Me and the Boys in the Band

*2020 Single*

**Me and the Boys in the Band** is a song from Canadian singer-songwriter Carly Rae Jepsen. It was released on August 18th 2020, through 604, School Boy and Interscope Records.

Me and the Boys in the Band received an official YouTube music video upon its release, which has garnered over 800k views as of April 2022.

## **Lyrics**

**[Verse 1]**

On the road for half the year

And I can't remember loneliness

And it feels like that says something about you

Or something 'bout me

Performance and the after party

And it took a little time I guess

But I found that I'm not thinking about you

Or thinking 'bout it

**[Pre-Chorus]**

Then we pack up, it's time to go

We'll do the whole damn thing tomorrow

In a new city, so pretty, let's go

Driving all night to make that show

I'll be a whole new girl tomorrow

It's a new city, so pretty, eyes closed

**[Chorus]**

We partied in the street last night

Got a little deep last night

In our feelings, yeah

And I got a little me last night

I danced in the street last night

With the boys in the band

Just me and the boys in the band

**[Verse 2]**

Now and then a memory sparks

Like violins still break my heart

And I feel that says something about you

Or something about me

One day we will meet as friends

But I am not good at pretending

You were so good at pretending

**[Pre-Chorus]**

Hey, but now I pack up, it's time to go

We'll do the whole damn thing tomorrow

In a new city, so pretty, let's go

Driving all night to make that show

I'll be a whole new girl tomorrow

In a new city, so pretty, eyes closed

**[Chorus]**

We partied in the street last night

Got a little deep last night

In our feelings, yeah

And I got a little me last night

I danced in the street last night

With the boys in the band

Just me and the boys in the band *(hey!)*

**[Post-Chorus]**

So just take me to the stage

It's been home from the start

Summer nights, summer days

I've got the summer heart!

So just take me to the stage

It's been lit from the start

I need the summer heart

Just me and the boys in the band *(hey!)*

**[Bridge]**

*(Hey!)*
(Hey!)
Just me and the boys in the band *(hey!)*

Just me and the boys in the band

**[Chorus]**

We partied in the street last night

Got a little deep last night

In our feelings, yeah *(hey!)*

And I got a little me last night

I danced in the street last night

With the boys in the band *(With the boys in the band)*

Just me and the boys in the band *(hey!)*

**[Post-Chorus]**

So just take me to the stage

It's been home from the start *(hey!)*

Summer nights, summer days *(Just me and the boys)*

I've got the summer heart *(hey!)*

So just take me to the stage

It's been lit from the start

Just me and the boys in the band *(hey!)*

**[Outro]**

On the road for half the year

And Real Love's just a song I guess

And it feels like that says something about you

Or something about me

## **Song credits**

#### **Writing and production**

* **Written by:** Carly Rae Jepsen • Tavish Crowe • Jack Antonoff
* **Produced by:** Jack Antonoff

#### **Instrumentation**

* **Electric guitar:** Tavish Crowe
* **Acoustic guitar:** Carly Rae Jepsen
* **Drums:** Nik Pesut
* **Keyboards:** Jared Manerika
* **Synthesizer:** Jack Antonoff

## **Writing and development**

Me and the Boys in the Band was initially written by Jepsen alongside her guitarist Tavish Crowe during The Dedicated Tour. Carly states the song started off as a 'challenge' not to write a love song and was one of many experiments born out of the idea.

The song was written during Carly's breakup with then-boyfriend James Flannigan, and was inspired by how her bandmates had helped and supported her and the time they spend together whilst on tour. She explained, 'I was so amazed by the power of the friendships I had developed within my bandmates, of how they helped me get through that. Because it felt like a really huge moment in my life, and yet there were these two hours of joy that we’d be on stage together and we’d be kicking it on the road.'

#### **Development during quarantine**

Prior to quarantine in early 2020, Jepsen was preparing to release Dedicated Side B and had originally planned to tour the album - however, the tour was cancelled due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Afterwards, Carly explained how she had developed a 'deep appreciation' for travelling and touring alongside the band, and the song reemerged from that feeling.

Whilst in quarantine, Jepsen began thinking of a way she could release the song even though she was away from the band. The original song Jepsen and Crowe wrote previously was brought to Jack Antonoff, who worked to produce the final version of the track from home. Carly stated, 'When we showed it to Jack Antonoff, he helped us to develop it in a completely different way, where it got funkier in the best possible way.' Band members Tavish Crowe, Jared Manerika, and Nik Pesut also made contributions to the song remotely from home.

