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.
The American Scream
Alkaline Trio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They've worn out all the prayer in their hearts.
All along thought they were routing for the home team,
As they're sent to the game and torn apart.
With twists this turn a kid up on the pipeline,
He carries all the pain in the world.
As we blindly clap and cheer from the sidelines
And that's where they found me,
In the cemetery.
A smoking gun in my hand,
Now I'm damned for the land of the free.
Sing with me,
The American scream.
They took that faded ribbon off the oak tree.
They've worn out all the hope in their hearts.
All along thought I was doing the right thing,
Now I'm lying in a pool of my blood.
And that's where she found me,
In the cemetery,
A smoking gun in my hand,
Now I'm damned for the land of the free.
Sing with me.
And that's where she found me,
In the cemetery,
A smoking gun in my hand,
Now I'm damned for the land of the free.
Sing with me,
The American scream.
The American scream.
And that's where she found me,
In the cemetery,
A smoking gun in my hand,
Now I'm damned for the land of the free.
Sing with me,
The American scream.
The lyrics to Alkaline Trio's "The American Scream" touch on themes of disillusionment and despair with aspects of American society. The song opens with a reference to the iconic yellow ribbon tied around an oak tree as a symbol of support for soldiers at war. However, the singer notes that the community has worn out all their prayers for these soldiers, suggesting a sense of detachment or apathy towards their plight.
The lyrics then turn to a story of a child on the pipeline who bears the weight of the world's pain. The singer observes the ignorance of the crowd as they cheer on the sidelines, alluding to a sense of societal blindness or complacency towards injustice. The song then shifts to a narrative involving the singer themselves, holding a smoking gun in a cemetery and damned for the "land of the free" - a scathing critique of America's supposed values of freedom and justice.
Overall, the lyrics of "The American Scream" paint a bleak picture of disillusionment and critique towards America's social and political landscape.
Line by Line Meaning
Well they tied that yellow ribbon round the oak tree.
They put a ribbon on a tree to signify their support for soldiers, but the sentiment has lost its significance over time.
They've worn out all the prayer in their hearts.
The people have lost faith and hope in a better tomorrow.
All along thought they were routing for the home team,
The people believed they were supporting a just cause.
As they're sent to the game and torn apart.
The soldiers are sent to war and suffer physical and emotional damage.
With twists this turn a kid up on the pipeline,
The pipeline is a dangerous and difficult job that causes a young worker significant pain.
He carries all the pain in the world.
The worker bears the weight of the world's suffering and struggles alone.
As we blindly clap and cheer from the sidelines
We, as a society, blindly support and cheer for wars and economic practices that cause significant suffering.
It's clear, on a losing streak from the very start
The events are doomed from the very beginning - there is no hope for victory or success.
And that's where they found me,
The artist is found at a cemetery.
In the cemetery.
The setting of the artist's demise.
A smoking gun in my hand,
The singer has killed someone with a gun.
Now I'm damned for the land of the free.
The artist is punished for their actions, despite living in a country that claims to be free and just.
Sing with me,
The singer calls for others to join them in their pain and despair.
The American scream.
The cry of despair and suffering experienced by many Americans living in a system that perpetuates inequality and injustice.
They took that faded ribbon off the oak tree.
The ribbon that once signified support for soldiers is removed, indicating the loss of hope and faith in the cause.
All along thought I was doing the right thing,
The artist believed they were acting in a just and righteous manner.
Now I'm lying in a pool of my blood.
The artist has been killed and is lying in a pool of their own blood.
And that's where she found me,
The singer is found by another person at the cemetery.
The American scream.
The title and chorus of the song, representing the pain and suffering of many Americans living in a system that perpetuates inequality and injustice.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DEREK GRANT, MATTHEW SKIBA, MICHAEL ANDRIANO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@brianmaguire6814
I don't know if you guys see this, but as a Marine rifleman that threw his life away at 20 years old and has been paying for it ever since, this is one of the greatest songs of all time, and I'm a big fan of music. Thank you 🙏
@thecookingwine1
Not sure why but this song just popped in my head. Class and powerful stuff
@chelsieburgess12
My God, this is so fucking beautiful....
@sethrusso1437
This song is perfect.
@terryjones8195
Yes one of my favorite songs
@samuelcalmon419
Another great of this album versions
@beefwantko7269
this accoustic album might be the best they ever made.. so many classic songs in accoustic form.. i fucking love it.
@wilhelmgreffrath8701
Please make this album available on iTunes in South Africa too!
@ichiban308
The irony of your name being Wilhelm and you love this song about a "scream" is not lost on me. Cheers
@jasoncoker1625
💜