The band existed for almost a decade before mainstream success. The members met and played in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Secondary School under the name Pezz and remained underground in Toronto's indie music scene until 2001. The band renamed itself Billy Talent after running into legal trouble with the old name. It was then that Kowalewicz's connection with an employee of Warner Music Canada's A&R department landed the band a record deal and launched them into mainstream success. Since then, Billy Talent has made three multi-platinum records in Canada and continues to expand their success overseas; this included touring for 20 months supporting their second album. They released their third album, Billy Talent III, in 2009, and their fourth album, Dead Silence, in 2012. Dead Silence was followed up by a full UK tour throughout October and November 2012. To commemorate the longevity since the release of their first studio album, the band has released a greatest hits album entitled Hits in 2014. In 2015, they began to prepare material for their fifth studio album. Just before entering the studio, drummer Aaron Solowoniuk decided to sit out the recording sessions while he continued his longstanding battle with multiple sclerosis. Fellow Canadian Jordan Hastings was quickly recruited to play as Solowoniuk's studio stand-in, and, in early 2016, the group completed work on Afraid of Heights, which was released in July of that year. The band's most recent album is Crisis of Faith, released in January 2022.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Talent
Studio albums
Billy Talent (2003)
Billy Talent II (2006)
Billy Talent III (2009)
Dead Silence (2012)
Afraid of Heights (2016)
Crisis of Faith (2022)
This Is How It Goes
Billy Talent Lyrics
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And poor and sick of trying
If you see me
On the corner
Will you stop or will you splash me
Take a look at
What we've become
Nothing more than silhouettes of
A pretty family
On a post card
Picture perfect, I don't want it
So I hold my breath 'til my heart explodes
'Cause this is how it is and this is how it goes
You can steal my body but you can't steal my soul
'Cause this is how it is and this is how it goes
Shitty weather, bad timing
Lucky penny glued to the ground
Dirty look from total stranger
Hope you get lost and you're not found
Take a look at what we've become
Nothing more than silhouettes of
A pretty family on a postcard
Picture perfect, I don't want it
So I hold my breath 'til my heart explodes
'Cause this is how it is and this is how it goes
You can steal my body but you can't steal my soul
'Cause this is how it is and this is how it goes
This is how it, it goes
This is how it, it goes
This is how it, it goes
This is how it, it goes
So unscrew my head
And rinse it out
Polish my thoughts
Turn into doubts
Unscrew my head
And rinse it out
Polish my thoughts
Turn into doubts
Turn 'em into, turn 'em into doubts
So I hold my breath 'til my heart explodes
'Cause this is how it is and this is how it goes
You can steal my body but you can't steal my soul
'Cause this is how it is and this is how it goes
The lyrics of Billy Talent's "This Is How It Goes" depict a desolate world, where everyone is "tired and poor and sick of trying." The singer's bleak worldview is enhanced by the chorus, where he asserts that he would rather die than conform to societal expectations, as represented by a "pretty family on a postcard." He refuses to become a mere silhouette, emphasizing that he will not let his soul be taken away, even if his body is stolen. The verses of the song are peppered with allusions to hardships, such as annoying weather, bad timing, and dirty looks from strangers. The singer is disillusioned by his surroundings and has lost faith in humanity.
In the chorus, Billy Talent speaks of holding his breath until his heart explodes, which indicates that the singer is done with living in a world that does not align with his values. The song's title, repeated throughout the song, emphasizes the resignation and acceptance of things as they are, indicative of someone who has given up hope of change.
Overall, "This Is How It Goes" is an indictment of modern society, where greed, indifference, and, above all, conformity, rule the day. The song speaks to anyone who has ever felt frustrated with a system that favors the rich and suppresses individuality. It serves as a warning that if we do not start working towards a better world, it is inevitable that we will be resigned to live in the same hopeless world as depicted in the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody is tired
Everyone is exhausted and worn out
And poor and sick of trying
People are struggling and frustrated with their efforts
If you see me
If you happen to spot me
On the corner
Standing on the street corner
Will you stop or will you splash me
Will you offer help or ignore me and make things worse
Take a look at
Observe and examine
What we've become
The unfortunate state we have reached in our lives
Nothing more than silhouettes of
Mere outlines or shadows of
A pretty family
An attractive or appealing image of a family
On a post card
On a piece of cardstock used for mailing
Picture perfect, I don't want it
An idealized, flawless image that is unappealing
So I hold my breath 'til my heart explodes
I suppress my feeling until I can't bear it anymore
'Cause this is how it is and this is how it goes
Because this is the reality we face and how it always plays out
You can steal my body but you can't steal my soul
You can take my life but my spirit will remain intact
Shitty weather, bad timing
Unpleasant weather and unfortunate timing
Lucky penny glued to the ground
Something good or fortunate is firmly rooted and impossible to remove
Dirty look from total stranger
A harsh gaze from someone unknown
Hope you get lost and you're not found
I hope you disappear and never get discovered
This is how it, it goes
This is the pattern it follows
So unscrew my head
Remove my brain from my skull
And rinse it out
Cleanse and purify my thoughts
Polish my thoughts
Refine and improve my mental processes
Turn into doubts
Transform into uncertainty or disbelief
Turn 'em into, turn 'em into doubts
Convert those thoughts and beliefs into skeptical or dubious views
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Aaron Solowoniuk, Ben Kowalewicz, Ian D'sa, Jon Gallant
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind