When it comes to songwriting, Maryland pop-punk outfit Face Value flexes versatility through emo and pop-punk writing styles. The band prides itself on being blunt and songs with a wide range of topics. Recently, the band talked to us about their track, “Lucky Number Seven,” detailing the writing process and subject at hand.
This is definitely one of my favorite songs off of Growing up Young. It’s what you get when you have four horny dudes trying to put a song together. It has a little of everyone’s seed, if you will, lyrically and musically speaking of course.
I came up with the rhythm and melody of the chorus playing guitar by myself a few years ago. About a year later I came up with another little rhythm melody combo that made me randy so I figured I’d put them together. I remember singing it in jibberish, recording myself on my phone so I wouldn’t forget it. One day when Gray and I were exchanging ideas he played an adorable little riff (which became the verses) that touched me, so we put that all together. We showed the song to Alec and Jeb at practice one day and it seemed to have touched them as well.
Jeb never disappoints on the drums and this song is a perfect example of that. He came up with this 16th note rim-shot beat in the intro that is just sick. What he does in the third verse still confuses me, like it’s a bit ridiculous. And you can’t forget about his squirrely little fill in the outro when the song gets slow and big again…it does things to me. We didn’t really know what to write the song about so I suggested it be about staying in and pleasuring yourself instead of going out with everyone else. I’m not quite sure if that is what Jeb was thinking when he wrote the choruses but the idea seems to fit when you think about it and listen to them. It probably has more to do with not working up the courage to go talk to a girl and being “fragile and brickle” about it and also feeling alone because you don’t have her, hence “there’s too much space in this room”.
Alec wrote the first two verses, basically, about a girl. It is the typical situation of a guy who wants a girl but she’s super fucking hot and he doesn’t think he could get her. But he rolls the dice…hehe. One line the lad wrote that I really enjoy is the line, “You are the moon, I am the tide. I bend to you, you think that’s fine”. Not only is it astronomically correct, but it perfectly describes how you are when you slave over a girl you like. I took the liberty of engorging the song by means of a spicy third verse and bridge. I used my current situation as inspiration. Long story short, I was the other guy (other band members roll their eyes). I was messing around with a super sexy girl who had a boyfriend, which I felt bad about, but it was too good to be true, like she was that girl that I could relate to the rest of the song so it was perfect. Lines like “you can haunt me until I’m empty”, “leave the screen on cus it’s tempting”, and “it’s way too late, and I’m tired but tempted” are literal examples of the filth and fuckery that was taking place on a rather consistent basis. She was the seventh girl I’d had relations with and Alec threw in the line about rolling dice so I figured we could call it “Lucky Number Seven.”
LYRICS
Conceited everyday, you’re walking circles around me
My eyes are dimming the paint is thinning my lies are getting the best of me
I falter when I walk I’m tryin hard to talk the talk
I don’t know how to end it you’re in it to win it and I’m just rollin the dice
My chest is getting heavy but you still expect the envy
From everyone else, from them wanting us, and I’m just left to resume
You are the moon, I am the tide, I bend to you, you think that’s fine
It was a waste of time we fell apart at the side where
I couldn’t keep my end up, I never kept my end up
(I’ll be alright, I’ll stay home tonight)
It happens everytime, I’m pennies and nickels, fragile and brickle
Now being stuck to resume, there’s too much space in this room
Enticing compliments, and timeless incidents
A maze of clear intent, it’s evident, but you’re hesitant so stay
And you can haunt me until I’m empty
Write the wrong words end the story
But leave the screen on cus’ it’s tempting
And I won’t be long, don’t worry..
I love the way you lie when you meant it and instigate with higher intentions
(I’ll be alright, I’ll stay home tonight)
It’s way too late and I’m tired but tempted
I’m on my way so retire your defenses
(I’ll be alright, I’ll stay home tonight)
