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.
Pillsbury Doughgirl
The All-American Rejects Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"Ooh, baby. Look at you, all pasty like a pillsbury doughboy."
"Make me want to poke you in the stomach and go 'ah-ho'."
"Pssst! Shanaynay, you bet' be watchin' out for you cholesterol."
"Did you say cresentroll? Mmm. I'm sorry, baby, you just need a tan."
People say, everyday that she's taking you away
And that we should leave her
I ask you why, and did she lie, about those times with all those other guys?
I could see it a mile away, yeah, you're with her everyday
The nights that you just missed
The things that you promised
They never stay (stay)
She's never seen the sun
She wears shorts and I run, away (away)
He's dating Casper and he's afraid to ask her for his manhood back
Please give me my friend back
He's dating Casper, his heart races faster, just for her
Why can't we be like we were?
First you, skip but now you slip
Sure is sad seeing a guy thats whipped
Just a puppet to sink below, she's using you all for show
Back in the day, we'd come and play
But now you're asking if you may
Can't you see that she's not the one?
She can't even see the sun
The nights that you just missed
The things that you promised
They never stay (stay)
She's never seen the sun
She wears shorts and I run away (away)
He's dating Casper and he's afraid to ask her for his manhood back
Please give me my friend back
He's dating Casper, his heart races faster, just for her
Why can't we be like we were?
I'll ask her, will she rip my heart right out
If she hurt me once again? (will you ask her?)
I'll tell her, that's not what I'm all about
I'll stop hurting all my friends, we're okay
He's dating Casper and he's afraid to ask her for his manhood back
Please give me my friend back
He's dating Casper, his heart races faster, just for her
Why can't we be like we were?
He's going away
Away
Why can't we be like we were?
The All-American Rejects’ song Pillsbury Doughgirl is a humorous take on a serious issue – the dangers of being in a toxic relationship. The opening lines of the song see a group of guys mocking a girl who is overweight or has a doughy appearance. The name-calling and teasing imply that she is not attractive or desirable, and thus she is not worthy of their attention or affection. However, the song later turns its attention to the singer's male friend who is dating a girl named Casper, likely because of her ghostly-white appearance. The singer notes that his friend is whipped and has changed since getting into the relationship, neglecting his friends and making poor decisions. The singer concludes that he would rather ask Casper to rip his heart out than continue to see his friend suffer.
The theme of the song is the dangers of being in a toxic, one-sided relationship that drains a person’s emotional and physical health. The singer is concerned about his friend, who is so enamored with Casper that he has given up his individuality and become a puppet in her hands. The lyrics suggest that Casper is manipulative and abusive, stripping the singer’s friend of his independence and isolating him from his friends. The chorus repeats the refrain “Why can’t we be like we were?” showing that the singer longs for the good old days when his friend was happy and they had fun together.
Line by Line Meaning
Damn, girl! Shanaynay, come over here, look at dis ho.
Excitedly calling over a friend to take a look at a girl who is deemed unattractive.
Ooh, baby. Look at you, all pasty like a pillsbury doughboy.
Complimenting someone's complexion with a comparison to a recognizable brand mascot.
Make me want to poke you in the stomach and go 'ah-ho'.
Expressing an inappropriate and objectifying desire for the person based solely on physical appearance.
Pssst! Shanaynay, you bet' be watchin' out for you cholesterol.
Warning a friend about the potential negative health consequences of consuming food like Pillsbury dough products.
Did you say cresentroll? Mmm. I'm sorry, baby, you just need a tan.
Dismissing or mocking someone's request or comment, while also suggesting that their lack of tan is unappealing.
People say, everyday that she's taking you away
Others have noticed that someone is being swept up by a new romantic interest.
And that we should leave her
Others have voiced their opinions that the new romantic interest is not good for the person and they should end things.
Everytime I see her
The artist is in frequent contact with the person's new romantic interest.
I ask you why, and did she lie, about those times with all those other guys?
Questioning the person's new romantic interest about their commitment and honesty.
I could see it a mile away, yeah, you're with her everyday
Observing that the person is spending an excessive amount of time with their new romantic interest.
The nights that you just missed
Reminiscing about social events that the person was absent from because of their new romantic interest.
The things that you promised
Recalling instances where the person made commitments but didn't follow through due to their new romantic interest.
They never stay (stay)
The person's commitments or promises seem to always be broken because of their new romantic interest.
She's never seen the sun
The person's new romantic interest does not go outside much or get much exposure to nature or the elements.
She wears shorts and I run, away (away)
The person's new romantic interest wears clothing that the singer finds unappealing or off-putting.
He's dating Casper and he's afraid to ask her for his manhood back
Comparing the person's new romantic interest to a ghost, and questioning whether they have emasculated or castrated the person.
Please give me my friend back
Expressing a desire to have the person revert back to who they were before their new romantic interest took over their life.
First you, skip but now you slip
Noting a change in the person's behavior and priorities, from being carefree to becoming tied down to their new romantic interest.
Sure is sad seeing a guy thats whipped
Expressing disappointment that the person has become subservient to their new romantic interest.
Just a puppet to sink below, she's using you all for show
Commenting on the power dynamic in the relationship, where the person is being manipulated or taken advantage of by their new romantic interest for appearance's sake.
Back in the day, we'd come and play
Recalling a time when the person was more available to socialize and hang out with friends.
But now you're asking if you may
Noting a change in the person's behavior, where they are now asking for permission or approval from their new romantic interest.
Can't you see that she's not the one?
Pointing out that the person's new romantic interest is not a good match or suitable partner for them.
I'll ask her, will she rip my heart right out
Expressing a desire to confront the person's new romantic interest about their effect on the person's life and friendships.
If she hurt me once again? (will you ask her?)
Questioning whether the person should have another heart-to-heart conversation with their new romantic interest about the negative impact on their relationships.
I'll tell her, that's not what I'm all about
Asserting that the singer's priorities are different from those of the person's new romantic interest.
I'll stop hurting all my friends, we're okay
Taking responsibility for the strain in the person's friendships caused by their new romantic interest, and vowing to make amends.
He's going away
Suggesting that the person is becoming increasingly distant or isolated from their friends due to their new romantic interest.
Why can't we be like we were?
Expressing a yearning for the person to return to their previous state of mind and behavior, before their new romantic interest took over.
Contributed by Isaiah G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Rose Fire
god, everytime i hear one of their songs, i just fall deeper in love with their music xD
SwingPearlSwing
Awesome song! Love you guys!
skooter
all american rejects is my favorite band, and has been ever since they first started:D yeah, i like their old songs more than their new ones.. my favorites are 'Im on the Football team' 'Pillsbury Dough Girl' and 'Paper Heart'
Mack Latily
Dear Tyson, Your goofy and adorable :) Dear Nick, You have epic hair and have awesome arm muscles Dear Mike, you have the cutest smile :D Dear Chris, you seriously know how to kill it on the drums <3
Sam Zbikowski
God I love this song!!!! Its on my iPod an everything else! I love it like crazy!!!
Megan
omg , i love this song ! wish i could download it somewhere. anyways, it's amazing :) "he's dating casper, his heart races faster just for her, why cant we be like we were?" ♥♥
Katya Mabry
they played at curly's a ton and i almost lived there, my dad was the sound engineer, i've talked to them tons of times but that doesn't mean i'd know what they sound like just because i've "met them before"
lifeatpaddyspub
dear god i could not stop laughing at the beginning. lol so funny i love aar!
AngelicAlibis
Hes afraid to ask her for his manhood back- That line kicks ass XD
Mstar82
would be really funny, if they would play the really old songs live how that would sound? lol this is definately my fav from the really old songs.