Vasoli has lately been focusing on his side project, known as Person L. Tom has been recording with his new band, Cheap Seats, with Matt as their manager. Mike also has a side project, called The Traded Series. The origins of the group that would become The Starting Line go back to 1999, via an AOL instant message from Churchville, Pennsylvania guitarist Matt Watts to vocalist/bassist Kenny Vasoli. It asked if the then fourteen-year-old Vasoli, who was at that time in a band called Smash Adams, was interested in "Jamming and shit", as the message title read.
Only a few weeks later, Vasoli found himself rehearsing with his future bandmates Watts, guitarist Mike Golla and drummer Tom Gryskewicz. Soon, the band started touring under the name Sunday Drive, selling out home-made merchandise and a self-recorded demo cassette that the guys titled 'Four Songs'. Their first official release was a three-way split with The Jimmy Tuesday Band and The Commercials contributing three songs each, the work released on KickStart Audio in 2000.
Sunday Drive was soon approached by We the People Records and asked to produce a recording session (the infamous We the People Records Sessions). Set for a release in December 2000, the twelve songs were initially planned to become the band's debut full-length With Hopes of Starting Over on We the People Records, but they ended up serving only as demos for tracks on future releases, as the band signed with Drive-Thru Records in April 2001. On Drive-Thru, they soon released their debut EP With Hopes of Starting Over. Yet, as the name Sunday Drive was already taken by a Christian rock band, they went on as The Starting Line.
On July 16, 2002, almost exactly one year after the release of their EP, the full-length Say It Like You Mean It followed. The songs ranged from energetic and fast-paced to melancholy and calm, dealing with performing on stage ("Given the Chance"), feeling homesick ("Left Coast Envy") and getting even with Vasoli's ex-girlfriend Karina ("Up & Go", "Hello Houston", among others). The hit single "The Best of Me" and its two music videos, as well as the second single "Leaving", received heavy radio and TV airplay, securing The Starting Line a spot on the Warped Tour.
Due to their desire to put out new material, the band decided to release an all-unplugged EP, recorded in three sessions over the following year. The first three songs (recorded in The Prize Fight's Bob Jones' bedroom in August 2002), the second session (recorded in Vasoli's basement in March 2003) and the last track (recorded on the band's touring bus in April 2003) became The Make Yourself at Home EP, released on November 25, 2003. The CD and the DVD version issued simultaneously, featuring an acoustic set performed live at Skate & Surf 2003 in Asbury Park, New Jersey, would be their last releases put out solely on Drive-Thru Records, as The Starting Line was signed by Geffen Records soon afterwards.
Their major label debut, Based on a True Story, came out in May 2005. Lyrically, the band dissociated themselves from the post-relationship formula that was predominant on their previous records. On this album, a lot of the songs (e.g. "Inspired By the $", "Autography" and "The B-List") were explicitly inspired by the band's disdain for their record label Geffen and its executives. The album was far more successful than the band's 2002 effort and sold 42,000 copies within its first week, as opposed to its predecessor's 11,000. The release was followed by the semi-headlining Nintendo Fusion Tour with Fall Out Boy, kicking off in September 2005. A few dates into the tour, The Starting Line were — at their request — released from their record deal with Geffen, and became free agents. In early January 2006, their signing with Virgin Records was announced.
On March 5, 2008 the band announced in an e-mail and on Absolutepunk.net they would be going on a break in order for Ken and Brian to explore Person L, Matt and Tom to explore The Seventy Six, and Mike to spend time with his two daughters and explore The Traded Series. The band had been playing with the idea of coming back in 2011, but in a chat with absolutepunk.net, Kenny Vasoli said, ""it's looking good, may even be earlier. I hung with Matt and Tom the other day, we all are still in love with one another.
On November 10, 2009, The Starting Line released their first-ever live concert CD, film and documentary DVD titled "Somebody's Gonna Miss Us" via Image Entertainment on a 2-disc set. Through intimate and honest interviews with the band, friends and family fans will get a glimpse into the inner workings of the group and a career that spanned nearly a decade, five releases, and thousands of shows.
