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.
Help Me
Alkaline Trio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Heaven and hell my dear where nothings what it seems
Its just as well up here I'm givin' you the creeps
And a farewell kiss to go into the unknown
Saw you standing there
Outside the music hall you come out for some air
Until your curtain call and everyone just stared
Somethings not right
You're up there, took the stairs to the stars all alone
You left all the lights burning but nobodies home
I believe they deceived your tuneful heart to long
And they sing along
Help me, help me won't you?
Sing me, sing me one last song
Help me, help me, somebody help me
Save me from myself
Here I'll find you in between
Heaven and hell again where nothings what it seems
It's just as well my friend
I'm givin' me the creeps
And a farewell to arms and legs and heads and heart
You're up there, took the stairs to the stars all alone
You left all the lights burning but nobody's home
I believe they deceived your tuneful heart to long
And they sing along
Help me, help me won't you?
Sing me, sing me one last song
Help me, help me, somebody help me
Save me from myself
Take me from this hell
And they sing along
La la la la la la la la [x4]
You're up there, took the stairs to the stars all alone
You left all the lights burning but nobodies home
I believe they deceived your tuneful heart to long
And they sing along
Help me, help me won't you?
Sing me, sing me one last song
Help me, help me, somebody help me
Save me from myself
Help me, help me won't you?
Sing me, sing me one last song
Help me, help me, somebody help me (la la la la la la la la)
Save me from myself
Take me from this hell
The lyrics to Alkaline Trio's Help Me depict a sense of desperation and loneliness, with the singer feeling stuck between heaven and hell. The opening lines express a feeling of disorientation, where what the singer sees and experiences may not be entirely truthful. They also suggest that the singer is not someone who is easy to be around. In the second verse, the perspective shifts to someone else who is struggling, possibly a musician. The phrase "up there, took the stairs to the stars all alone" echoes the sentiment in the first verse of feeling isolated and disconnected. The use of the word "deceived" implies a sense of betrayal or disillusionment, perhaps with the music industry or the people surrounding the musician. The repeated plea for help and the image of a farewell suggest that the singer may be contemplating suicide or self-destructive behavior.
The chorus of "Help me, help me, won't you? Sing me, sing me one last song" conveys a sense of desperation and urgency. The repeated phrase "save me from myself" reveals a desire for rescue or intervention from destructive patterns or thoughts. The last line, "take me from this hell," adds to the sense of intense suffering and despair.
Overall, the song Help Me is a poignant and powerful expression of emotional pain and the need for help and support.
Line by Line Meaning
Here you'll find me in between
The singer feels stuck in a liminal space between two opposing forces.
Heaven and hell my dear where nothings what it seems
The singer feels like they are caught between good and evil, and nothing is as straightforward as it seems.
Its just as well up here I'm givin' you the creeps
The singer realizes that their current state is unsettling to those around them and accepts it.
And a farewell kiss to go into the unknown
The artist is saying goodbye to their former self as they venture into the unknown.
Saw you standing there
The artist sees someone who they know or recognize standing nearby.
Outside the music hall you come out for some air
The person the singer sees is taking a break from a musical performance.
Until your curtain call and everyone just stared
The singer watched as the person they saw was the center of attention during their performance, but something felt off.
When you took the stage that night
The person the artist is watching was a performer in a show that they attended recently.
Somethings not right
The artist senses that something is wrong or off about the performance they saw.
You're up there, took the stairs to the stars all alone
The performer is on stage, but they feel isolated and alone, despite their fame and success.
You left all the lights burning but nobodies home
The performer is surrounded by bright lights and fame, but they feel empty and neglected.
I believe they deceived your tuneful heart to long
The artist thinks that the performer's success and fame has caused them to be taken advantage of and neglected for too long.
And they sing along
Despite the performer's sadness and loneliness, their fans still adore and support them.
Help me, help me won't you?
The singer is asking for help and support from anyone who is willing to offer it.
Sing me, sing me one last song
The singer wants someone to give them comfort in the form of a song or something similar.
Save me from myself
The artist wants someone to help them turn their life around and overcome their struggles and conflicts.
Here I'll find you in between
The artist is again caught in that same liminal space between two opposing forces.
It's just as well my friend
The singer has stopped fighting against their current state and is trying to come to terms with it.
I'm givin' me the creeps
The singer is still unsettled by their current state and feels uneasy.
And a farewell to arms and legs and heads and heart
The artist is saying goodbye to their physical and emotional attachments as they move into a new phase of life.
La la la la la la la la [x4]
The singer and audience join together in song to distract from the pain and sadness of reality.
Take me from this hell
The artist wants to be rescued from their current state of pain, sadness, and conflict.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: TERENCE OLIVER BLANCHARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
anonysk8
Here you find me in between
Heaven and Hell my dear
Where nothing's what it seems
It's just as well I fear
I'm giving you the creeps
And a farewell kiss to go into the unknown
Saw you standing there
Outside the music hall
You come out for some air
Uncertain curtain call
And everyone just stared
When you took the stage that night
Something's not right
You're up there
Took the stairs
To the stars all alone
You left all the lights burning
But nobody's home
I believe they deceived your tuneful heart too long
Now they sing along
Help me, Help me won't you?
Sing me, sing me one last song?
Help me, Help me, somebody help me
Save me from myself
Here I find you in between
Heaven and Hell again
Where nothing's what it seems
It's just as well my friend
I'm giving me the creeps
And a farewell to arms, and legs, and heads, and hearts
You're up there
Took the stairs
To the stars all alone
You left all the lights burning
But nobody's home
I believe they deceived your tuneful heart too long
Now they sing along
Help me, Help me, won't you?
Sing me, sing me one last song?
Help me, Help me, somebody help me
Save me from myself, Take me from this Hell
Now they sing along
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
You're up there
Took the stairs
To the stars all alone
You left all the lights burning
But nobody's home
I believe they deceived your tuneful heart too long
Now they sing along
Help me, Help me won't you?
Sing me, sing me one last song?
Help me, Help me, somebody help me
Save me from myself
Help me, Help me won't you?
Sing me, sing me one last song?
Help me, Help me, somebody help me
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Save me from myself
Take me from this Hell
Dean, King of the Bees
Most underrated band ever... Like seriously these guys deserve WAY more attention than they get
Chadrick Basedman
Agreed
Anthony Roberts
+Jeff Jeffe I havent listened to AT in years and forgot about them till now, they do deserve way more attention
18th&Addison
+Jeff Jeffe Agreed 100%. Aside from the amazing video and music here, my favorite thing is they all went through all this shit and nobody lost their hats
BRIAN_WRIGHT
+Jeff Jeffe Then the band gets popular and the fans complain about how "mainstream" they are, lol.
Balling Like Choji
yes I agree 100%
Mathew Swift
For 3 guys in the band, they make an absolutely amazing sound.
btbrotherton
Alkaline Trio just has so many good songs. Pretty much every CD of theirs you can listen through from beginning to end and like almost every song. So good.
Christopher Tonkin
As a new fan of these guys, I totally agree!!
ZombieKitty
Christopher Tonkin
- Always makes me smile to see new AT fans <3 i've been addicted to them since 2001, just a perfect band!