The Get Up Kids were viewed throughout their existence as a prototypical emo band, having been major players in the Midwest emo movement of the mid-1990s.[4] However, like many early emo bands, The Get Up Kids sought to dissociate themselves with the term, as it was considered dismissive to be seen as an "emo band."Years later, guitarist Jim Suptic even apologized for having the influence they did on many of the modern third-wave emo bands, commenting that "the punk scene we came out of and the punk scene now are completely different. It’s like glam rock now . . . If this is the world we helped create, then I apologize.”
Influential Kansas City five piece, The Get Up Kids, return in January 2011 with a new studio album,There Are Rules – the band’s fifth full-length collection, and the first on their own Quality Hill Records imprint.
Seven years after what looked to be their final album Guilt Show, with the group disbanding a year later in 2005 after 10 years of constant touring, The Get Up Kids returned to the studio in 2009, sparked by a spur-of-the-moment decision to start writing songs together again, made while they were rehearsing to promote the tenth anniversary edition of their breakout album ‘Something to Write Home About’.
The first fruits of these new recordings was ‘Simple Science’, released in April 2010 - an EP that burst, unannounced, into the Billboard Top 200. But that was just a taste – a precursor to the full-length album, which Alternative Press magazine, upon hearing a whisper of its existence, placed on their “most anticipated…” list.
The band re-convened at their Black Lodge studio in Eudora, KS at various times in 2010 to complete the recordings, and so ‘There Are Rules’ came to be - twelve new songs that will prove to be both surprising, and familiar. The result is a collection of songs that are fresh and inspired, created by a band that has been given new life and isn’t looking back. In some fashion, the new tracks mark a return to the early days of The Get Up Kids, when they formed fifteen years ago above a drum store in downtown Kansas City. The recording involved lots of analog 2” tape – live takes and a feel for the unexpected. Long time producer Ed Rose was once again seated behind the mixing desk, and the band even turned to Chicago luminary Bob Weston, who recorded their debut, Four Minute Mile, to master the album. “This record came together really organically. We'd throw out an idea and if it didn't work after 30 minutes we'd scrap it and move on to another one. We all wrote together really spontaneously and then fleshed it out with Ed in the studio," says Matt Pryor.
At the same time, ‘There Are Rules’ marks a new chapter for The Get Up Kids, as they return to their independent roots, forming their own label – Quality Hill Records – and reigniting the DIY spirit that originally launched the band onto the worldwide stage. Says Pryor, “"We had a really great relationship with Vagrant but we felt that with the proverbial rebirth of the band we wanted to start our own label. Do everything ourselves like we did in the beginning." And as to naming the imprint? "Quality Hill is a historic neighborhood in Kansas City. It's not far from where we first formed the band. It seems like an appropriate name for the label." And of course, echoing their formative years, there is a 7” single involved. That 45 would be ‘Automatic’ – a limited edition release due in January 2011.
And so, after touring across four continents to sold out crowds too many times to count, after becoming a crucial part of what has been called the “second wave of emo” in the 90’s along with bands like Braid and The Promise Ring and influencing a list of bands as long as your arm, after 15 years, 4 acclaimed studio albums, a collection of rarities, a live record, numerous 7"s and EPs the Kansas City five piece – Matthew Pryor on vocals and guitar, Rob Pope on bass, Jim Suptic on guitars and vocals, James Dewees on keyboards and Ryan Pope on drums - are excited to unveil ‘There Are Rules’ in 2011, proving that the final chapter for The Get Up Kids has yet to be written.
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The Get Up Kids Lyrics
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To the tune of ten thousand lisps
Who would have thought we'd represent
When I can't take a compliment?
Overexposure is the key
And any focus on me
Is appreciated as it should be
I finally found
The right formula for
You taught me how I play the fool
Every mistake that I make
I couldn't have made without you
What's said is done and plain to see
You take it all too seriously
What better way to make an honest mistake
Than a televised hand of fate
When the world's closing in on you
A decision would be overdue
Now nothing left is out of hand
A stronger jaded man stands
If the world is ending
Then we toast to it
I'm stronger now
But not without
The right formula for
You taught me how I play the fool
Every mistake that I make
I couldn't have made without you
What's said is done and plain to see
Here's all you get from me
Here's all you get from me
I'm down for whatever
What's there left to wait for?
I'm down for whatever
What's there left to wait for?
Wait for?
I wait
You taught me how I play the fool
Every mistake that I make
I couldn't have made without you
What's said is done and plain to see
Here's all you get from me
The song "Action & Action" by The Get Up Kids is about the struggles of fame and the pressure that comes with it. The lyrics suggest that the singer is a celebrity who is constantly in the spotlight and has become desensitized to it over time. They reflect on the idea that they have become bigger than they anticipated and are now conscious of their actions and the consequences of their mistakes. The line "Who would have thought we'd represent?" implies that the singer didn't plan for this level of success.
The chorus of the song is about the singer's relationship with someone who has helped them along the way, possibly a friend or fellow band member. The lyrics "You taught me how I play the fool, every mistake that I make, I couldn't have made without you" suggest that this person has been their support system and has helped shape their career. However, the line "What's said is done and plain to see, here's all you get from me" indicates that the singer has reached a point where they need to take control of their own decisions and take responsibility for their mistakes.
The bridge of the song acknowledges the pressure that comes with fame, being constantly scrutinized and judged by the public eye. The line "When the world's closing in on you, a decision would be overdue" suggests that the singer feels trapped and overwhelmed by the situation. The song ends with the repetition of the phrase "I'm down for whatever, what's there left to wait for?" implying that the singer is ready to face the consequences of their actions and move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
You really think that you're bigger than this
You have an overinflated sense of self-importance
To the tune of ten thousand lisps
You speak with a false tone, lacking authenticity
Who would have thought we'd represent
No one expected us to succeed or be representative of anything
When I can't take a compliment?
I struggle with accepting praise from others
Overexposure is the key
Being in the public eye constantly is necessary for success
And any focus on me
Attention on myself is welcomed
Is appreciated as it should be
I am deserving of admiration and recognition
You taught me how I play the fool
I learned from you how to make mistakes and not take things seriously
Every mistake that I make
I have messed up many times in my life
I couldn't have made without you
Without your influence, I may have made different choices and not learned as much
What's said is done and plain to see
There's no denying the consequences of our actions and choices
You take it all too seriously
You are too intense and need to lighten up
What better way to make an honest mistake
Mistakes are valuable learning experiences
Than a televised hand of fate
Making a mistake on a public platform means the world is watching
When the world's closing in on you
Feeling trapped and overwhelmed by circumstances
A decision would be overdue
It's time to make a choice and take action
Now nothing left is out of hand
Things are under control and manageable now
A stronger jaded man stands
I am more resilient and experienced now, but also more cynical
If the world is ending
In the face of chaos and destruction
Then we toast to it
Celebrate the moment, even if it's hopeless
I'm down for whatever
I'm open to anything
What's there left to wait for?
Why delay or hesitate any longer?
Wait for?
Is there really any reason to continue waiting?
Here's all you get from me
This is everything I have to offer
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave
Written by: James Dewees, James Suptic, Matthew Patrick Pryor, Rob Pope, Ryan Pope
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind