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.
I'm Sorry
The Get Up Kids Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gravity reminded me how far I had to fall
But once I figured out what the world was all about
The walls I built to keep it in were crumbling down
Nothing lasts forever, why does it have to hurt so bad?
Holding on to something we never really had
If questions go unanswered, it just keeps me moving on
I never wanna miss your birthday parties
I just really wanna see you smiling
Never wanna have to say I'm sorry
I'm sorry, I'm sorry
And never wanna just leave you guessing
All I really want is things to stay the same
I never wanna have to say I'm sorry
I'm sorry again
Time keeps moving on, so many friends have come and gone
History reminded me to know when I was wrong
And all the lessons that I've learned
But given up and still get burned
I chased away what followed me
You can't steal what I have done
If nothing lasts forever, why does it have to hurt so bad?
When you're holding on to something we never really had
If questions go unanswered, it just keeps me moving on
I never wanna miss your birthday parties
I just really wanna see you smiling
Never wanna have to say I'm sorry
I'm sorry, I'm sorry
And never wanna just leave you guessing
All I really want is things to stay the same
I never wanna have to say I'm sorry
I'm sorry again
I've tried a million times
Still looking for a time that makes it all seem real
It's all too real
I never wanna miss your birthday parties
I just really wanna see you smiling
Never wanna have to say I'm sorry
I'm sorry, I'm sorry
And never wanna just leave you guessing
All I really want is things to stay the same
I never wanna have to say I'm sorry
I'm sorry again
I never wanna miss your birthday parties
Just really wanna see you smiling
Never wanna have to say I'm sorry
I'm sorry, I'm sorry
Never wanna just leave you guessing
All I really want is things to stay the same
I never wanna have to say I'm sorry
I'm sorry again
The lyrics to The Get Up Kids' "I'm Sorry" are an expression of regret and nostalgia. The song speaks to the reality that life is constantly changing and relationships can be fleeting. The first verse highlights how the singer has grown up and has come to understand the world better, but also realizes that the walls they built to protect themselves are falling down. This realization is often accompanied by pain and hurt, and the chorus emphasizes the desire to maintain relationships without causing harm.
The second verse reflects on the singer's past mistakes and the importance of learning from them. Despite these intentions, they still get burned and hurt. The bridge reveals the pain of trying to make sense of the past and how it often feels unreal. The song ends with the chorus repeating the desire to maintain beloved relationships without having to apologize.
Overall, "I'm Sorry" is a song about the importance of relationships and the desire to maintain them despite the pain and hurt that inevitably come with them. It is a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and how the relationships we build are precious and should be cherished.
Line by Line Meaning
Years and years ago, back when I thought I knew it all
Reflecting on a time in the past when I believed I had all the answers
Gravity reminded me how far I had to fall
Unexpected circumstances brought me back down to earth
But once I figured out what the world was all about
After gaining a broader perspective, I came to understand the realities of the world
The walls I built to keep it in were crumbling down
My protective barriers were breaking apart as I faced new challenges
Nothing lasts forever, why does it have to hurt so bad?
Acknowledging that all good things must come to an end, yet questioning why endings are so painful
Holding on to something we never really had
Continuing to grasp at something that was never really ours to begin with
If questions go unanswered, it just keeps me moving on
Unresolved questions provide a catalyst for personal growth and change
I never wanna miss your birthday parties
Expressing a desire to always stay connected and celebrate special occasions with loved ones
I just really wanna see you smiling
Seeking joy and happiness in the company of others
And never wanna have to say I'm sorry
Striving to avoid hurting or disappointing those we care about
And never wanna just leave you guessing
Preferring clear communication and transparency in relationships
All I really want is things to stay the same
Desiring stability and continuity in the midst of life's inevitable changes
Time keeps moving on, so many friends have come and gone
Reflecting on the passage of time and the transient nature of some friendships
History reminded me to know when I was wrong
Reflecting on past mistakes and learning from them
And all the lessons that I've learned
A recognition of personal growth and development over time
But given up and still get burned
Despite best efforts, there is still the potential for hurt and disappointment in life
I chased away what followed me
Rejecting or avoiding people or situations that may have been beneficial or good for me
You can't steal what I have done
Acknowledging one's own accomplishments and refusing to let others lessen their value or importance
I've tried a million times
Persevering despite repeated failures
Still looking for a time that makes it all seem real
Seeking a moment or experience that will validate or make sense of past efforts or experiences
It's all too real
Feeling overwhelmed or weighed down by the harsh realities of life
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave
Written by: James Matthew Dewees, Robert Pope, Ryan Pope, Matthew Patrick Pryor, James David Suptic
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind