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.
She Doesn't Get It
The Format Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All the boys got the same girls' hair
Well, I am bored cause I feel much older
I mean, as if I got a reason to stare
But you talk so loud
And it calms me down
You're crying Let's make a toast
She said she's leaving on Sunday
That leaves me one more night
Can I take you home?
I know it's wrong but I know your type
She said she's leaving on a Sunday
I don't care, I need to know where to turn
I tried it once, it never caught on
I was the only that got burned
I've read every word you said
From a poster of a cat
Four books lay across your sofa
I thought your coffee table was more clever than that
Gets worse once we get to her room
She stops and she sings
Doot doot doo doot doot doo doo doo
I claim New Religion is my song
She doesn't get it, it's all before she's born
And you lock your door
Like I've been here before
I feel like I've seen a ghost
She said she's leaving on Sunday
That leaves me one more night
Can I take you home?
I know it's wrong but I know your type
She said she's leaving on a Sunday
I don't care, I need to know where to turn
I tried it once, it never caught on
I was the only that got burned
I was the only that got burned
Suddenly between sheets and eyelids
I am reminded why I don't do this
I fall in love far too quickly
I never want her to forget me
When you're gone
Will you call?
Will you write?
She said she's leaving on Sunday
That leaves me one more night
Can I take you home?
I know it's wrong but I know your type
She said she's leaving on Sunday
That leaves me one more night
Can I take you home?
I know it's wrong but I know your type
She said she's leaving on a Sunday
I don't care, I need to know where to turn
I tried it once, it never caught on
I was the only one that got burned
I was the only one that got burned
I was the only one that got burned
I was the only one that got burned
The Format's song She Doesn't Get It is about a guy who meets a girl that he is interested in but he knows that she will be leaving soon. The song paints a picture of young love and lust as he talks about her leaving on Sunday and how he wants to spend the remaining time with her. The song is nostalgic and vulnerable as he reflects on his own feelings and his fears of falling too fast for someone who is leaving soon.
In the first verse, the lyrics describe how everyone seems the same and how he is getting bored. However, the girl he meets stands out because of how loud and vibrant she is. In the chorus, he talks about how she will be leaving soon but he still wants to spend the night with her. He knows it is wrong but he can't help himself.
In the second verse, he describes her apartment and how he thinks her coffee table is not impressive enough. He talks about how he and the girl finally make it to her bedroom and she starts to sing. He claims that a certain song is his, but she doesn't understand it because it is from before her time. He then talks about how he falls in love too quickly and that he never wants to be forgotten.
The song is a relatable story about a brief encounter between two people who share a connection. It shows the longing for someone and the fear of being forgotten. The song is a mix of melancholy and joy, capturing the ups and downs of love and lust.
Line by Line Meaning
All the girls pose the same for pictures
Girls behave similarly when taking photos
All the boys got the same girls' hair
Boys have the same hairstyle as popular girls
Well, I am bored cause I feel much older
I'm tired of these repetitive behaviors, feeling older than my age
I mean, as if I got a reason to stare
I have no reason to look at them
But you talk so loud
You speak loudly
And it calms me down
Your voice makes me calm
You're crying Let's make a toast
Even though you're crying, let's drink to something
She said she's leaving on Sunday
She told me she is leaving on Sunday
That leaves me one more night
I have only one night left with her
Can I take you home?
May I accompany you home?
I know it's wrong but I know your type
I'm aware that it's inappropriate, but I'm attracted to your personality
I don't care, I need to know where to turn
I don't care about her leaving, I just want to know where to go
I tried it once, it never caught on
I attempted a similar situation previously, but it didn't work out
I was the only that got burned
I was the only one who was hurt in the end
I've read every word you said
I've read everything you've written
From a poster of a cat
It was on a picture of a cat
Four books lay across your sofa
There were four books on your couch
I thought your coffee table was more clever than that
I expected your coffee table to be more interesting
Gets worse once we get to her room
Things become more complicated once we reach her room
She stops and she sings
She stops to sing
Doot doot doo doot doot doo doo doo
She sings an unknown, random melody
I claim New Religion is my song
I assert that New Religion is my song
She doesn't get it, it's all before she's born
She doesn't understand the song, she is too young to know it
And you lock your door
You lock your door
Like I've been here before
It feels like I've been here before
I feel like I've seen a ghost
I feel like I'm seeing a ghost
Suddenly between sheets and eyelids
In between sleep and being awake
I am reminded why I don't do this
I remember why I avoid these situations
I fall in love far too quickly
I tend to rapidly fall in love
I never want her to forget me
I don't want her to forget me
When you're gone
When you leave
Will you call?
Will you call me?
Will you write?
Will you write to me?
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Robin Williams
All the girls pose for the same four pictures
All the boys got the same girls' hair
And I am bored because I feel much older
Look at me as if I got a reason to stare
But you talk so loud that it calms me down
You're crying, "Let's make a toast!"
[Chorus]
She says she's leaving on a Sunday
Oh, that leaves me one more night
Can I take you home?
I know it's wrong, but I know your type
She says she's leaving on a Sunday
I don't care, I need to know where to turn
I tried it once, it never caught on
I was the only one who got burned
I've read every word you've said
From a poster of a cat
Four books look across your sofa
I thought your coffee table was more clever than that
It gets worse once we get to her room
She stops and she sings, "Do do do do do do do do"
I claim "New Religion" is my song
She doesn't get it
It's all before she was born
And you lock your door
Like I've been here before
I feel like I've seen a ghost
[Chorus]
Suddenly between sheets and eyelids
I am reminded why I don't do this
I fall in love far too quickly
I never want her to forget me
When you're gone
Will you call, will you write?
[Chorus]
She says she's leaving on a Sunday
I don't care, I need to know where to turn
I tried it once, it never caught on
I was the only one who got burned
I was the only one who got burned
I was the only one who got burned
I was the only one who got burned
Hanna Hanna1
LyricsLyrics
All the girls pose the same for pictures
All the boys have the same girl's hair.
And I am bored because I feel much older,
Look at me as if I got a reason to stare.
But you talk so loud, that it calms me down.
You're crying, "let's make a toast."
She says she's leavin on a Sunday,
That leaves me one more night.
Can I take you home?
I know it's wrong, but I know your type.
She says she's leavin on a Sunday,
I don't care I need to know where to turn.
I tried it once it never caught on,
I was the only one who got burned.
I've read every word you've said,
From a poster of a cat.
Four books look across your sofa,
I thought your coffee table was more clever than that.
It gets worse once we get to her room she stops and she sings "do do do do do do do do"
I claim "New Religion" is my song,
She doesn't get it,
It's all before she's born.
And you lock your door,
Like I've been here before.
I feel like I've seen a ghost.
She says she's leavin on a Sunday,
That leaves me one more night.
Can I take you home?
I know it's wrong, but I know your type.
She says she's leavin on a Sunday,
I don't care I need to know where to turn.
I tried it once it never caught on,
I was the only one who got burned.
I was the only one who got burned.
Suddenly between sheets and eyelids, I am reminded why I don't do this.
I fall in love far too quickly,
I never want her to forget me.
When you're gone,
Will you call?
Will you write?
She says she's leavin on a Sunday,
That leaves me one more night.
Can I take you home?
I know it's wrong, but I know your type.
She says she's leavin on a Sunday,
That leaves me one more night.
Can I take you home?
I know it's wrong, but I know your type.
She says she's leavin on a Sunday,
I don't care I need to know where to turn.
I tried it once it never caught on,
I was the only one who got burned.
I was the only one who got burned.
I was the only one who got burned.
I was the only one who got burned.
Brandon Mikel Paul
I wish I could go back and see some of my favorite bands live. The Format is at the top of my list.
Anthony Paredes
I wish it was still the early 2000's lol
ThizzleMeTimbrs
They were about to have a reunion tour before covid. Same with from autumn to ashes. But that ruined it
JakevO8
God I love The Format, what an amazing band they were, such a great upbeat sound, awesome lyrics, so different from anything else out there, this is what music needs nowadays!
Anthony Paredes
This song literally embodies my entire high school experience, graduated in 2012. Man I miss the early 2000's.
Anthony Paredes
@Stephen nice. Was not the album that got me into music but just listening to the lyric content in this song it's such a call back to how things were around that time. "All the girls post the same 4 pictures, all the boys got the same girls hair" literally embodies how things were back then for me.
Emma Eveld
I cannot believe only 600,000 people have watched this video. Even though they broke up, the Format deserves millions of views! This band is amazing and so unique! And now Nate Ruess is in the band called Fun so everyone should check that out too. Amazing stuff
Juongsiang Lim
It's another million now mate
Wubqueen
LOVED The Format. So happy for Nate in his next stage but damn I miss them
Puck Bradley
They're back!