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.
Take Me Back
The Ataris Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I guess it's better off that way.
There's really not much left to say.
I called you on the phone,
Another guy said that you weren't at
Home,
But, I don't care I'll call you again
Anyway.
Baby I'd give you the world...
Please forget about those fifteen other
Girls.
I don't care what they say...
I didn't mean to stand you up on our
Wedding day.
I'm sorry that I gave you that infection,
And said we had sex on the Love
Connection.
Can I ever make it up to you?
I'm sorry that I made you mad,
The things I did just didn't seem that
Bad...
Except for maybe when I blew up your
Car.
Oh baby what can I do?
Every girl I'm with makes me think of
You.
I call your name in my sleep,
Too bad you think that I'm a creep.
Please take me back
Please take me back
Please take me back
Please take me back
Please take me back
The Ataris's song "Take Me Back" is a heart-wrenching plea from the perspective of a man desperately seeking forgiveness and another chance with his lost love. The opening lines of "I am blue, the sky is grey, I guess it's better off that way" set the tone for the rest of the song, with the singer feeling devastated and alone following the dissolution of his relationship. He tries to call his former partner, but someone else tells him she isn't home, leaving him feeling even more isolated. Despite all of the pain he's caused her, he still loves her deeply and would do anything to be back in her good graces, even if it means giving her the world and begging for her forgiveness.
The lyrics of this song are incredibly raw and vulnerable, with the singer admitting to his past mistakes and asking for another chance. He reveals that he stood her up on their wedding day and gave her an infection, as well as blew up her car - all of which are incredibly serious offenses. However, the desperation in his voice is palpable, with him calling out her name in his sleep and lamenting how she sees him as a creep. At the end of the day, all he wants is to be reunited with the one he loves, and he ends the song with a repeated plea of "Please take me back."
Overall, "Take Me Back" is a poignant and emotional song that explores the pain and regret that come with losing a loved one. The singer is fully aware of the wrongs he's committed and accepts responsibility for them, but he still holds out hope that he can make things right and be given a second chance with the woman he loves.
Line by Line Meaning
I am blue, the sky is grey,
I guess it's better off that way.
There's really not much left to say.
I'm feeling down and everything seems bleak. It's probably better if we don't speak much because I don't have much to say.
I called you on the phone,
Another guy said that you weren't at
Home,
But, I don't care I'll call you again
Anyway.
I tried to contact you but someone else said you weren't there. It doesn't matter, I'll try calling you again regardless.
Baby I'd give you the world...
Please forget about those fifteen other
Girls.
I don't care what they say...
I didn't mean to stand you up on our
Wedding day.
I'd give you anything you want, just forget those other girls. Don't listen to them. I'm sorry for not showing up on our wedding day.
I'm sorry that I gave you that infection,
And said we had sex on the Love
Connection.
Can I ever make it up to you?
I apologize for giving you an infection and lying about us having sex on TV. Can I make it up to you somehow?
I'm sorry that I made you mad,
The things I did just didn't seem that
Bad...
Except for maybe when I blew up your
Car.
I'm sorry for upsetting you, but what I did wasn't that bad... except for blowing up your car.
Oh baby what can I do?
Every girl I'm with makes me think of
You.
I call your name in my sleep,
Too bad you think that I'm a creep.
I don't know what to do without you. Every girl I'm with reminds me of you. I dream about you and say your name in my sleep, but unfortunately, you think I'm creepy.
Please take me back
Please take me back
Please take me back
Please take me back
Please take me back
I know I messed up, but please give me another chance. I'm begging you to take me back.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOE (AKA) CUTFATHER & JOE BELMAATI, JOSEPH BELMAATI, MICH HANSEN, PERNILLE GEORGI, SUSANNE GEORGI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind