Kris Roe also took on the role of managing other punk bands such as Useless ID from Haifa, Israel. They collaborated on a split EP entitled "Let It Burn". Kris also acted as co-producer with Mass Giorgini (whose other production credits include working alongside Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day) for a ]label]Cincinnati, OH-based band called the National Trust in 2004, an album which is as-of-yet unreleased..
After a long delay, the album End Is Forever was released in 2001. This album was a testament to Kris Roe's increasing maturity as a songwriter. Most of the songs, especially "Fast Times at Dropout High", touched on very personal and emotional topics such as losing a sibling because his parents gave his newborn brother away for adoption. Once again the lineup changed, with John Collura replacing Peña on guitar.
On the 24th of June 2002 The Ataris left Kung Fu Records and signed with Columbia Records. Later in that year they recorded their 6th album, "So Long, Astoria", released on March 4th, 2003. This album was responsible for giving them their break into the mainstream audience and generated many successful singles, including "In This Diary" and their cover of Don Henley's "The Boys of Summer".
After touring behind the album for most of 2003, the band began writing the follow-up to "So Long, Astoria". Much of 2004 was spent in inactivity. In February of 2004, the band released "Live At The Metro", an album containing a full concert at The Metro in Chicago, as well as acoustic tracks. Mike Davenport and Chris Knapp left the band in early 2005.
Recording of "Welcome the Night" began in February 2005. Along with it came five new members - Sean Hansen filling the bass position, Shane Chickeles on drums, and guitarist Paul Carabello, Angus Cooke (Who played Cello on "End Is Forever"), and Bob Hoag on 3rd guitar, Cello, and Keyboards respectively. The group spent all of spring and summer recording at Seedy Underbelly in Los Angeles. "Welcome the Night" was orginally due out in April or May of 2006 but as of March 2006 the release date was pushed back to July of 2006. The release date of this album was once again been pushed back to possibly early 2007 after The Ataris asked to be released from their contract with Columbia Records, which the label agreed too. The "Welcome the Night" album was released in late February to an eager Ataris fan base. Unfortunately, it was not what they expected. The "Welcome the Night" album took a completely different approach to music. In a drastic deviation from his past traditions of whimsical, nostalgic pop songs, Roe used the new album to pursue a much more mature post-rock/progressive sound, an initiative which many speculate arose from the divorce of his wife and other personal conflicts. While "Welcome the Night" is certainly a great departure from The Ataris' roots, Roe has indicated that their upcoming release will attempt to return to the happy, youthful overtures that older fans have grown accustomed to.
San Dimas High School Football Rules
The Ataris Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Went on all the rides, didn't have to wait in line.
I drove you to your house where we stared up at the stars
I listened to your heartbeat as I held you in my arms.
We hung out at the rainbow where we drank til' half past two.
Nothing could go wrong anytime that I'm with you.
Like crashing a hotel room or leading up to that first kiss
These are the things that make me free
I feel like I'm stuck in "stand by me"
This night was too good to be true.
Today I woke up alone wishing you were here with me,
I wanted us to be something that we'd probably never be.
Today you called me up and said you'd see me at our show,
But now I'm stuck debating if I even want to go.
Whitney, don't you understand here what I say is true?
I just want you to know I have a major crush on you.
I'd drive you to Las Vegas and do the things you want to do
I'd even have Wayne Newton dedicate a song to you.
I only wish that this could be
Just dump your boyfriend and go out with me
I swear I'd treat you like a queen.
The Ataris's song San Dimas High School Football Rules is a coming-of-age tale of unrequited love and youthful rebellion. The opening lines describe a dream in which the singer and his crush spend a perfect day together, free from the constraints of waiting in line or worrying about consequences. However, the dream is shattered when the singer wakes up alone and realizes that his feelings will likely never be reciprocated. The chorus suggests that the singer feels trapped in his current situation and longs for the freedom of his youthful adventures.
The second verse reveals that the singer's crush, Whitney, has called him to come to their show. However, he is torn between wanting to see her and the pain of unrequited love. The bridge of the song is a heartfelt declaration of the singer's feelings for Whitney, including a promise to treat her like a queen.
Overall, the song captures the angst and uncertainty of adolescence, with a wistful tone that suggests both the joys and pains of growing up.
Line by Line Meaning
Last night I had a dream that we went to Disneyland,
I had a dream last night where we went to Disneyland together.
Went on all the rides, didn't have to wait in line.
We went on all the rides without waiting in line.
I drove you to your house where we stared up at the stars
I drove you home and we gazed at the stars together.
I listened to your heartbeat as I held you in my arms.
I held you in my arms and listened to your heartbeat.
We hung out at the rainbow where we drank til' half past two.
We spent time at the Rainbow Bar and had drinks until 2:30 AM.
Nothing could go wrong anytime that I'm with you.
I feel invincible when I'm with you because everything seems perfect.
Like crashing a hotel room or leading up to that first kiss
Things like sneaking into a hotel room or experiencing the anticipation of a first kiss.
Or searching for a high school that you know doesn't exist
Doing things that are impossible, like trying to find a non-existent high school.
These are the things that make me free
These experiences make me feel liberated and carefree.
I feel like I'm stuck in "stand by me"
I feel like I'm living in a movie, like the film Stand By Me.
This night was too good to be true.
I can't believe how perfect this night was.
Today I woke up alone wishing you were here with me,
When I woke up today, I felt lonely and wished you were there with me.
I wanted us to be something that we'd probably never be.
I wanted us to have a relationship, but I knew it wouldn't likely happen.
Today you called me up and said you'd see me at our show,
You called me today and said you would come to our concert.
But now I'm stuck debating if I even want to go.
But now I'm not sure I even want to go anymore.
Whitney, don't you understand here what I say is true?
Whitney, do you understand that what I'm saying is genuine?
I just want you to know I have a major crush on you.
I want you to know that I have strong feelings for you.
I'd drive you to Las Vegas and do the things you want to do
I'd take you to Las Vegas and do anything you wanted to do.
I'd even have Wayne Newton dedicate a song to you.
I'd go so far as to have Wayne Newton dedicate a song to you.
I only wish that this could be
I wish that we could be together.
Just dump your boyfriend and go out with me
Break up with your current partner and be with me instead.
I swear I'd treat you like a queen.
I promise to treat you like royalty.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Kris Roe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@iPrincessKaylee
Lyrics:
Last night I had a dream that we went to Disneyland
Went on all the rides, didn't have to wait in line
I took you to your house where we stared up at the stars
I listened to your heartbeat as I held you in my arms
We hung out at the Rainbow where we drank 'till half past two
Nothing could go wrong anytime that I'm with you
Like crashing a hotel room or leading up to that first kiss
Or searching for a high school that you know doesn't exist
These are the things that make me free
I feel like I'm stuck in stand by me
This night was too good to be true
Today I woke up alone wishing you were here with me
I want us to be something that we'd probably never be
Today you called me up and said you'd see me at our show
But now I'm stuck debating if I even want to go
Whitney, don't you understand that what I say is true?
I just want you to know I have a major crush on you
I'd drive you to Las Vegas and do the things you wanna do
I'd even have Wayne Newton dedicate a song to you
I only wish that this could be
Just dump your boyfriend and go out with me
I swear I'd treat you like a queen
A queen
@87bebadbrad
Last night I had a dream that we went to Disneyland,
Went on all the rides, didn't have to wait in line.
I drove you to your house where we stared up at the stars
I listened to your heartbeat as I held you in my arms.
We hung out at the rainbow where we drank til' half past two.
Nothing could go wrong anytime that I'm with you.
Like crashing a hotel room or leading up to that first kiss
Or searching for a high school that you know doesn't exist...
These are the things that make me free
I feel like I'm stuck in "Stand By Me"
This night was too good to be true.
Today I woke up alone wishing you were here with me,
I wanted us to be something that we'd probably never be.
Today you called me up and said you'd see me at our show,
But now I'm stuck debating if I even wanna go.
Baby, don't you understand that what I say is true?
I just want you to know I have a major crush on you.
I'd drive you to Las Vegas and do the things you wanna do
I'd even have Wayne Newton dedicate a song to you.
I only wish that this could be
Just dump your boyfriend and go out with me
I swear I'd treat you like a queen
@blairlohnes8103
Crazy how one track can make my brain drop so many chemicals.
@KungFuRecords
🤘😎
@coldsnap9788
@Mark my words drugs rule but are not necessary
@TheMandragole
Totally agree ❤️
@alittlepieceofmylife3366
Same!!!!! It makes me cry in a good way 😂
@michaelfournier4908
I saw them in a dive and talked to the drummer for ages. I miss those punk rock days.
@mikeybeeee07
This song defined the early 2000s and pop punk.
Forever an all time anthem. Summer time wouldn't be complete with blasting this every night even going on 20 years later.
Love it.
@MrParkerman6
It's STILL the early 2000s, stupid fuck! Will be until 3000, idiot! STOP using it in the past tense, fucking moron!
@leahdivine5071
Kung Fu you were part of my teenage punk fix. I was 16 driving w/my boyfriend and we would listen to this song over and over! I’m 38 now it just brings me back when I hear this song!
@mrvicious5304
Love this album, reminds me of my childhood. Being 14 and in love with life.