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TSC: There are very few songs in the English language which are explicitly about being short, and even fewer songs which deal directly with heightism specifically. But one such autobiographical tune was penned by the 5'4" frontman for “Fall Out Boy”, Patrick Stump, on their 2005 debut studio album - Evening Out With Your Girlfriend. And while there are a number of successful rock bands composed of short guys (see AC/DC for example), Fall Out Boy stands out as one of the few to have actually made songs about the emotional pain of having to cope with systemic heightism (note: every member of Fall Out Boy is shorter than average height).

Joe Trohman, guitarist - 5'9"

Andy Hurley, drummer - 5'6"



Patrick Stump, guitarist and composer - 5'4"

Pete Wentz, bassist and lyricist - 5'6"

Short, Fast and Loud is essentially Fall Out Boy’s emotional critique of shallow height requirements in dating. The song is about a short man who is rejected/dumped by his would-be lover because he was deemed “too short” by her and by society’s standards of what a couple should look like (evidenced by the line “considering I would too”). The song is appropriately short, beautifully composed, and full of raw and honest emotion. Patrick Stump pulled no punches with his angst and existential anger at his predicament; his inner dialogue proclaiming at the end song, “Good God I Wish I Was Tall”. This poignant sentiment, though disappointing on one level, is to be applauded for its raw honesty and thought-provoking Freudian contrast with the song’s overall thesis that she is the defective one. In this way, the song uses what could be described as heightist self-pity (or self-hate) in order to make a generally anti-heightist statement about social norms.

So if you’re a short man who has ever been rejected by a shallow female with a height complex; this is your new anthem. Rock on!

Short, Fast and Loud (lyrics):

She’s shallow like the shoreline during low tide

But my hopes are not quite as high

Can’t spot her faults but she spotted mine

She left me for herself

Considering I would too



Go figure, I’m bigger than that

Go figure, I’m bigger than that



The battles only halfway done

I might look young

But I’m no less defeated

How’s the weather up there?



She left me for herself

Considering I would too



Good God I wish I was tall

Good God I wish

Good God I wish I was tall

Good God I wish

Good God I wish I was tall

Good God I wish

Good God I wish I was tall

Good God I wish



Go figure, I’m bigger than that

Go figure, I’m bigger than that

Go figure, I’m bigger than that

Go figure, I’m bigger than that



Oh, and if you’re worried about how the members of Fall Out Boy are coping in the dating world because of their short stature….don’t be.

Pete Wentz, bassist and lyricist - 5'6"