The accompanying music video shows the band playing live, and was recorded at Capitol Milling in California. This shoot was later made into a live DVD, Live At Capitol Milling.
The song was the ending credits song in the 2004 film The Perfect Score.
In This Diary
The Ataris Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It was the best I ever had
There were choruses and sing alongs
And that unspoken feeling of knowing
That right now is all that matters
All the nights we stayed up talking
Listening to 80's songs
It still brings a smile to my face
I guess when it comes down to it
Being grown up isn't half as fun as growing up
These are the best days of our lives
The only thing that matters is just following your heart
And eventually you'll finally get it right
Breaking into hotel swimming pools
And wreaking havoc on our world
Hanging out at truck stops
Just to pass the time
The blacktop singing me to sleep
Lighting fireworks in parking lots
Illuminate the blackest nights
Cherry cokes under this moonlit summer sky
2015 Riverside, it's time to say goodbye
Get on the bus, it's time to go
Being grown up isn't half as fun as growing up
These are the best days of our lives
The only thing that matters is just following your heart
And eventually you'll finally get it right
(Get it right)
Being grown up isn't half as fun as growing up
These are the best days of our lives
The only thing that matters is just following your heart
And eventually you'll finally get it right
The Ataris's song "In This Diary" speaks about fond memories and experiences during one's youth, as the singer writes visions of their summer experiences in a diary. The summer is described as the best that the singer has ever had, filled with choruses, sing-alongs and an unspoken feeling of knowing that the present moment is what matters. The song reflects on the days of being young, carefree and reckless, spending nights talking and listening to music, quoting movie lines and hanging out at truck stops to pass the time.
The chorus repeats twice, emphasizing that while growing up may seem like a rite of passage, being a grown-up is not as fun as when one is growing up. The best days of our lives are in our youth, where following our hearts was the only thing that mattered. The song ends with a mention of lighting fireworks in parking lots and cherry cokes under the moonlit sky, ending with a goodbye as the singer and their friends get on the bus and leave.
Overall, "In This Diary" reflects on the bittersweet feelings of growing up and the importance of cherishing memories and living in the moment.
Line by Line Meaning
Here in this diary I write you visions of my summer
I use this diary to capture and share with you my memories of the best summer I ever had.
It was the best I ever had
This summer was the most amazing experience of my life so far.
There were choruses and sing alongs
We sang along to catchy tunes all summer long.
And that unspoken feeling of knowing
We shared an inexplicable sense of understanding and connection.
That right now is all that matters
We lived in the moment and didn't worry about the future or the past.
All the nights we stayed up talking
We spent countless hours staying awake just talking to each other.
Listening to 80's songs
We enjoyed listening to nostalgic music from the 1980s together.
And quoting lines from all those movies that we love
We loved bringing up famous quotes from movies that we adored watching and discussing.
It still brings a smile to my face
Just thinking about those times makes me happy even now.
I guess when it comes down to it
Upon reflection, I suppose that,
Being grown up isn't half as fun as growing up
Being an adult is much less enjoyable than the carefree days of being a kid.
These are the best days of our lives
The memories of this summer will always be the highlight of our lives.
The only thing that matters is just following your heart
The most important thing is to trust your instincts and do what makes you happy.
And eventually you'll finally get it right
In the end, we will all find our way and achieve our goals.
Breaking into hotel swimming pools
We enjoyed trespassing and swimming in unauthorized places, like hotel pools.
And wreaking havoc on our world
We liked causing chaos and mayhem for our own entertainment.
Hanging out at truck stops
We spent time loitering at rest areas for big rigs.
Just to pass the time
We didn't have anywhere to go, so we hung out just to have something to do.
The blacktop singing me to sleep
The sound of the pavement beneath us was soothing and helped me drift off to sleep at night.
Lighting fireworks in parking lots
We found excitement in setting off fireworks in empty parking lots.
Illuminate the blackest nights
The brightly lit explosions made even the darkest of nights seem more vibrant and lively.
Cherry cokes under this moonlit summer sky
We savored cherry-flavored soda while gazing up at the summery night sky.
2015 Riverside, it's time to say goodbye
The summer of 2015 in Riverside has come to an end, and it's time to say farewell.
Get on the bus, it's time to go
We have to leave now and move on to the next chapter of our lives.
(Get it right)
Just remember to stick to your gut and do what feels right.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: KRIS ROE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gypsysantos5099
Here in this diary,
I write you visions of my summer.
It was the best I ever had.
There were choruses and sing-alongs,
And that unspoken feeling of knowing
Right now is all that matters
All the nights we stayed up talking
and listening to 80's songs;
quoting lines from all those movies that we love.
It still brings a smile to my face.
I guess when it comes down to it...
Being grown up isn't half as fun as growing up:
These are the best days of our lives.
The only thing that matters
is just following your heart
and eventually you'll finally get it right.
Breaking into hotel swimming pools,
and wreaking havoc on our world.
Hanging out at truck stops just to pass the time.
The black top's singing me to sleep.
Lighting fireworks in parking lots,
illuminate the blackest nights.
Cherry cokes under this moonlight summer sky.
2015 Riverside, it's time to say, "goodbye."
Get on the bus, it's time to go.
Being grown up isn't half as fun as growing up:
These are the best days of our lives.
The only thing that matters
is just following your heart,
and eventually you'll finally get it right.
@automax5247
Here in this diary I write you visions of my summer
It was the best I ever had
There were choruses and sing alongs
And that unspoken feeling of knowing
That right now is all that matters
All the nights we stayed up talking
Listening to 80's songs
And quoting lines from all those movies that we love
It still brings a smile to my face
I guess when it comes down to it
Being grown up isn't half as fun as growing up
These are the best days of our lives
The only thing that matters is just following your heart
And eventually you'll finally get it right
Breaking into hotel swimming pools
And wreaking havoc on our world
Hanging out at truck stops
Just to pass the time
The blacktop singing me to sleep
Lighting fireworks in parking lots
Illuminate the blackest nights
Cherry cokes under this moonlit summer sky
2015 Riverside, it's time to say goodbye
Get on the bus, it's time to go
Being grown up isn't half as fun as growing up
These are the best days of our lives
The only thing that matters is just following your heart
And eventually you'll finally get it right
(Get it right)
Being grown up isn't half as fun as growing up
These are the best days of our lives
The only thing that matters is just following your heart
And eventually you'll finally get it right
@55kronwalled55
At the age of 39, this song brings a tear to my eye. I miss days like this , and I still haven't got it right!
@amberveg3791
It’s never too late.
@c7adventures376
Dont give up bro. That is what the SB music scene was all about. 🤘 get up and keep rocking. 🤘
@Phoenix_VR
I 2nd what Amber said, and I am 41 too :))
Cheer up and be happy :))
@simonlin9893
I'm 38. I am just like you never got it right... The only memories I like to think of were the best old days at high school...
@serv4ntPGR
Best times brah.. nowadays it's just woke trash everywhere
@johndempesy615
"Being grown up isn't half as fun as growing up" is 100% accurate.
@pvtrichter88
@John Dempesy I really needed to hear that tonight and this song and that line is BANG-ON!
@Aloysius10
Actually high school sucks. You find out the hard way the hypocrisies and worthlessness of authority.
@robertsoley2989
I Agree. I never felt happy/pleasure ONCE till now when i'm 28