Chicago Is So Two Years Ago

Album: Take This To Your Grave (2003)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song is about the band missing their families and friends back in Chicago; everything reminds them of their problems and unfinished things that they miss on tour.
  • The backing vocals towards the end of the song: "Every blade of grass" is sung by Justin Pierre, the lead singer of Motion City Soundtrack. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Ben - Reading, England
  • Lead singer Patrick Stump, who also wrote the song, found out his bandmate Pete Wentz was a meticulous lyricist during the making of the album. Because of this, Stump was reluctant to allow the rest of the band to hear this tune, not wanting his work to be revised. "We had a huge fight over 'Chicago Is So Two Years Ago,'" he recalled in a 2013 interview with Alternative Press. "I didn't even want to record that song. I was being precious with things that were mine. Part of me was thinking the band wouldn't work out and I'd go to college and do some music on my own. I had a skeletal version of 'Chicago.' I was playing it to myself in the lobby of the studio. I didn't know anyone was listening. Sean [O'Keefe, producer] was walking by and wanted to introduce it to the others. I kind of lost my song. I was very precious about it. Pete didn't like some of the lyrics, so we had a big fight over that. We argued over each word, one at a time."
  • Take This To Your Grave is Fall Out Boy's debut studio album. Stump wrote most of the songs for the album with significant input from Wentz. On subsequent albums, Wentz took on the role of primary lyricist.
  • The band was still recording this song when Taking Back Sunday released "You're So Last Summer," which contains a similar line to this tune's "Boys like you are so overrated." Taking Back Sunday frontman Adam Lazzara also noticed the similarity and assumed the band was making fun of him with the reference, but Wentz assured him it was just a coincidence.

Comments: 12

  • Jackson from MinnesotaIf you read Pete Wentz's book Grey, it gives a little more insight to this song.
  • Deethewriter from Saint Petersburg, Russia FederationMore Songs About Chicago, Illinois:

    Sweet Home Chicago by The Blues Brothers
    My Kind of Town by Frank Sinatra
    Super Bowl Shuffle by The Chicago Bears Shufflin' Crew
    Bad Bad Leroy Brown by Jim Croce
    In The Ghetto by Elvis Presley
    The Night Chicago Died by Paper Lace
    Back To Chicago by Styx
    Take Me Back To Chicago by Chicago
    Born In Chicago by Paul Butterfield
    Dear Chicago by Ryan Adams
    Via Chicago by Wilco
    Chicago by Da Brat
    Chicago Bound Blues by Bessie Smith
    Little Joe From Chicago by Nat King Cole
    Meet Me In Chicago by Mat Kearney
    Sidewalks of Chicago by Merle Haggard
    Living In Chicago by The Bee Gees
    Jesus Just Left Chicago by ZZ Top
    The Eggplant That Ate Chicago by Dr. West's Medicine Show and Junk Band
    Chicago Is Not Chicago by Soul Coughing
    Chicago by The Doobie Brothers
    Chicago At Night by Spoon
    Chicago Bound by Canned Heat
    I Dream of Chicago by The Parlours
  • Balls from Chiiiicago, Ilhello. im from chicago. fall out boy rocks. my brother met the band and this song is definatly solely about chicago not some of pete wentzs whore gfs. go bears
  • Leslie from Hartsville, Tnawseome song big FALL OUT BOY fan have 3 posters of them
  • Roy from Chicago, IlTo Anne:

    The song is not about any of Pete's ex girlfriends. The one you're referring to is Jeanae, but the song is not about her.

    Peter moved to LA in 2005, this song was written in 2002 realeased in 2003, so therefore it has nothing to do with LA.

    It is correct that the chorus of the song is about the band members missing home when they are on tour.

    However, the verse, pre-chorus, and outro is mainly about broken up and jilted lovers. Simple as that.

    You guys need to realize that songs can have multiple themes, and major and minor themes.
  • Camel from Somewhere, CaPatrick isn't singing every blade of grass, it's "every pane of glass that your pebble tap, negates the things I went through to avoid you"

    oh and in the line, "my heart is on my sleeve" they mean they were completely honest to the person about their feelings.

    <3
  • Shelby from North Augusta, Scwhoever said this is about missing your family is a stupid retard
    does this sound like song abput your family
    "cause every pane of glass that your pebbles tap negates the pains i went through to avoid you
    and every little pat on the shoulder for attention fails to mention i still hate you"
    "you want apologies
    girl, you might hold your breath
    until your breathing stops forever, forever
    (...every pane of glass) the only thing you'll get
    is this curse on your lips:
    (every pane of) i hope they taste of me forever"
    "with every breath i wish your body will be broken again, again" i mean hello read the lyrics so you will know what the song is about
    by the way the first comment by anne is right thats what this song i about
  • Anne from Chicago, Ilthis song is about pete wentz's ex gf, jeanne, he moved to LA to get out of that tough realtionship, but in the end he realized that chicago will always be his home, trust me i do my research
  • Christy from St.marys, CanadaMaybe about how the band is feeling that they want to relive their lives in Chicago but know what happenend in the past cant be changed
  • Natalie from Chiago, IlI'm from Chicago, so I have to love this song. It is my dad's favorite song. I honestly don't think this song is that dark.
  • Banana from Seattle, Wathis has nothing really to do with family... i think he wants to come home but he doesn't want to see this girl who he has a past relationship with... you can tell by the lines "every little pat on your shoulder for attention fails to mention i still hate you" and "you want apologies girl you might hold your braeth until your breathing stops forever the only thing youll get is this curse on your lips, i hope they taste of me forever..."
  • Sara from Austin, Txthis song... it's a little too angry for that, isn't it? i mean, "with every breath i wish your body will be broken again.."?
    sounds more like a jilted lover to me.
    from what i can tell, the guy has been hurt badly by this girl. but it also seems like he STILL wants to come home to her.
    awesome song either way. <3
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Bass Player Scott Edwards

Bass Player Scott EdwardsSong Writing

Scott was Stevie Wonder's bass player before becoming a top session player. Hits he played on include "I Will Survive," "Being With You" and "Sara Smile."

Randy Newman

Randy NewmanSongwriting Legends

Newman makes it look easy these days, but in this 1974 interview, he reveals the paranoia and pressures that made him yearn for his old 9-5 job.

Adam Young of Owl City

Adam Young of Owl CitySongwriter Interviews

Is Owl City on a quest for another hit like "Fireflies?" Adam answers that question and explains the influences behind many others.

Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk: Rock vs. Televangelists

Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk: Rock vs. TelevangelistsSong Writing

When televangelists like Jimmy Swaggart took on rockers like Ozzy Osbourne and Metallica, the rockers retaliated. Bono could even be seen mocking the preachers.

Maria Muldaur

Maria MuldaurSongwriter Interviews

The "Midnight At The Oasis" singer is an Old Time gal. She talks about her jug band beginnings and shares a Dylan story.

Randy Houser

Randy HouserSongwriter Interviews

The "How Country Feels" singer talks Skynyrd and songwriting.