The band achieved mainstream success with their debut self-titled studio album The All-American Rejects released in 2003 by Dreamworks Records. The album was certified platinum by the RIAA and spawned the single "Swing, Swing".The band's second album Move Along brought the band further mainstream success in 2005, producing the hit singles, "Dirty Little Secret", "Move Along" and "It Ends Tonight", all of which charted in the top fifteen on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, while Move Along was certified double platinum by the RIAA.Their third studio album When the World Comes Down was released in 2008 and was later certified gold by the RIAA.[6] Its lead single "Gives You Hell" became The All-American Rejects' most successful song to date, peaking at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and the top 5 in many other countries. "Gives You Hell" was certified 4× multi-platinum for sales of over 4 million in the United States by the RIAA. Kids in the Street, the band's fourth studio album, was released March 26, 2012 and debuted at #18 on the US Billboard 200 chart.
Since the start of their career, The All-American Rejects have sold over 10 million albums worldwide[11][12] and were ranked No. 73 on the "Hot 100 Artists of the 2000s"[13] and No. 183 on Billboard magazine's "Billboard 200 Artists of the Decade" list.
Happy Endings
The All-American Rejects Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That even if they say so
She'd be the one that would know
That I did do what I've done
And I, I wouldn't call it cheating
I'd just say I was leading her on
Why walk while I run a-way
Me- I'll write you this last song
Please- just tell me one way we can win
One- more thing before I go
Two- the one who loves me so
Three- don't make me count to three again
Happy endings
Just what did you do, If you're a dream then come true
Stop pretending
That what you mean isn't what you say
Hopeful dreaming,
Of times before the pain, wishing it was still the same
Loving, leaving
Round and round and round we go again
Walks a-lone, have often lead to thinking
My love for you is sinking to what seems an all time low
Or high, the limits' never ending,
And don't you know I'm sending
There's no venture I won't go
For you
She walks away, she talks away
She walks away
She walks away, she talks away
Away, away...
In these lyrics, The All-American Rejects are exploring the aftermath of a relationship gone wrong. The singer is confessing to his ex-lover that he didn't cheat on her, but he did lead someone else on while they were still together. He's hoping to salvage something from this situation, asking for advice on how to win her back or at least make things better between them. He's willing to do anything for her, pushing boundaries and taking chances.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the idea of "happy endings," which in this context seems like a fantasy. The singer is questioning whether true love and a perfect relationship can actually exist, or if it's just a dream. He's grappling with the reality that relationships can be messy and complicated, full of pain and disappointment. Despite all of this, he still seems hopeful, wishing that things could go back to the way they were before the pain began.
Line by Line Meaning
Time does tell
Experience gives us an indication of how things will turn out over the course of time
That even if they say so
Others can make claims about what's happening, but that doesn't change the reality of the situation
She'd be the one that would know
The person being discussed is the one with the most accurate knowledge about what's happening
That I did do what I've done
The artist acknowledges they've taken some action
And I, I wouldn't call it cheating
The artist is attempting to avoid the label of infidelity
I'd just say I was leading her on
The singer admits to intentionally creating a false impression of romantic interest in someone else
Why walk while I run a-way
The singer isn't interested in slowing down or stopping, even in the face of potential consequences
You- you ask me what went wrong
The listener is wondering what caused a negative outcome
Me- I'll write you this last song
The artist's ultimate response to the situation is a musical expression of their thoughts and emotions
Please- just tell me one way we can win
The artist is seeking a solution or path to success
One- more thing before I go
The singer has one last item to address
Two- the one who loves me so
The artist has someone in their life who cares for them deeply
Three- don't make me count to three again
The singer has expressed a request or demand that must be heeded
Happy endings
Satisfying resolutions to circumstances or stories
Just what did you do, If you're a dream then come true
The singer is posing a question about whether a positive outcome is real or just imagined
Stop pretending
The artist is acknowledging a falsehood and calling for genuine honesty
That what you mean isn't what you say
There's a disconnect between words and actions
Hopeful dreaming,
Positive, optimistic thoughts about what the future could hold
Of times before the pain, wishing it was still the same
Memories of happier times are overshadowed by current difficulties
Loving, leaving
A pattern of affection followed by separation
Round and round and round we go again
The situation is recurring and seemingly never-ending
Walks a-lone, have often lead to thinking
Solitude can lead to deep introspection
My love for you is sinking to what seems an all time low
The singer's feelings for the person they love have diminished significantly
Or high, the limits' never ending,
Feelings can vary widely and are seemingly limitless
And don't you know I'm sending
The singer is communicating a message or seeking a response
There's no venture I won't go
The singer is willing to take any risk or make any attempt to achieve their goals
She walks away, she talks away
The person being discussed is distancing themselves from the singer
She walks away
Repeating the last line for emphasis
She walks away, she talks away
Repeating the penultimate line for emphasis
Away, away...
