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.
Have Fun Rotting By Yourself
The Arrogant Sons of Bitches Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
i'm drinking but i can't get drunker than this
i'm going home alone again with a checklist of my ex-best friends
and a headache the size of your little white lies
blood dripping from my head into sore black eyes
place my head between my hood and the vent
walk home from the station
no friends
killing time by killing myself slowly
drugs and booze and tobacco companies own me
you said you never meant any harm
but you meant what you did
now i'm hurt and you're alarmed
i'm a replaceable fixture in your house
i'm a dispensable character from your past
and i'm not feeling safe, come on pick up the fucking phone
i can't accept when this night ends i'm going home alone
i'm running far away from my problems (its me vs. them)
i'm not waiting for you to decide what to pack (its me vs. them)
i'm not talking california
there's never been a better time to get out of america (its me vs. them, its me vs. them)
i'm running far away from my problems (i will give my last so long suckers, as you write down good byes)
i'm not waiting for you to decide what to pack (on the back of old post-its as i exit and die)
i'm not talking california (accept the fact that you will not be seeing me again)
there's never been a better time to get out of america (no more white flags i swear this time we're never gonna talk again)
i'm running far away from my problems
i'm not waiting for you to decide what to pack (its me vs. them, its me vs. them)
i'm not talking california
there's never been a better time to get out of america (its me vs. them, its me vs. them)
i'm running far away from my problems
i'm not waiting for you to decide what to pack (its me vs. them, its me vs. them)
i'm not talking california
there's never been a better time to get out of america (its me vs. them, its me vs. them)
because its me vs. them
The lyrics of "Have Fun Rotting By Yourself" by The Arrogant Sons of Bitches are reflective of the pain and isolation the singer feels. He is taking the last train home, drinking but unable to get drunk, and going home alone. He has a checklist of his ex-best friends in his head, and his headache is a result of the lies he has been told. The singer has been betrayed by someone close to him and is now hurt and alone. He is running far away from his problems, unwilling to wait for anyone to decide what to pack. He wants to leave behind those who have hurt him and start a new life, away from America.
The song talks about feeling alone and disconnected from the world, and wanting to escape from the pain inflicted by others. The singer feels that he is not valued by the people around him, and he is not safe with them. He has reached a breaking point and wants to leave everything behind, including those he once considered his friends. This song is a commentary on how painful and difficult it can be to let go of people who no longer serve us, but who we feel we need in our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
i'm taking the last train home tonight
I am leaving this place behind and going home for the night.
i'm drinking but i can't get drunker than this
I am trying to get drunk, but I have reached my limit.
i'm going home alone again with a checklist of my ex-best friends
I am going back to my place by myself, reflecting on the relationships I have lost with former best friends.
and a headache the size of your little white lies
I am physically and mentally hurting because of the lies you have told me.
blood dripping from my head into sore black eyes
I am beaten and bloody, with injuries that are both visible and hidden.
place my head between my hood and the vent
I am trying to cool off and calm down from the chaos that has occurred.
walk home from the station
I am making the journey home on foot.
no friends
I am alone and do not have anyone to turn to.
killing time by killing myself slowly
I am engaging in self-destructive behavior to pass the time.
drugs and booze and tobacco companies own me
I am addicted to various substances and am being controlled by their influence.
you said you never meant any harm
You made excuses for your hurtful actions.
but you meant what you did
Your actions were intentional and selfish.
now i'm hurt and you're alarmed
I am in pain, and you are upset by the outcome of your actions.
i'm a replaceable fixture in your house
I am insignificant to you and could easily be swapped out for someone else in your life.
i'm a dispensable character from your past
My existence in your life was unimportant, and you have moved on without thinking twice about it.
and i'm not feeling safe, come on pick up the fucking phone
I am scared and need someone to talk to, but I am being ignored.
i can't accept when this night ends i'm going home alone
I cannot bear the thought of being alone again after all that has happened.
because its me vs. them
I am in constant conflict with the people and situations around me.
i'm running far away from my problems
I am trying to escape from the difficulties I am facing.
i'm not waiting for you to decide what to pack
I am making my own choices and not relying on anyone else's input.
i'm not talking california
I am not interested in the superficiality of California and its culture.
there's never been a better time to get out of america
I am considering leaving the United States for good because of the problems I am facing here.
Contributed by Victoria J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.