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.
Sleepyhead
Alkaline Trio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The headaches, the shaking,
The boredom the boardroom brings
You're scratching at itching
Brought by the spiders beneath your skin
The answer in question is over before it begins
Hey there sleepy smile,
Not assuming you want to keep 'em,
I'm assuming you reckon you won't
All you've been asking for's been placed in front of you
The headaches, the shaking,
The boredom the boardroom brings
You're scratching at itching
Brought by the spiders beneath your skin
The answer in question is over before it begins
Hey there sleepy smile,
I see you've brought your bedroom eyes
Not assuming you want to keep 'em,
I'm assuming you reckon you won't
Nothing to see here but the rain
There's nothing to hold you but the flames
Nothing to see here but the rain
There's nothing to hold you but the flames
Nothing to see here but the rain
There's nothing to hold you but the flames
Nothing to see here but the rain
It's raining flames
Earth to sleepy smile,
Where'd you take those bedroom eyes?
Not assuming you want to keep 'em,
I'm assuming you reckon you won't
The lyrics of Alkaline Trio's song "Sleepyhead" reflect the feelings of despair, hopelessness, and entrapment in monotony. The opening lines suggest that everything the singer was hoping for has been placed right in front of them, but it has not brought them any happiness or satisfaction. The headaches, shaking, itching, and boredom are all physical manifestations of the mental stress and dissatisfaction they feel, which they cannot seem to escape. The line, "The answer in question is over before it begins," suggests that they are stuck in a cycle of searching for answers that they cannot find.
In the next verse, they address someone who they call "sleepy smile." This person is likely someone the singer knows who also feels trapped and unhappy. They note that the person has brought "bedroom eyes," which suggest exhaustion and possibly depression. The singer assumes that the person does not want to keep the eyes, indicating that they feel no one wants to stay in this state of mind forever.
The final lines of the song mention rain and flames, which could be interpreted as a metaphor for the turbulence and chaos in life. The singer addresses "sleepy smile" again, asking where they have taken their "bedroom eyes." The use of the phrase "Earth to sleepy smile" suggests that the singer feels like the person is not fully present or engaged with the world around them.
Overall, "Sleepyhead" is a poignant exploration of the feelings of being trapped in a cycle of dissatisfaction and searching for answers that never come. The use of physical symptoms of mental distress highlights the impact of these feelings on a person's well-being.
Line by Line Meaning
All you've been asking for's been placed in front of you
Everything you've been asking for has been given to you.
The headaches, the shaking,
You're experiencing physical symptoms like headaches and shaking.
The boredom the boardroom brings
You're feeling uninterested in the mundane environment of the office.
You're scratching at itching
You're physically itching, perhaps due to anxiety or the sensation of something crawling under your skin.
Brought by the spiders beneath your skin
The cause of your itching could be imagined 'spiders' beneath your skin, producing a creepy sensation.
The answer in question is over before it begins
You feel like the answer to your problems is always out of reach or nonexistent.
Hey there sleepy smile,
Addressing the person who looks like they're tired or uninterested.
I see you've brought your bedroom eyes
You have a seductive or sleepy look in your eyes.
Not assuming you want to keep 'em,
I'm not assuming you want to maintain this look or mood.
I'm assuming you reckon you won't
I'm assuming that you don't think you'll keep this look or mood.
Nothing to see here but the rain
There's nothing interesting or exciting going on around you.
There's nothing to hold you but the flames
The only thing that can motivate or inspire you are fiery passions or desires.
It's raining flames
Your passions or desires are consuming and overwhelming you.
Earth to sleepy smile,
Trying to get the attention of the person who seems disengaged or detached.
Where'd you take those bedroom eyes?
Asking where their alluring or sleep-deprived look went.
Not assuming you want to keep 'em,
Reiterating that I'm not guessing that they want to keep that mood or appearance.
I'm assuming you reckon you won't
Thinking that they don't expect to sustain that look or emotion.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DANIEL MICHAEL ANDRIANO, DEREK R. GRANT, MATTHEW THOMAS SKIBA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind