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.
Nose Over Tail
Alkaline Trio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To prove to you that I have brains
Meanwhile tin men are led by little girls
Down golden roads that lead to nowhere
Fine time to fake a seizure
To feel your mouth on mine, you're saving me
I want to make it real
I'd love to rub your back
Like a plane crash that never hits the ground
I fall in love with you
I'm nose over tail for you
Your voice like the sound of sirens to a house on fire
You're saving me
The opening lines of "Nose Over Tail" give a shock effect to the listeners as it talks about cracking one's head open for proving someone that they have brains. It is a unique way to showcase how far someone can go for the person they love. The song then takes a strange turn as it talks about tin men being led by little girls down golden roads to nowhere. Through these lines, the band wants to represent the image of people being lost in their own world, following others blindly without any destination, and not realizing it as they are too focused on their surroundings.
The next set of lines talks about faking a seizure to feel the person's mouth on the singer's mouth, and the same person is saving them. It shows how important this person is in the singer's life and how desperately they want them to be around. The song later talks about the silly dream that the person had and how the singer wants to make it real. Through these lines, the band mentions that they want to be the support system of this person and make their dreams come true. The song ends on an emotional note with the singer admitting their love and how they are nose over tail for the person they love.
Line by Line Meaning
Crack my head open on your kitchen floor
I am willing to go to extreme lengths just to prove my point to you
To prove to you that I have brains
I want to demonstrate my intelligence and worth to you
Meanwhile tin men are led by little girls
I see people who are supposed to be strong being controlled by people who are seemingly weak
Down golden roads that lead to nowhere
They are being misled and their efforts will yield no results
Fine time to fake a seizure
I want to use this opportunity to engage in physical intimacy with you
To feel your mouth on mine, you're saving me
Being with you makes me feel complete and like all my problems are solved
Whatever happened to that silly dream you had?
I remember that you once had a great ambition. What happened to it?
I want to make it real
I am determined to help you make your dream a reality
I'd love to rub your back
I would enjoy the opportunity to make you feel physically comfortable and cared for
Like a plane crash that never hits the ground
I am overwhelmed by my strong feelings for you and the idea of being with you indefinitely
I fall in love with you
I am deeply and completely enamored with you
I'm nose over tail for you
I am completely consumed by my love and affection for you
Your voice like the sound of sirens to a house on fire
Your voice is particularly compelling and alluring to me, it is like a beacon of hope
You're saving me
You make me feel whole and fulfilled. You are my savior
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: DANIEL MICHAEL ANDRIANO, DEREK R. GRANT, MATTHEW THOMAS SKIBA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nelos
Crack my head open on your kitchen floor
To prove to you that I have brains
Meanwhile tin men are led by little girls
Down golden roads that lead to nowhere
Fine time to fake a seizure
To feel your mouth on mine, you're saving me
Whatever happened to that silly dream you had?
I want to make it real
I'd love to rub your back
Like a plane crash that never hits the ground
I fall in love with you
I'm nose over tail for you
Your voice like the sound of sirens to a house on fire
You're saving me
Jesse M
If I had to introduce someone to Alk3 for the first time, this is the song I'd use to do it. It just perfectly encapsulates who they are as a band.
Holly Humphreys
My crush in high school introduced me to this band with this song. and Woooo buddy. I went down a rabbit hole. <3
Medusas Madhouse
I concur.
Jessica Seeley
It IS THE song I send first
Jon Davis
I'm here because someone told me their four favorite Alk songs.
Eric Kanis
Theres something special about Matt's love songs, theres just this great underlying feeling that emanates from them
Laura Young
I used to sing this song to my daughter every night putting her to bed when she was an infant, hell she got her name from a trio song Emma. Trio is the soundtrack to my life
Erik
Same(your last sentence)
heavenstreet
"Nose over Tail" is a play on the phrase "head over heels." In the 2nd verse, Matt sings, "...like a plane crash that never hits the ground / I fall in love with you / I'm nose over tail for you."
Wart
Oh is it?