Swing, Swing

All-American Rejects guitarist Nick Wheeler writes the music for most of their songs, while lead singer Tyson Ritter handles the lyrics. Ritter was 18 when he wrote "Swing, Swing," where the tangles of his heart have been crushed by a former love. It was inspired by real events: He had a rough relationship and found it difficult to move on after the breakup. "That was written when it sucked real bad," he told MTV.

"Swing, Swing" was The All-American Rejects' first single, released in 2002 on the indie label Doghouse Records along with their self-titled debut album. The song got airplay on the very influential Los Angeles radio station KROQ (K-Rock), earning them a deal with DreamWorks, who picked up the album from Doghouse. Their next singles, "The Last Song" and "Time Stands Still," were also about young heartache, but they didn't chart. Their next album, Move Along, came out in 2005 and included the hit title track and also "Dirty Little Secret." They had another hit with "Gives You Hell" from their 2008 album When The World Comes Down, but got diminishing returns in the 2010s. After touring for their 2012 album Kids In The Street they were much less active. They didn't tour again until 2023, when they joined New Found Glory and Motion City Soundtrack on a '00s nostalgia tour.

"Swing, Swing" was just a modest chart hit, peaking at #60, but it became one of the band's most famous songs and one they almost always play in concert.