Jepsen states the song would have 'never seen the light of day' if not for quarantine; 'the idea to share it made sense because of the real nostalgia we were all feeling for this life we had taken for granted; being on the road and having this band of brothers' she explained. 'It came from really missing the band boys. It was a jam that we started and came into fruition.'  In relation to her upcoming album, Carly stated the song was 'just for the moment' and likely wouldn't appear on the project.

#### **Rework from Talk To Me**

Me and the Boys in the Band samples portion of Jepsen's previous song Talk To Me, released as part of the Curiosity EP in 2012 - the bridge of Talk To Me was rewritten and reworked into the post-chorus of Me and the Boys in the Band.

## **Themes and lyricism**

Me and the Boys in the Band is Jepsen's tribute to the band through quarantine, reminiscing on the days spent touring pre-pandemic. Although Jepsen states the song is decidedly not about love, it briefly touches upon the topic of a break-up on tour and having the band boys there to support her and help her in finding herself post-relationship.

The song is most likely written about the end of Jepsen's relationship with ex-boyfriend James Flannigan, as the pair broke up sometime after 2019, and additionally references Real Love, the Dedicated album track produced and co-written by Flannigan.

Upon the release of the song, Jepsen stated the following: 'Through romantic relationships good and bad I have always found myself again in the late-night conversations with my band. Here's to all the shows we have played and have yet to play. The late-night dancers we turn into on the long bus drives and the tourists we become in the early mornings. Here’s to nostalgia city and keeping close the ones that know you best. Can’t wait for more.'

## **Music video**

Me and the Boys in the Band received an official YouTube music video the day of release, on August 18th 2020, directed and edited by Jake Chamseddine. Currently, through the music video is the only way the song has been officially distributed.

The video itself features a compilation of video clips filmed during quarantine of Jepsen and the band at home performing the song, as well as various photos and videos from before the pandemic of the group together in person, on tour, and performing together. Jepsen's portion of the at-home footage was recorded by her boyfriend Nick Theodorakis, who had spent the day filming for the video.

## **Navigation**

* Dedicated
* Music videos

* The Loneliest Time
* Dedicated
* Emotion
* Kiss
* Curiosity
* Tug of War
* Other releases
* Collaborations

**Western Wind**
*2022***Beach House**
*2022***The Loneliest Time**
(feat. Rufus Wainwright) • *2022***Surrender My Heart**
*2022*

**Party For One**
*2018***Now That I Found You**
*2019***Too Much**
*2019***Want You In My Room**
*2019*

**I Really Like You**
*2015***Run Away With Me**
*2015***Your Type**
*2015***Boy Problems**
*2016*

**Call Me Maybe**
*2011***Good Time**
(with Owl City) • *2012***This Kiss**
*2012***Tonight I'm Getting Over You**
*2013*

**Call Me Maybe**
*2011***Curiosity **(Unreleased)**
*2012*******Tug of War**
*2009*******Bucket**
*2009*******Sour Candy**
(feat. Josh Ramsay) • *2009*******Part of Your World**
*2012*******Cut to the Feeling**
*2017*********Me and the Boys
In the Band**** • *2020*******It's Not Christmas Till Somebody Cries** • *2020*******Change For You**
(with The Midway State) • *2009*******Super Natural**
(with Danny L Harle) • *2016*******Better Than Me**
(with Blood Orange) • *2016*******Trouble in the Streets **(Unreleased)** • *2017***********OMG**
## (with Griffin) • *2019***********References**

1. ↑ Carly Rae Jepsen - Me And The Boys In The Band YouTube, August 18th 2020
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Carley, Brennan 'Carly Rae Jepsen Looks Back On Her Game-Changing Album *E•MO•TION* Five Years Later' ELLE, September 2nd 2020. Retrieved August 12th 2021.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Meredith, Kyle 'Kyle Meredith with... Carly Rae Jepsen' YouTube, June 27th 2022
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Shaffer, Claire 'Carly Rae Jepsen Pays Tribute to Her Touring Band in New Song and Video' Rolling Stone, August 18th 2020. Retrieved August 12th 2021.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Reed, James 'Five years after ‘Emotion,’ Carly Rae Jepsen has learned to love pop music...' Los Angeles Times, August 27th 2020. Retrieved August 12th 2021.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Carly Rae Jepsen - Me And The Boys In The Band' YouTube, August 18th 2020. Retrieved August 12th 2021.****