Continuing to emphasize the idea of someone leaving or departing
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: NICK WHEELER, TYSON RITTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Aditya Kharade
Time does tell
That even if they say so
She'd be the one that would know
That I did do what I've done
And I, I wouldn't call it cheating
I'd just say I was leading her on
Why walk while I run a-way
You- you ask me what went wrong
Me- I'll write you this last song
Please- just tell me one way we can win
One- more thing before I go
Two- the one who loves me so
Three- don't make me count to three again
Happy endings
Just what did you do, If you're a dream then come true
Stop pretending
That what you mean isn't what you say
Hopeful dreaming,
Of times before the pain, wishing it was still the same
Loving, leaving
Round and round and round we go again
Walks a-lone, have often lead to thinking
My love for you is sinking to what seems an all time low
Or high, the limits' never ending,
And don't you know I'm sending
There's no venture I won't go
For you
You- you ask me what went wrong
Me- I'll write you this last song
Please- just tell me one way we can win
One- more thing before I go
Two- the one who loves me so
Three- don't make me count to three again
Happy endings
Just what did you do, If you're a dream then come true
Stop pretending
That what you mean isn't what you say
Hopeful dreaming,
Of times before the pain, wishing it was still the same
Loving, leaving
Round and round and round we go again
She walks away, she talks away
She walks away
She walks away, she talks away
Away, away...
Happy endings
Just what did you do, If you're a dream then come true
Stop pretending
That what you mean isn't what you say
Hopeful dreaming,
Of times before the pain, wishing it was still the same
Loving, leaving
Round and round and round we go again
Happy endings
Just what did you do, If you're a dream then come true
Stop pretending
That what you mean isn't what you say
Hopeful dreaming,
Of times before the pain, wishing it was still the same
Loving, leaving
Logan
When I was 10 years old, I used to listen to this CD every single night and pretend I was the singer hahaha. As silly as that is, I'm 28 now and this album has never left me. There's something truly magical about it. Especially this song.
madeleine p.
Forever going to wish music like this didn't die out.
Cosmalano
People that liked it as kids are growing up to be adults now, and will likely produce music that is a derivative of this
Aditya Kharade
Time does tell
That even if they say so
She'd be the one that would know
That I did do what I've done
And I, I wouldn't call it cheating
I'd just say I was leading her on
Why walk while I run a-way
You- you ask me what went wrong
Me- I'll write you this last song
Please- just tell me one way we can win
One- more thing before I go
Two- the one who loves me so
Three- don't make me count to three again
Happy endings
Just what did you do, If you're a dream then come true
Stop pretending
That what you mean isn't what you say
Hopeful dreaming,
Of times before the pain, wishing it was still the same
Loving, leaving
Round and round and round we go again
Walks a-lone, have often lead to thinking
My love for you is sinking to what seems an all time low
Or high, the limits' never ending,
And don't you know I'm sending
There's no venture I won't go
For you
You- you ask me what went wrong
Me- I'll write you this last song
Please- just tell me one way we can win
One- more thing before I go
Two- the one who loves me so
Three- don't make me count to three again
Happy endings
Just what did you do, If you're a dream then come true
Stop pretending
That what you mean isn't what you say
Hopeful dreaming,
Of times before the pain, wishing it was still the same
Loving, leaving
Round and round and round we go again
She walks away, she talks away
She walks away
She walks away, she talks away
Away, away...
Happy endings
Just what did you do, If you're a dream then come true
Stop pretending
That what you mean isn't what you say
Hopeful dreaming,
Of times before the pain, wishing it was still the same
Loving, leaving
Round and round and round we go again
Happy endings
Just what did you do, If you're a dream then come true
Stop pretending
That what you mean isn't what you say
Hopeful dreaming,
Of times before the pain, wishing it was still the same
Loving, leaving
Baxterwood
Appreciate this in 2021👌
Aditya Kharade
@Baxterwood They are great
Mack Latily
i love the all american rejects with all my heart <3
Kyle Wells
Me too
PrincessButterfly
Please, I want to hear the song again on Spotify. I miss her.
Andrew Michalak
"your star" "paper heart" "time stands still" "happy endings all dynamite! And then "last song" and "swing, swing". An amazing six pack!!