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. Itās like glam rock now . . . If this is the world we helped create, then I apologize.ā
Influential Kansas City five piece, The Get Up Kids, return in January 2011 with a new studio album,There Are Rules ā the bandās 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 āSomething to Write Home Aboutā.
The first fruits of these new recordings was āSimple Scienceā, released in April 2010 - an EP that burst, unannounced, into the Billboard Top 200. But that was just a taste ā a precursor to the full-length album, which Alternative Press magazine, upon hearing a whisper of its existence, placed on their āmost anticipatedā¦ā list.
The band re-convened at their Black Lodge studio in Eudora, KS at various times in 2010 to complete the recordings, and so āThere Are Rulesā 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 isnāt 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 2ā tape ā 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. āThis 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, āThere Are Rulesā marks a new chapter for The Get Up Kids, as they return to their independent roots, forming their own label ā Quality Hill Records ā and reigniting the DIY spirit that originally launched the band onto the worldwide stage. Says Pryor, ā"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 7ā single involved. That 45 would be āAutomaticā ā 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 āsecond wave of emoā in the 90ās 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 ā 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 āThere Are Rulesā in 2011, proving that the final chapter for The Get Up Kids has yet to be written.
Sympathy
The Get Up Kids Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You never threatened to stop breathing
Countless times
When I wouldn't make a sound
To baby eyes
They whole thing is a fading senseless blur
Of concern
But I'm letting go of her
I don't know why it is
Isn't it obvious to me?
Its sympathy
I'm sure that after this
You don't fear anything at all
Resembling
All her might
Was it the force behind the family?
Bound and tied
Keep the bottle down
To our surprise
Suspect you had discipline or nerve
To convert
I just didn't think it'd work
I don't know why it is
Isn't it obvious to me?
Its sympathy
I'm sure that after this
You don't fear anything at all
Resembling
For what we give to this
What challenges persist
What battles we must fight
For what we give to this
A promise to resist
Stand with all your might
I don't know why it is
Isn't it obvious to me?
Its sympathy
I'm sure that after this
You don't feel anything at all
Resembling
The Get Up Kids's song Sympathy seems to touch on the theme of letting go, relinquishing control and finding solace in understanding and empathy. The opening lines, "Way to fight / You never threatened to stop breathing" suggests that the subject of the song has had to endure some sort of difficult situation, maybe even life-threatening, but despite that, they persisted and continued to fight. The singer then admits to not having been vocal during this time of struggle, as if to say that they had been unable to provide comfort or support to the subject. The line "To baby eyes / They whole thing is a fading senseless blur / Of concern" may indicate that the subject in question is young or perhaps inexperienced, while the singer looks on helplessly.
The chorus, "I don't know why it is / Isn't it obvious to me? / Its sympathy / I'm sure that after this / You don't feel anything at all / Resembling" seems to suggest that despite not knowing exactly how to help or act during the tough times, the singer is willing to offer sympathy and understanding. The line "I'm sure that after this / You don't feel anything at all / Resembling" may hint at the idea that the experience has altered the subject in some way, possibly leaving them changed or numb.
The second verse, "All her might / Was it the force behind the family? / Bound and tied / Keep the bottle down / To our surprise / Suspect you had discipline or nerve / To convert / I just didn't think it'd work" references someone's struggle with addiction, perhaps even within the singer's own family, and the lengths they had to go to in order to overcome it. The subject may have had to put up a front or show exceptional strength and discipline to overcome their addiction, and the singer may have initially doubted their ability to do so.
The final chorus seems to remind listeners of the importance of standing with those we care about, even during difficult times, and offering sympathy and support when words fail us.
Line by Line Meaning
Way to fight
You've always been strong and resilient
You never threatened to stop breathing
Despite the struggles, you never gave up on life
Countless times
There have been so many moments of hardship
When I wouldn't make a sound
I didn't speak up, even when I should have
To baby eyes
To someone who hasn't experienced what we have, it may seem insignificant
They whole thing is a fading senseless blur
The memories are becoming hazy and don't make much sense
Of concern
Of the worry and care we've had for each other
But I'm letting go of her
I'm moving on and leaving behind the past
I don't know why it is
I'm not entirely sure why
Isn't it obvious to me?
Shouldn't I know this already?
Its sympathy
It's feeling empathy and compassion for someone else's struggles
I'm sure that after this
I'm certain that once we get through this ordeal
You don't fear anything at all
We'll come out stronger and unafraid of whatever may come
Resembling
Similar to
All her might
With all her strength and effort
Was it the force behind the family?
Was she the driving force that kept us together?
Bound and tied
Connected and attached, unable to break away
Keep the bottle down
Don't let alcohol be a crutch
To our surprise
We were caught off guard
Suspect you had discipline or nerve
I think you had the strength and courage to overcome this
To convert
To change and improve the situation
I just didn't think it'd work
I didn't have faith in our ability to succeed
For what we give to this
For all the effort and sacrifice we put into this
What challenges persist
The obstacles that still remain
What battles we must fight
The fights we still have to endure
A promise to resist
A commitment to fight against the challenges and not give up
Stand with all your might
Put all your strength into standing up for what you believe in
You don't feel anything at all
You're emotionally numb after having gone through this
Resembling
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Chris Skinner
More proof to me that music is the most powerful form of magic we have. The goosebumps@@!
Simon Brizzee
it's not magic, it's logos.... the truth
Jonathan MuƱoz
Its about 10 years since i listening this song, after school, in a warm day. Now, i still listening and still remember these day and the feelings that caused me.
Minecraft Mathias
sin duda esta dentro de mis 20 favoritas
Pariah Carey
I forgot about this song. This album is way better than I remembered
Randle Walkoviak
Song tugs on some serious heart strings š
Lions 88
Perfect album.
nayzany
They made a new album this year. Haven't checked it out yet but I'll be seeing them live on Saturday. :)
routeyetuor
i love this song so much^ ^
Daniel
I remember reading an article about this album around the time it came out calling them The Grown Up Kids based on how generic the album seemed at the time. It's not that bad.