In 1995, Jeff Rosenstock began playing with Joe Werfelman together and started The Arrogant Sons of Bitches. By 1996, the two had spent time writing and finding members for their band. At this time they recorded The Arrogant Sons of Bitches Demo Tape on tape but never released it. At this time they also began playing shows in their friends' basements and bedrooms.
Patric Santiago and Chris Valentino joined the band and the Greatest Hits Tape (1996) was made to play the Rockfest, at a local church. They were denied and instead played a show in Jeff Rosenberg's backyard with members of Taking Back Sunday, Bomb the Music Industry!, The Matt Kurz One, and Sevenwiser.
In 1997, Chris Baltrus joined playing bass and Joe Vazquez to play drums after Patric Santiago left the band because of a conflict with other members of the band who break into his house to get amplifiers. His parents were furious and forced him to quit.
In 1998, Joe Vazquez was replaced with Bryan Cohen and ASOB records the Integrity Tape in Joe's garage. Dave Dickerman joined on trombone and Bryan Cohen left the band. They began playing places like Q-Zar, Scotty Dee's Coffee Shop, and an outdoor festival with Post-Emo Indie Rock innovators, Inside. John DeDomenici then stepped in on drums and the band began planning their first album. They payed $1000 for 12 songs.
Mike Costa replaced John DeDomenici on drums. They recorded Built to Fail which was planned to be released by Zach and Breaking the Law Records, however, due to conflicts the band decided to self release it.
In 1999, ASOB started branching out, playing shows with Channel 59, Sprout, Microwave Orphans, Who Cares, WCF, Edna's Goldfish, Catch 22, The Toasters, and Step Lively. Arty's Taxi's member, Eric Bucello who plays the trumpet, and subsequently joined the band. In August, the band recorded "Fuck You" for a Runaway Records compilation with the Jestrebzki Family. They also started work on their new full-length, Pornocracy.
By 2000, the band entered the studio and finished up in June. It featured JT from Sprout. Soon after, Chris Baltrus left the band for college and Joe Bove from Arty's Taxi joined. They played a CD release show with Racecar Breakup.
In 2001 ASOB recorded "Built to Fail Motherfucker" for a compilation and began touring that summer. Many members quit and the remnants of ASOB played a show in upstate New York on a driving range with a new band featuring members of Shabooti. Joe Rosenstock stated to his girlfriend, "If this band ever gets big, I want you to kill me." The band ended up being Coheed and Cambria.
Rosenstock began writing new material and was to open a show for Thursday, but it fell through. A new roster was drawn up that included Tim Ruggeri (Channel 59/WCF/Tall Hannds), Jon Rossman (Everyone Else), and Chris Taylor but this also fell through. Mike, Baltrus, Dave, and a few members of the High School Football Heroes and Premarital Sax play with ASOB.
In 2002, ASOB tried to re-record Built to Fail unsuccessfully. They recorded an Arrogant Sons of Bitches 7'' that was never released. They did a CD release show for All the Little Ones Are Rotting and played a battle of the bands at The Downtown winning fourth place. They landed a deal with Kill Normal Records. They also played a Halloween show and did ska covers of Taking Back Sunday songs.
A year later, in 2003, ASOB re-released their EP with videos, a live set, and much more. They opened for Bowling for Soup and Count the Stars. They toured out to the west coast, and JT from Sprout joined full time. They played outside of the Idaho Warped Tour, and the next day played inside a hip-hop tent electrically. They stayed on Warped Tour and played to 3000 people in New York. Joe Werfelman was kicked out of the band.
Three Cheers for Disappointment was finished being written and they recorded with AJ Quashee, but the recording didn't go well and was scrapped. Sean Qualls was auditioned on guitar. Joe Bove had a panic attack on stage and leaves bass, giving Sean the spot on bass.
Afterward, the band recorded some more and started working on releasing a "Complete Discography". The band later got on Streetlight Manifesto shows that feature Big D and the Kids Table.
The band finally began recording Three Cheers for Disappointment at Moontower Studios in Boston, Massachusettes with Steve Foote. After it was finished, the band booked a tour, ordered merch, talked to record labels, and replaced Sean Qualls with James Lynch on bass. The band took a break in September.
In October, The Arrogant Sons of Bitches played two last shows at Mr. Beery's - one all ages, one 18+. Shortly afterward, Jeff Rosenstock started Bomb the Music Industry!, Sean started Bashi-Bazouk, JT started his solo project, Mike Costa started his solo project and Dave registered to finally go to college.
In 2005, they finish Three Cheers for Disappointment and in 2006, the band plays three shows in the Northeast in support of it.
In 2007, they play their last show and officially break up.
In 2012, the Arrogant Sons of Bitches reunite for one last show at the Warsaw in Brooklyn, New York.
November rain
The Arrogant Sons Of Bitches Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
because deadlines and tests and fucked up kids
have transformed high school into a house of fears.
And if the budget keeps blocking sunlight we can't help these growing trees.
And I doubt that the integral of blah blah blah is what I fucking need.
So I'll take my pencil, break it on my head.
There's no use in knowing how long Calvin Coolidge's been dead
If you're not getting real education go complain
Term papers declare them useless, I'll get them off the net.
I don't remember a single thing my 8th grade teachers said
except the propagandist dittos they told me to read.
Such a paucity of free thought. I must believe what they believe.
So I'll take those dittos and burn them till they're dead.
Hooray for Operation Desert Storm is what they said.
On my Brit Lit quizzes I just guessed. I'll believe everything I want.
In school they constantly reminded me
that I wasn't smart enough and that I wasn't cool.
In school they rarely tell you there's more to life than school.
Well I learned how to add and anti-differentiate.
Well I learned the formula for Sodium Benzoate.
Well I learned the 1 chord to the 5 is a half cadence.
I learned how to ask how to piss in English and Spanish.
We have to take some time to just forget about our classes.
Seize the day it doesn't matter if we fall on our asses.
Cause you'll learn that g=9.8 and w=mg
But I rarely get a thing from class that helps me become me.
So raise your hand high, say what you wanna say.
And if they condemn and fail you you will still be ok.
Just be yourself and succeed anyway.
I'm afraid of not doing what I want.
The Arrogant Sons of Bitches’ song “November Rain” is a reflection on the flaws and limitations of the American education system. The opening lines acknowledge that despite being 12 years older, high school students are still facing the same struggles such as deadlines, tests, and messed up kids. The following lines show how the education system has failed these students in creating an environment of fear, where students are not able to grow and learn as they should. The use of the metaphor of a budget blocking sunlight shows how the system is not providing the necessary resources for these students to develop.
The lyrics also express frustration with the lack of practical knowledge that is being taught. The line “I doubt that the integral of blah blah blah is what I fucking need” shows how theoretical math that has little application in real life is being taught instead of practical skills. The mentioning of “Term papers” being useless and the ability to find them on the internet also questions the importance of assignments that are not valuable and can be easily found elsewhere.
The song encourages students to voice their opinions and to challenge the system if it is not providing them with what they need. The lines “raise your hand high, say what you wanna say, and if they condemn and fail you, you will still be okay” emphasizes the importance of being true to oneself and not being afraid of failure, as long as one is true to their own beliefs and goals. In conclusion, the song is a commentary on the shortcomings of the American education system, and the need for reform to better serve its students.
Line by Line Meaning
It seems we've made no progress within the last 12 years
The education system has not improved over the years.
because deadlines and tests and fucked up kids
The system has put too much pressure on students and there are many problems that affect them.
have transformed high school into a house of fears.
School has become scary.
And if the budget keeps blocking sunlight we can't help these growing trees.
Limited resources can hinder progress.
And I doubt that the integral of blah blah blah is what I fucking need.
Some courses are not useful.
So I'll take my pencil, break it on my head.
Some students need to release their frustration.
There's no use in knowing how long Calvin Coolidge's been dead
Some knowledge is irrelevant.
If you're not getting real education go complain
It's important to voice out when the education system is lacking.
because we deserve all that we want.
Students have the right to demand better education.
Term papers declare them useless, I'll get them off the net.
Assignments can be irrelevant and can be found online.
I don't remember a single thing my 8th grade teachers said
Some things taught in school are forgettable.
except the propagandist dittos they told me to read.
Certain materials in school can be biased.
Such a paucity of free thought. I must believe what they believe.
The education system can hinder free thinking.
So I'll take those dittos and burn them till they're dead.
Some materials need to be rejected.
Hooray for Operation Desert Storm is what they said.
Some school lessons can be political.
On my Brit Lit quizzes I just guessed. I'll believe everything I want.
Some subjects can be uninteresting.
In school they constantly reminded me
School can be demotivating.
that I wasn't smart enough and that I wasn't cool.
Students can be made to feel inferior.
In school they rarely tell you there's more to life than school.
The education system can be limited in perspective.
Well I learned how to add and anti-differentiate.
Basic math can be a key takeaway.
Well I learned the formula for Sodium Benzoate.
Some lessons are scientific.
Well I learned the 1 chord to the 5 is a half cadence.
Some lessons are musical.
I learned how to ask how to piss in English and Spanish.
Some lessons are practical.
We have to take some time to just forget about our classes.
Students need to take breaks from the system.
Seize the day it doesn't matter if we fall on our asses.
Students need to take risks.
Cause you'll learn that g=9.8 and w=mg
Physics can be informative.
But I rarely get a thing from class that helps me become me.
The education system can be limiting in terms of personal growth.
So raise your hand high, say what you wanna say.
Students need to speak up.
And if they condemn and fail you you will still be ok.
It's okay to fail in the system.
Just be yourself and succeed anyway.
Individuality is important.
I'm afraid of not doing what I want.
The education system can be limiting when it comes to personal goals and desires.
Contributed by Nora S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
robiu013
and it's hard to hold a candle in the cold november rain...