on this album in my opinion is this is happening
Witness Me
+jgwentworth34 I love "Better Homes and Gardens," and I can see why it's so many people's favorite, but this and "They Don't Have Any Friends" are my favorites.