The song is a simple nostalgic statement about the discussions the three brothers and their parents had at a restaurant called Waffle House. Those discussions were about the three brothers’ career plans, and they described their father as headstrong and their mother as determined. Still, the family love evident in the “family meeting” trope is evident in the brothers’ performance of the song. This is despite the lyrics saying that they’d sometimes nearly kill each other because, “… it’s gon’ get figured out.” Being such a new song, “Waffle House” hasn’t appeared on many television shows or movies in their soundtracks. The notable exception was on “Saturday Night Live” where the group was the musical guest while Molly Shannon handled the host duties.
Growing Pains
The three brothers, Joe, Nick, and Kevin Jr., said in a recent press release that the Waffle House was a place where they let their creative ideas out, collaborating on song lyrics, chord progressions, and other music-related topics. They also worked through any problems they had with themselves or with their parents. They also noted that if they all stayed together, then then would be able to handle any problems that arose. The kernel of that history was that a group of folks who love each other could accomplish almost anything. Further, the brothers said that they are embodying the same philosophy as they rear their children and develop their own families. Kevin, at 35 the eldest, said that rather than obsessing over every little detail the way they did when they were younger, they just strive to have fun and let the songs flow as they may. There is less pressure on the group now, which enables them to maintain their low-key creativity.
Feeling Comfortable
When The Jonas Brothers started out, they weren’t old enough to drink. In a recent video interview on YouTube, they said that because of that, they would instead go to places like Waffle House to unwind after a show, too, because such places were just about the only establishments that were open for business while they were in rural areas on the road. They remarked, too, that some folks would use their living rooms as the places to commiserate, but because they were touring, they didn’t have that option. The song isn’t about the restaurant. The establishment is just the place they met.
Lyrics
C’mon, hey now
We never knew how to forfeit (hey now)
But we always knew how to talk sh- (hey now)
Couple nights, threw gasoline on the fire (hey now)
We never knew how to perfect (hey now)
But we always knew it would work
‘Cause if something misread
Or if something got said
Know before the night ends
No, don’t get stressed, it’s gon’ get figured out
Oh, deep conversations at the waffle house
Headstrong father and a determined mother
Oh, that’s why some nights we try to kill each other
But you know it’s always love (hey now)
We never knew how to fake it (hey now)
But we always knew how to break sh- (hey now)
Couple nights, threw gasoline on the fire
‘Cause if something misread
Or if something got said
Know before the night ends
No, don’t get stressed, it’s gon’ get figured out
Oh, deep conversations at the waffle house
Headstrong father and a determined mother
Oh, that’s why some nights we try to kill each other
But you know it’s always love
Na-na-na (oh, yeah)
Na-na-na-na (but you know it’s always love)
Na-na-na (oh, baby)
Na-na-na-na
But you know it’s always gon’ get figured out
Deep conversations at the waffle house
Headstrong father and a determined mother
Oh, that’s why some nights, we try to kill each other
You know it’s always love
Na-na-na (oh, yeah)
Na-na-na-na (you know it’s always love)
Na-na-na (hey)
Na-na-na-na (you know it’s always love)
Na-na-na (it’s always love)
Na-na-na-na
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Daniel Tashian / Gregory Aldae Hein / Ido Zmishlany / Jason A. Cornet / Johnny Simpson / Jon Bellion / Joseph Jonas / Kevin Jonas / Nicholas Jerry Jonas / Peter Anthony Nappi
Waffle House lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
Listeners that enjoy this song about Nostalgia may also enjoy the song Black Betty by Ram Jam