"The Outside" is a song by American rock band Boys Like Girls. The song was released on July 28, 2023, as the third single from their fourth studio album, Sunday at Foxwoods.
An "Outsiders Version" of the song was released on October 6, 2023, featuring 3OH!3, State Champs, The Summer Set, and The Ready Set. That version of the song peaked at number 24 on the Czech Republic Radio Airplay chart.
Speaking about the song, lead singer Martin Johnson stated: "20 years later, another outsider anthem about the same three best friends raised its hand. It's safe to say I'll always feel like I'm on the outside looking in. But I'll never be out there alone [...] whatever outside you call your own, raise 'em high and turn it up. This one's for you."
"The Outside" was written by Martin Johnson and Sean Foreman. Johnson, along with Brandon Paddock and Danen Rector produced the track. Prior to the release of the song, he wrote it a few years back along with Foreman. Musically, the track is an upbeat pop punk song and is an ode to the band's early days growing up in the punk scene. According to Johnson in an interview with Alternative Press, the song was influenced by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' "American Girl", citing how "absolutely nothing in the chorus has anything at all to do with being American lyrically, yet the payoff is just as potent without the double down." The song was mixed at Blackbird Studio in Nashville.
On October 6, 2023, the band released an "Outsiders Version" of the song, featuring 3OH!3, State Champs, The Summer Set, and The Ready Set. Johnson said of the alternate version, "I had written "The Outside" with Sean Foreman from 3OH!3 some years back and loved the idea of making a version with them on it. After booking the tour and becoming friends with Derek DiScanio from State Champs, we also talked about doing a feature. So when Brian and I from The Summer Set started texting and Jordan from The Ready Set jumped on a couple shows, we knew what we had to do."
A music video for the song was first released on July 28, 2023. Another music video for the "Outsiders Version" of the song was released on October 6, 2023, featuring appearances from 3OH!3, State Champs, The Summer Set, and The Ready Set, which also includes footage from their Speaking Our Language Tour.
Credits for "The Outside" adapted from digital liner notes.
Boys Like Girls
Additional musicians
Production