On December 29, 2009, The Starting Line had a reunion concert at the Theater of Living Arts. Starting Line guitarist Matt Watts stated on the website AbsolutePunk that "this doesn't mean that TSL are back together....It simply means that we're taking a break from our break, and wanted to play a fun show in Philadelphia and continue to focus on our lives outside of TSL"
The Starting Line added a second holiday show on December 30, 2009 in Philadelphia at the Trocadero Theater. This was added due to the fact that the first holiday show scheduled for December 29, 2009 sold out in a little over an hour and the band would like to give their local fans a better chance to see them. Towards the end of their set, Kenny Vasoli announced the band's reunion. However, the group has only toured intermittently since then.
Main Website: http://www.startinglinerock.com
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/thestartingline
The Best of Me
The Starting Line Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you were gone and so alone
The worst is over
You can have the best of me
We got older but we're still young
We never grew out of this feeling that we won't give up
Here we lay again
Riding phone lines
To hear that familiar voice
And pictures brought from memory
We reflect on miscomunication
And misunderstandings
And missing each other two
Much too without you, let go
We turn our music down
And we whisper
Say what your thinking right now
Tell me what you thought about
When you were gone and so alone
The worst is over
You can have the best of me
We got older but we're still young
We never grew out of this feeling that we won't give up
Jumping to conclusions
Made me fall away from you
I'm so glad that the truth
Has brought back together me and you
We're sitting on the ground
And we whisper
Say what your thinking outloud
Tell me what you thought about
When you were gone and so alone
The worst is over
You can have the best of me
We got older but we're still young
We never grew out of this feeling that we won't give up
We turn our music down
And we whisper
We're sitting on the ground
And we whisper
We turn our music down
We're sitting on the ground
And next time I'm in town
We will kiss girl
We will kiss girl
Tell me what you thought about
When you were gone and so alone
The worst is over
You can have the best of me
We got older but we're still young
We never grew out of this feeling that we won't
Feeling that we can't
We're not ready to give up
We got older but we're still young
We never grew out of this feeling that we won't give up
The Starting Line's song "The Best of Me" is a song about a relationship that has come to an end, and the desire to repair it. The lyrics are a plea for the other person to come back and give the relationship another chance. Through the lyrics, the singer reflects on the misunderstandings, miscommunications, and missed opportunities in the relationship. The phrase "the worst is over" could suggest that the relationship has already gone through a difficult or tumultuous period, and now it's time to move forward.
The lyrics also highlight the theme of growing older, but still holding onto the feeling of not wanting to give up on the relationship. The last line, "We got older but we're still young, we never grew out of this feeling that we won't give up" emphasizes that although time has passed, the emotions and desires have not changed.
The overall tone of the song is hopeful, with a sense of longing and a desire for reconciliation. The lyrics suggest that the singer is willing to make amends and compromise to rebuild the relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell me what you thought about
Asking for the thoughts that came to mind when you were alone
When you were gone and so alone
Inquiring about your state of mind when you were absent
The worst is over
The difficult times have passed
You can have the best of me
Offering the best version of oneself to another
We got older but we're still young
Despite aging, there is still vitality and youthfulness
We never grew out of this feeling that we won't give up
The unwavering determination to not give up on each other
Here we lay again
This is a recurring situation
On two separate beds
Despite being physically apart
Riding phone lines
Communicating via phone
To hear that familiar voice
Yearning to hear the sound of a loved one's voice
And pictures brought from memory
Recalling moments of the past through images
We reflect on miscommunication
Thinking back on times where misunderstandings occurred
And misunderstandings
Instances where mutual understanding was lacking
And missing each other two
Feeling the absence of each other
Much too without you, let go
Longing for the other's presence and refusing to let go
We turn our music down
Lowering the volume of their soundtrack
And we whisper
Engaging in hushed conversation
Jumping to conclusions
Drawing conclusions too quickly, without adequate information
Made me fall away from you
Distance was created between us due to assumptions
I'm so glad that the truth
Grateful for clarity and honesty
Has brought back together me and you
Has reunited us despite past misunderstandings
We're sitting on the ground
Seated on the floor
And we whisper
Continuing their intimate conversation
And next time I'm in town
Looking forward to a future meeting
We will kiss girl
Expressing the desire to share a kiss
We never grew out of this feeling that we won't
The steadfast emotion of keeping each other close
Feeling that we can't
Feeling that we are unable to let go
We're not ready to give up
Not prepared to abandon one another
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Michael Golla, Thomas Gryskiewicz, Kenneth Vasoli, Matthew Watts
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jermainerucker2027
I’m 34 now so I was around 13 when this came out
I’ll always be sad that this band was never bigger
Reminds me of those years of skating all day outside than coming home to watch music videos
Before everyone had phones
When this song came out only one of my friends had a cell phone lol
Miss this days
We definitely did get older
@MESSEDUPEVERYTHING
tell me what you thought about
when you were gone and so alone
the worst is over
you can have the best of me
we got older but we're still young
we never grew out of this feeling that we wont give up
here we lay again
on two seperate beds
riding two phone lines
to hear familiar voice
and pictures brought from memory
we reflect on miscomunication
an misunderstadings
and missing each other two
much too without you, let go
we turn our music down
and we whisper
say wat your thinking right now
tell me what you thought about when you were gone and so alone
the worst is over
but you can have the best of me
we got older but we're still young
we never grew out this feeling that we wont give up
jumping to conclusions
made me fall away from you
i'm so glad that the truth
has brought back together me and you
we're sitting on the ground
and we whisper
say what your thinking outloud
tell me what you thought about when you were gone and so alone
the worst is over
but you can have the best of me
we got older but we're still young
we never grew out this feeling that we wont give up
we turn our music down
and we whisper
we're sitting on the ground
and we whisper
we turn our music own
we're sitting on the ground
and the next time im in town
we will kiss girl
we will kiss girl
tell me what you thought about when you were gone and so alone
the worst is over
but you can have the best of me
we got older but we're still young
we never grew out this feeling that we wont
feeling that we cant
we're not ready to give up
we got older but we're still yong
we never grew out of this feling that we wont give up
@bettersilence
"The Best Of Me"
Tell me what you thought about when you were gone
And so alone
The worst is over
You can have the best of me
We got older
But we're still young
We never grew out of this feeling that we won't give up
Here we lay again
On two separate beds
Riding phone lines
To meet a familiar voice
And pictures drawn from memory
We reflect on miscommunications
And misunderstandings
And missing each other too
Much to have had to let go
We turn our music down
And we whisper
"Say what you're thinking right now"
Tell me what you thought about when you were gone
And so alone
The worst is over
You can have the best of me
We got older
But we're still young
We never grew out of this feeling that we won't give up
Jumping to conclusions
Made me fall away from you
I'm so glad that the truth
Has brought back together me and you
We're sitting on the ground and we whisper
"Say what you're thinking out loud"
Tell me what you thought about when you were gone
And so alone
The worst is over
You can have the best of me
We got older
But we're still young
We never grew out of this feeling that we won't give up
Turn our music down
And we whisper
We're sitting on the ground
And we whisper
We turn our music down
We're sitting on the ground
The next time I'm in town
We will kiss girl
We will kiss girl
Tell me what you thought about when you were gone
And so alone
The worst is over
You can have the best of me
We got older
But we're still young
We never grew out of this feeling that we won't
Feeling that we can't
We're not ready to give up
We got older, but we're still young
We never grew out of this feeling that we won't give up
@lifegoeson676
2024, is anyone here,,,, plz raise your hand.
@abbiescott3819
🙋♀️
@brantisonfire
I’m gonna call the fkn cops!
@bon2yan88
is this a classroom?
@lifegoeson676
hahah
@xsorrowfulxazraelx
meeeeeee
@mantistoboggan6540
I’m 40 years old and an airline captain. I still listen to this song as much as I did 20 years ago. Don’t ever grow up.
@MattEvans529
43 here and I can't agree more. Stay safe up there, bro.
@SafeGerm
@@MattEvans529 29 about to turn 30. "We got older but we're still young" resonates man lol
@ashleydamm7683
This!!