Dwight
Kruse
Dr. C.
Jason Smith
Eng 102
Mon 2:15pm-4:25pm
September
28, 2014
The
Ataris- The Saddest Song
Kris Roe
is the lead singer and guitarist for the punk band The Ataris formed
in 1995 originally by himself and guitarist Jasin Thomason. Kris Roe
recorded demos in his bedroom in Indiana using an electronic drum
machine while searching for a full time drummer. In 1996, the band
got its big break from Kung Fu records to record their first album
with a full band while only searching for a full time drummer. They
signed in with Kung Fu records and recorded their first debut album
Anywhere But Here recording
the whole album in less than a week. After a brief tour, the band
disbanded and Kris Roe was intent to see his last couple of tours
through. Starting a new line-up and constant touring, Kris Roe moved
from Anderson, Indiana to Santa Barbara, California. In 1997 the band
gained more popularity in the underground rock scene. The Ataris
found more success with the 1998 EP Look Forward To Failure
under the record label Fat Wreck Chords
based in Santa Barbara. Their third studio album Blue
Skies, Broken Hearts....Next 12 Exits
in 1999 would gain them widespread acclaim (according to Wikipedia).
In
2002, The Ataris' contract with Kung Fu Records expired. While
adjusting to a new lineup as well, the band chose to sign with
Columbia Records to start recording the new album So Long
Astoria which was released in
2003. This album expressed a lot of Kris Roe's personal collection of
memories and what he had gone through in his years since starting The
Ataris. This album introduced The Ataris into a more mainstream
audience and hit singles such as “In This Diary”, “The Saddest
Song”, as well as their accidental hit cover from Don Henley's
original song “The Boys Of Summer”, reaching number twenty on the
Billboard Hot 100.
“The
Saddest Song” Is a song released by The Ataris' fourth album So
Long Astoria. The song is about
the band's lead singer/songwriter Kris Roe's distance from his
daughter Starla. According to Jon Weiderhorn from MTV news,
“Frontman Kris Roe wrote the piano-driven number about his
relationship with his estranged daughter and his experience growing
up without a father around”. While Kris Roe was on tour, he left
his daughter to be raised by his girlfriend in Indiana. As the sole
member of The Ataris, he had a huge responsibility towards his music
and band members that he felt “guilty” as to lost time with his
daughter. This song expresses a lot of emotions as well as
comparisons to his own emotions towards his father. The lyrics to the
song “The Saddest Song” are as follows:
Only
two more days, until your birthday
Yesterday
was mine. You'll be turning five
I
know what it's like, growing up without your father in your life
So
I pretend, I'm doing all I can
And
I hope someday you'll find it in your heart
To
understand
Why
I'm not around
And
forgive me for not being in your life
I
remember waiting
For
you to come
Remember
waiting
For
you to call
Remember
waiting there to find nothing at all
I
remember waiting
For
you to come
Remember
waiting
For
you to call
Waiting
there to find nothing at all
Maybe
someday
you'll
really get to know me
not
just the letters read to you
I
pray I get the chance
To
make it up to you
We
got a lot of catching up to do
So
I pretend, I'm doing all I can
And
hope someday you'll find it in your heart
To
understand
Why
I'm not around
And
forgive me for not being in your life
Forgive
me!
I'm
so sorry!
I
will make it up to you....
Kris
Roe starts off the song awaiting his daughter's birthday which is
three days apart
from
his own. The “birth” and the happiest day of a father's life is
signified greatly. On line 3
he
compares himself as his father not being in his life as well. Kris
Roe switches the mood
contrast
very quickly showing his own guilt. Line 4 and 5, “So I pretend, Im
doing all I can”,
shows
his responsibility to his band by not being there for her and hopes
that forgiveness is in
store
for him in the future. The chorus which is repeated three times in
the song “I remember
waiting
for you to come, waiting for you to call, waiting there to find
nothing at all” Is Kris Roe's
disappointment
to owning up to his responsibility yet failing to do so. At the time,
Kris Roe is
not
even in the same state as her due to his grueling schedule for tours
and concerts. “Come” and
“Call”
are both his symbols for communication. Also a form of “time-loss”
with his daughter.
Something
that he can never get back from his daughter.
On
line 19-21, “Maybe someday, you'll really get to know me. Not just
the letters read to
you”
he compares himself as the “letters” and wants to be a person
with a heart. A father who
really
cares for his daughter yet struggling to find a better way of being
there for her. The guilt he
bears
is great because of his past experience and not wanting the same for
his daughter. On his
last
verse you can hear his cry for compassion and forgiveness on line
30-32 “Forgive me! I'm so
sorry!
I will make it up to you..” not just making this a song for all to
hear and relate, but Kris
Roe
is truly begging for redemption that he may not get.
Works
Cited
Payne,
Chris. "The Ataris Announce 'So Long Astoria' 10-Year
Anniversary Tour; Share Exclusive Promo Video." Billboard.
Web. 29 Sept. 2014.
"The
Ataris." Wikipedia.
Wikimedia Foundation, 27 Sept. 2014. Web. 29 Sept. 2014.
"The
Saddest Song." Wikipedia.
Wikimedia Foundation, 24 Aug. 2014. Web. 29 Sept. 2014.
Weiderhorn,
Jon. "Ataris Releasing Their 'Saddest Song' When 'Summer' Is
Over." News.
Web. 29 Sept. 2014.
