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.
Old School Reasons
Alkaline Trio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dirty as fuckin' and never leavin'
And then best left unsaid
All the drinks under breath
Got some shit off my chest
Put on my back next to the monkey nest
That somebody left
I got a hole in my head
The size of lake fuckin' Michigan
My pipes lined in lead
Got old school reasons to die
All my money's been spent
On a face lift with via alcohol
This sinner repents
To an empty bathroom reflection
Please take these two words
And do with them what you would like
It's a dream I had, drove me mad
Just your time, just my fucking life
I got a bottle in hand
Straight to the ground with all my memories
It's best left unsaid
When they've all been left behind
All my money's been spent
On a D.I.Y. lobotomy
This sinner repents
To a lake and bathroom mirror
Please take these two words
And do with them what you would like
It's a dream I had, drove me mad
Just your time, just my fucking life
So take these two words
And do with them what you would like
It's a dream you had, drove me mad
Just your time, just my fucking life
And that's my life
Over and over again
It's just my fucking life
It might seem meaningless to you
But it means everything to me
And I'm fucked without you
Please take these words
And do with them what you would like
It's a dream I had, drove me mad
Just your time, just my fucking life
And that's my life
Over and over again
It's just my fucking life
The lyrics of "Old School Reasons" by Alkaline Trio delve into the darker aspects of life, exploring themes of regret and despair. The line "I got these thoughts in my head / Dirty as fuckin' and never leavin'" may refer to the singer's inclination towards negative thoughts that never seem to leave his mind, which may be compounded by his addiction to drinking. He confesses to "Got some shit off my chest / Put on my back next to the monkey nest," indicating that he has a burden that he has been carrying and trying to conceal. The monkey nest may be a metaphor for his addictive tendencies, a persistent presence that he cannot shake.
The singer also contemplates his own mortality, stating "I got a hole in my head / The size of lake fuckin' Michigan / My pipes lined in lead / Got old school reasons to die." These lyrics suggest that his drinking habits have resulted in severe physical and psychological damage that he believes he cannot overcome. He acknowledges that he has "all old school reasons to die," meaning he is aware of the unhealthy lifestyle he is leading, but continues to persist with it anyway.
As the song progresses, the singer repeats the plea "Please take these two words / And do with them what you would like / It's a dream I had, drove me mad / Just your time, just my fucking life." This line may represent a desire to seek forgiveness or a desire to leave a lasting impression, despite accepting the inevitability of his own demise. The song concludes with the singer confessing the significance of the song in his life and his dependency on the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
I got these thoughts in my head
My mind is filled with dirty and unpleasant thoughts that never go away.
Dirty as fuckin' and never leavin'
These thoughts are extremely foul and persistently stay in my head.
And then best left unsaid
These thoughts are too distressing and inappropriate to be talked about.
All the drinks under breath
All of the secrets and unspoken truths that are concealed while being drunk.
Got some shit off my chest
I have disclosed some of my burdensome and tormenting feelings.
Put on my back next to the monkey nest
I have added these feelings to the stack of issues that I already carry with me.
That somebody left
These issues were present from the day I was born and will always be with me.
With me the day I was born
I have lived with these issues since the day I was born, and they will be with me until the end.
I got a hole in my head
I have something troubling that feels like a hole in my head.
The size of lake fuckin' Michigan
The size of this troubling matter is huge and possibly alarming.
My pipes lined in lead
This issue is deeply ingrained and difficult to address.
Got old school reasons to die
I am struggling with deep and long-standing problems that leave me feeling helpless and hopeless.
All my money's been spent
I have squandered all of my resources and support trying to cope with these problems.
On a face lift with via alcohol
I have been trying to numb the pain and lift my spirits through alcohol abuse.
This sinner repents
I have realized the gravity of my actions and seek redemption.
To an empty bathroom reflection
I have been confessing my sins to myself in the privacy of my own bathroom.
Please take these two words
I am offering you these two simple words for you to do with what you please.
And do with them what you would like
You can interpret or use these words however you see fit.
It's a dream I had, drove me mad
This is something that has been plaguing me and driving me to the edge of insanity.
Just your time, just my fucking life
This is just a small request that means everything to me because it is my life at stake.
I got a bottle in hand
I am holding onto a bottle of alcohol as a form of comfort and escape.
Straight to the ground with all my memories
I am relapsing into a state of despair and remembering all of the things that make me feel worse.
When they've all been left behind
When all of the things that matter to me have been lost and are beyond my reach.
On a D.I.Y. lobotomy
I have metaphorically attempted to perform a lobotomy on myself to rid me of my trauma and pain.
To a lake and bathroom mirror
I am confessing my sins and seeking redemption through the calming and reflective environment of a lake and bathroom mirror.
So take these two words
Again, I offer you these two simple words for you to use as you please.
And it's just your time, just my fucking life
This is a plea for your help at any cost because this is not just my struggle, but my whole life on the line.
Over and over again
This struggle has been recurring over a long period of time.
It might seem meaningless to you
This might seem insignificant to you, but it means everything to me.
But it means everything to me
This is the one thing that truly matters to me, and it feels like everything is at stake.
And I'm fucked without you
I am unable to cope with this struggle without your help and understanding.
Please take these words
Once again, I am offering you these words with sincerity and desperation.
And do with them what you would like
Please use these words in any way that will help me overcome these issues.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DANIEL MICHAEL ANDRIANO, DEREK R. GRANT, MATTHEW THOMAS SKIBA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind