The band formed in December of 1996, originally consisting of Skiba, Rob Doran (bass/vocals), and Glenn Porter (drums/vocals). 1997 saw the release of the band's first EP, Sundials. This was followed shortly after by the departure of Doran. He was replaced by Andriano, who had been the singer for Tuesday and bassist for the ska band Slapstick. The band released their second EP, entitled For Your Lungs Only, in 1998, which began to build them a sizable fan base in the American Midwest. Later that year, they released their first full-length album, Goddamnit, followed by Maybe I'll Catch Fire in 2000. Both were released on Asian Man Records. Also in 2000, the band released a collection of their previously-released EPs on a self-titled album.
Following the success of their Asian Man releases, Alkaline Trio signed to Vagrant. Joined by new drummer Mike Felumlee (previously of the Smoking Popes), From Here to Infirmary was released in 2001. It was their first album to see any interest from alternative radio and the mainstream media, with the semi-hit punk single "Stupid Kid" and the inclusion of the song "Armageddon" on the Tony Hawk's Underground as well as Tony Hawks American Wasteland video games. Their cover of "Over at the Frankenstein Place" was included in the compilation The Rocky Horror Punk Rock Show, an album made to pay tribute to the movie The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
After the release, Felumlee left the band too and was replaced by Grant, previously of The Suicide Machines.
Their next full-length album was Good Mourning, released in 2003, with the album's launch single "We've Had Enough" seeing a considerable amount of commercial success. The album was a significant departure from earlier works, featuring greater production value and a noticeable move toward a more mainstream sound.
The band has also appeared on various compilation albums, notably Plea for Peace Vol. 1 and Rock Against Bush Vol. 1. Skiba and Andriano have both independently recorded split records, Skiba with Kevin Seconds on Asian Man Records and Andriano with Mike Felumlee on Double Zero Records, as well as jointly performing backing vocal duties on the album This is Unity Music by Common Rider. They have also recorded two split EPs with bands who are no longer together: one with Hot Water Music in 2000 and the other with One Man Army in 2004.
Alkaline Trio released their fifth studio album on Vagrant Records, entitled Crimson, on May 24, 2005, which featured the single "Time to Waste." The single for this song also included bonus tracks produced by Mass Giorgini. The tracks "Mercy Me" and "Burn" have also been released as singles from the album.
In 2004 Andriano became a member of The Falcon, a super-group of consisting of The Lawrence Arms' bassist/co-vocalist Brendan Kelly (with who he had played with in Slapstick), and Neil Hennessy, drummer from The Lawrence Arms. The band released a 5-song EP in 2004, and its first full-length Unicornography in September of 2006.
In 2006 Matt Skiba collaborated with Josiah Steinbrick for the band Heavens.
In 2008 Alkaline Trio released Agony & Irony on Epic Records. The album charted at #13 on the Billboard 200.
Alkaline Trio's 7th studio album, This Addiction,was released on February 23rd 2010. This was their first album under their own label, Heart & Skull, an offshoot of Epitaph, and the album debuted at #11 on the Billboard 200, making it the highest the band has ever charted to date.
Alkaline Trio's eighth studio album, Damnesia,, was released July 12, 2011. Consisting of "a selection of beloved fan favorites selected from the group's extensive catalogue and presented in an intimate semi-unplugged format", the album also included two new songs, "Olde English 800" and "I Remember a Rooftop", as well as a cover version of the Violent Femmes' "I Held Her in My Arms".
On April 2nd, 2013, Alkaline Trio released "My Shame Is True".
On August 31st, 2013, Alkaline Trio released "Is This Thing Cursed?".
On June 8th, 2023, longtime drummer Derek Grant left the band due to mental health reasons and intentions to pursue music production as well as graphic design. He was replaced by Atom Willard, formerly of bands such as Rocket from the Crypt and Against Me!. The band then released the single, "Blood, Hair, and Eyeballs" on October 17th, 2023, and announced an album of the same name due for a release date of January 26th, 2024.
All On Black
Alkaline Trio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And a stab in the back left you bleeding on the floor
And I'm mourning the death, the recent passing of your insides
I smile in regret every time I think of how I spoke to you
I put it all in back of my mind where I hold you
I'm just trying to keep track how far back it really goes
And I'm living in lack of the blood sent from the heavens
What's black and white?
What's read all over?
This tired book, organ donor
Sweet blasphemy, my giving tree
It hasn't rained in years
I bring you this sacrificial offering of virgin ears
Leave it to me, I remain free from all the comforts of home
And where that is, I'm pleased as piss to say, I'll never really know
I put them all in black, the four walls of my bedroom
And I trimmed them in red, peeled your picture off the wall
And I'm living in lack of the blood sent from your heartbeat
That arrived in your neck every time I salivated over you
What's upside down?
What's coated in silver?
This crucifix, my four leaf clover
Sweet blasphemy, my giving tree
It hasn't rained in years
I bring to you this sacrificial offering of virgin ears
Leave it to me, I remain free from all the comforts of home
And where that is, I'm pleased as piss to say, I'll never really know
One of these days, it's gonna catch up to you
Throwing looks like those around
One of these nights, I promise to you
I'll soon be sleeping sound
As soon as I leave town
The lyrics to Alkaline Trio's "All On Black" explore themes of regret, mourning, and isolation in the aftermath of a broken relationship. The song's narrator is haunted by memories of the person they hurt, represented by the imagery of bleeding on the floor and the recent passing of their insides. The chorus repeats the refrain of "sweet blasphemy, my giving tree," a reference to the biblical story of the Garden of Eden and the idea of sacrificing something pure or innocent. The singer feels disconnected from any sense of comfort or belonging, and the repeated line "and where that is, I'm pleased as piss to say, I'll never really know" highlights their existential uncertainty and sense of being adrift.
The verse that begins with "What's black and white? / What's read all over?" interjects a play on words, conjuring up images of reading a newspaper that is both black and white and "red" all over from stories of violence or tragedy. The final verse returns to the imagery of black and red in the singer's bedroom walls, where they have cut out a picture of their former lover. The lyrics express a twisted desire to possess or consume the person, vividly described through horrifying imagery, such as "arrived in your neck every time I salivated over you."
Line by Line Meaning
I put it all on black, no color you're all dressed in
I'm taking a big risk, just like in a game of roulette, without any hesitation. You, on the other hand, don't stand out or make any bold moves.
And a stab in the back left you bleeding on the floor
You were betrayed and hurt badly by someone, leaving you helpless and vulnerable.
And I'm mourning the death, the recent passing of your insides
I'm grieving for the loss of your true self, the essence of who you are, which has changed or been damaged in some way.
I smile in regret every time I think of how I spoke to you
I feel remorseful for how I treated you in the past, even though I pretend to be happy when I recall those memories.
I put it all in back of my mind where I hold you
I keep all the memories and emotions relating to you in a special place in my mind, deep down where they won't interfere with my daily life.
I'm just trying to keep track how far back it really goes
I'm attempting to sort out the timeline of our experiences and how they've impacted me over time.
And I'm living in lack of the blood sent from the heavens
I'm existing in a state of spiritual emptiness, feeling as though the divine spark that sustains me is absent or inaccessible.
I'm just trying to relax as the killer's waiting right outside my door
Even though I'm aware of the dangers and threats facing me, I'm still trying to remain calm and composed rather than giving in to fear.
What's black and white?
This is a rhetorical question, meant to emphasize the extreme contrast between opposing elements or ideas.
What's read all over?
This is another rhetorical question, playing on the homophonic wordplay between 'read' and 'red.' The answer is a newspaper, which is both black and white and widely circulated.
This tired book, organ donor
This metaphorical book, which represents my life, is worn out and damaged, but I'm still willing to offer pieces of myself to others in need, like a generous organ donor.
Sweet blasphemy, my giving tree
This ironic phrase suggests that my willingness to make sacrifices and help others is at odds with religious expectations or conventional morality.
It hasn't rained in years
This is a metaphor for my emotional drought, feeling as though I haven't experienced any nourishing or cleansing moments of connection with others or myself in a long time.
I bring you this sacrificial offering of virgin ears
I'm offering up an innocent, pure part of myself that hasn't been corrupted or damaged yet, as a way of demonstrating my devotion or loyalty.
Leave it to me, I remain free from all the comforts of home
I'm taking charge of my own life and destiny, even if it means rejecting the traditional or familiar paths that others may take.
And where that is, I'm pleased as piss to say, I'll never really know
I'm content to live my life with uncertainty and mystery, embracing the possibilities that lie ahead rather than trying to predict or control the future.
I put them all in black, the four walls of my bedroom
I've surrounded myself with darkness and despair, enclosing myself in a space where I can't escape from my own thoughts and feelings.
And I trimmed them in red, peeled your picture off the wall
I added a touch of violence or aggression to my surroundings, both figuratively and literally, by removing a symbol of my connection to someone else.
And I'm living in lack of the blood sent from your heartbeat
I'm feeling deprived or empty without the vital essence or energy that came from our shared connection or love.
That arrived in your neck every time I salivated over you
This graphic and disturbing image suggests that my intense desire or longing for this person has taken on a violent or destructive quality, like a hungry predator devouring its prey.
What's upside down?
This is another rhetorical question, meant to emphasize the destabilizing or disorienting effects of change, fear, or confusion.
What's coated in silver?
This is another metaphorical inquiry, representing anything that appears to be valuable or desirable on the surface, but might be cheap or deceptive upon closer inspection.
This crucifix, my four leaf clover
This ironic phrase suggests that I'm seeking comfort or luck from religious or superstitious symbols, even if I don't fully believe in their power or significance.
One of these days, it's gonna catch up to you
This foreboding sentence suggests that the consequences of one's actions, whether positive or negative, will eventually manifest themselves and have an impact on one's life.
Throwing looks like those around
This cryptic phrase could mean that the singer is trying to blend in with the crowd, or that they're sending subtle signals or glances to someone else.
One of these nights, I promise to you
This sentence suggests that some kind of significant event or confrontation is imminent, although it's not clear what it might be.
I'll soon be sleeping sound
This final sentence could mean that the singer feels at peace with their actions or decisions, or that they're confident that they'll be protected or free from harm.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DANIEL MICHAEL ANDRIANO, DEREK R. GRANT, MATTHEW THOMAS SKIBA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind