Throughout the band's existence, the duo toured and recorded with a revolving door of musicians, and as of 2007, the band consisted of guitarists Mike Schey and Mark Buzard, bassist Don Raymond, drummer Adam Boyd, and its principal members, singer Nate Ruess and multi-instrumentalist Sam Means. The band chose their name to make fun of the music industry's inclination towards a cookie-cutter "format" for a hit. Despite this critique of the music industry, the band's aptly-titled first single--"The First Single" (from their five-song debut EP on Western Tread)--became popular in the Southwest music scene. This success led to The Format's signing with Elektra Records in 2002. Their first major label release and full-length album Interventions and Lullabies was released in October 2003. However, Elektra began to fold into a merger just as the album was rolling out its promotion, leaving the band as merely an afterthought as label restructuring began. The band toured North America for about two years while making plans for a new album and waiting out industry red tape.
The Format released a second EP on Atlantic (which had absorbed much of Elektra's roster after the label folded) titled Snails in April 2005. Although the EP was not a conventional mass release, it could be purchased at any of the band's performances, from their online merch store, and on iTunes. Not long after the release of the Snails EP, The Format was dropped from Atlantic. Due to their frustrating experiences with major labels, the band chose to record and release their second full-length album Dog Problems independently on The Vanity Label. The July 11, 2006 release of Dog Problems came two months after the band released the album for download on their website, in a move to combat an early leak.
On February 4, 2008, The Format announced that they will putting the band on hiatus because of creative differences. Nate Ruess already has plans to release a solo album which is scheduled to come out later this year.
Nate Ruess, the band's singer and lyricist, left the following message on the band's website:
"We have just put out word that we will not be making a new Format album. Please understand this was a tough decision and we're both upset about it. While we accept there will be false speculation as to why, understand that Sam and I remain extremely close and in fact are still passing the twin peaks box set back and forth in an attempt to figure out who REALLY killed Laura Palmer. We also want to thank everyone with and within the Format, particularly Mike, Don, and Marko, whom without, none of this would have ever even been fully realized. We both suggest you support their musical talents and whatever they decide to do. And lastly we want to thank the fans who made this the best 5 years of our lives."
Ruess announced August 11, 2008 that he is starting a new project called fun. with Andrew Dost formerly of Anathallo and Jack Antonof of Steel Train.
The Vanity Label, an imprint of major label Nettwerk, is managed by the band.
Since the end of The Format, Sam has continued designing merchandise. He converted theformatmerch.com into hellomerch.com where he features his newest work.
On February 4, 2020, the band announced a return from their hiatus for a tour of special shows.
If Work Permits
The Format Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
carried cheap perfume onto your dresser
it rained for jewelry and for credit cards
two tickets to a film i dont remember
one day youll kiss your rabbits nose, pick up the phone
to find ive been turned over
and youll grab that piece of gold
only to find that the smell has taken over
as what you hold
im standing in a room,
its filled with older folks pleading "baby listen"
and i scream as loud as anyone,
but when asked to make a point i tend to whisper
now highways turn to tidal waves
theyre asking me to export all of your insecurities
but that wind that blows across your room
its gonna set the sails, and send me back to you
sometimes, when sailors are sailing
they think twice, about where theyre anchoring
and i think, i could make better time of my time on land
ill drink less
cause lord knows i could use a warm kiss
instead of a cold goodbye
im writing the folks back home to tell them
"hey im doing alright"
its a shame what your father did to your brothers head
he smashed it with a telephone
and your mother got scared and locked the door
you were only four, but lord you remember it
so now youre scared of love
im here to tell you loves not some blood on the reciever
love is speaking in code
its an inside joke
love is coming home
sometimes, when sailors are sailing
they think twice, about where theyre anchoring
and i think, i could make better time of my time on land
ill drink less
cause lord knows i could use a warm kiss
instead of a cold goodbye
im writing the folks back home to tell them
"hey im doing alright"
yeah im doing just fine
and if she seems as lonely as me.....
let her sink.
let her sink.
let her
The lyrics to The Format's song "If Work Permits" depict a longing and yearning for connection and love while recognizing the scars of past trauma. The first verse is filled with imagery of lost items and distorted memories, suggesting a sense of loss and despair. The line "now all the things you had, they aren't the same... as what you hold" speaks to the idea that although one may have material possessions, they cannot compare to the emotional fulfillment that comes from love and human connection.
The second verse introduces a group of older individuals pleading for attention, representing the pressures of society and the need to conform to expectations. The singer confesses to feeling lost, as if he is unable to make his point heard amidst the chaos of the world. Despite this, he still holds onto hope and the idea that love can conquer all. The final verse speaks to the impact of childhood trauma and how it can warp one's view of love and relationships. The singer attempts to redefine love as something that is not violent or abusive but rather a connection founded on communication and understanding.
Overall, "If Work Permits" is a poignant and emotional song that speaks to the complex nature of human relationships and the beauty in striving for connection despite the scars of past trauma.
Line by Line Meaning
So the wind that blows across your room
The same wind that carries the scent of cheap perfume into your room will also carry my love to you.
carried cheap perfume onto your dresser
The wind brought with it a familiar and unpleasant scent.
it rained for jewelry and for credit cards
You spent your money carelessly on material things that won't last.
two tickets to a film i dont remember
We shared a fleeting memory that I can't truly recall.
one day youll kiss your rabbits nose, pick up the phone
You'll miss me one day and try to reach out to me for comfort.
to find ive been turned over
To discover that I've moved on and left you behind.
and youll grab that piece of gold
You'll cling to the material things that represent our past love.
only to find that the smell has taken over
But their significance has faded and the memories tarnished by the bitter end of our relationship.
now all the things you had, they arent the same...
The things you once held so dear have lost their value in your life.
as what you hold
Compared to the love that you lost, these possessions mean very little.
im standing in a room,
I'm surrounded by people who want to give me advice on love.
its filled with older folks pleading baby listen
But their wisdom and insistence falls on deaf ears, and I feel misunderstood.
and i scream as loud as anyone,
I'm just as passionate as anyone else when it comes to love and heartbreak.
but when asked to make a point i tend to whisper
But when it comes to actually sharing my thoughts and feelings, I tend to hold back.
now highways turn to tidal waves
My journey is tumultuous and overwhelming.
theyre asking me to export all of your insecurities
Others are asking me to analyze and share your deepest flaws and fears.
but that wind that blows across your room
But the same wind that carried my love to you will also help guide me back to you.
its gonna set the sails, and send me back to you
I trust that fate will bring us back together again.
sometimes, when sailors are sailing
Comparing my journey to that of a sailor on the open sea.
they think twice, about where theyre anchoring
Being cautious about where they decide to stop and rest.
and i think, i could make better time of my time on land
I'm considering whether I should stay on land or continue searching for love elsewhere.
ill drink less
I'll try to be more responsible with my choices and actions.
cause lord knows i could use a warm kiss
Because I crave affection and comfort after experiencing heartbreak.
instead of a cold goodbye
Rather than ending things without closure or communication.
im writing the folks back home to tell them hey im doing alright
Letting my loved ones know that I'm okay and moving forward from the pain of the past.
yeah im doing just fine
Repeating that I'm doing well despite the difficulties I've faced.
and if she seems as lonely as me.....
If you ever feel as lost and alone as I do...
let her sink.
Don't try to save her, or us, anymore.
let her sink.
Let the idea of our love fade away and move on from it.
Contributed by Dylan P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.