Editing So Long, Astoria (section)

==Composition==
Early in the writing process for the record, Roe found a book that gave him the theme for the album. The book, which was ''Go Now'' by [[Richard Hell]], contained a chapter "where he had a quote that said memories are better than life ... I wanted this record to portray, that life is only as good as the memories we make."<ref name=MCinterview/> Roe said the group "focus[ed] on writing good songs [and] straightforward rock songs".<ref name=MCinterview/> Musically, the album's sound has been described as [[pop punk]],<ref name=CMJreview/><ref name=Exclaimreview/><ref name=PMreview/><ref name=Sputnikreview/> [[pop rock]],<ref name=Inkreview/> [[punk rock]]<ref name=AMreview/> and [[Rock music|rock]],<ref name=Punknewsreview/> drawing comparison to [[Blink-182]], [[Green Day]],<ref name=AMreview/> [[Good Charlotte]], [[New Found Glory]],<ref name=Inkreview/> [[Lit (band)|Lit]] and [[A (band)|A]], with Roe sounding like A frontman [[Jason Perry (singer)|Jason Perry]].<ref name=Melodicreview/> All of the songs were written by Roe, except for "The Hero Dies in This One" and "All You Can Ever Learn Is What You Already Know" by Roe, Collura, Davenport and Knapp, and "[[The Boys of Summer (song)|The Boys of Summer]]" by [[Don Henley]] and [[Mike Campbell (musician)|Michael Campbell]].<ref name=SLABooklet/>

"So Long, Astoria" is about Roe writing songs in his bedroom in [[Anderson, Indiana]].<ref name=MCinterview/> The track was reminiscent of [[Matchbox Twenty]];<ref name=Inkreview/> its name is a reference to the town Astoria, Oregon in the film ''[[The Goonies]]'' (1985).<ref name=AMreview/> "Takeoffs and Landings" deals with saying goodbye to a long-distance partner.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2022/02/best-emo-love-songs/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214153619/https://www.spin.com/2022/02/best-emo-love-songs/|title=The 40 Best Emo Love Songs|work=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]|author=Braun, Laura Marie|date=February 14, 2022|archive-date=February 14, 2022|access-date=February 15, 2022}}</ref> "In This Diary", alongside "Summer '79" talk about nights out in town and pulling pranks.<ref name=MCinterview/> Discussing "In This Diary", Roe said he attempted to "encapsulate one of the most fun summers we’ve had".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2014/03/01/the-ataris-reunite-to-celebrate-so-long-astoria/|title=The Ataris reunite to celebrate 'So Long, Astoria'|work=Orange County Register|author=Fadroski, Kelli Skye|date=March 1, 2014|access-date=February 18, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218162033/https://www.ocregister.com/2014/03/01/the-ataris-reunite-to-celebrate-so-long-astoria/|archive-date=February 18, 2018}}</ref> Roe wrote "My Reply" about a fan who was in a hospital and close to death.<ref name=LVSgame/> "Unopened Letter to the World" details the life of American poet [[Emily Dickinson]].<ref name=LVSgame/> "The Saddest Song" is about Roe's relationship with his estranged daughter and his upbringing without a father.<ref name=MTVOver>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1477189/ataris-releasing-their-saddest-song-when-summer-is-over/|title=Ataris Releasing Their 'Saddest Song' When 'Summer' Is Over|work=MTV|publisher=Viacom|author=Wiederhorn, Jon|date=August 25, 2003|access-date=February 18, 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218181543/http://www.mtv.com/news/1477189/ataris-releasing-their-saddest-song-when-summer-is-over/|archive-date=February 18, 2018}}</ref>

"Summer '79" sees Roe reminiscing on days when spent as a teenager sneaking into drive-in theatres and listening to [[Queen (band)|Queen]].<ref name=PMreview/> "The Hero Dies in This One" refers to past girlfriends that had been left behind.<ref name=MCinterview/> Collura said "The Boys of Summer" was included due to Roe's nostalgia for it, and "it just kind of fit into the rest of the record."<ref name=MCpath/> He altered one line, switching a reference from [[Deadhead]] to [[Black Flag (band)|Black Flag]]. "Radio #2" was indebted to "Radio" by [[Teenage Fanclub]].<ref name=PMreview/> Roe wrote "Looking Back on Today" about his wife, and called it the sole relationship-centric song on the album. Roe said "Eight of Nine" is about a number of "really close calls that we've had with death."<ref name=LVSgame>{{cite web|url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2003/apr/11/for-the-ataris-music-is-much-more-than-a-game/|title=For the Ataris, music is much more than a game|work=Las Vegas Sun|author=Patterson, Spencer|date=April 11, 2003|access-date=February 20, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180220213751/https://lasvegassun.com/news/2003/apr/11/for-the-ataris-music-is-much-more-than-a-game/|archive-date=February 20, 2018}}</ref>