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.
Your Neck
Alkaline Trio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How were the mishaps that always have burdened threes
They say no rocket science, no big mystery
Why the light of day is shown to us is absolutely meaningless to me
Well first things first, we've gotta find a way
To make the beauty of the nighttime last all day
We'll do our very best to keep our appetites in check
Nothing but rotten apples lay here like years from the tree
Got thrown out of the house at the ripe age of three
I'll do my very best to keep my feelings off my chest
And out of your neck, out of your neck
Well things they go bump in the night that you can't see
How were the mishaps that always have burdened threes
They say no rocket science, no big mystery
Why the light of day is shown to us is absolutely meaningless to me
Well things they go bump in the night that you can't see
How were the mishaps that always have burdened threes
They say no rocket science, no big mystery
Why the light of day is shown to us is absolutely meaningless to me
Well the dreams that tremble into nightmares while you sleep
How were that feeling someone's watching from the street
They say no rocket science, no big mystery
Why the light of day is shown to us is absolutely meaningless to me
The lyrics to Alkaline Trio's "Your Neck" are both metaphorical and literal in nature, exploring themes of fear, isolation, and desire for control. The song begins by acknowledging the natural fears that we all have but cannot explain, such as the "bumps in the night that you can't see." The reference to the "burdened threes" implies that mishaps and misfortunes tend to happen in sequences of threes, which is a common belief in superstitious folklore.
The chorus shifts to a desire to control the night, to make "the beauty of the nighttime last all day." The singer then warns to "watch your back, we want your neck," which can be interpreted as a reference to violence or a need for control over others. The second verse adds more layers to this idea, with references to personal trauma and a vow to keep emotions hidden. The repetition of the chorus and the introduction of new fears, such as the feeling of being watched, further emphasizes the sense of unease and isolation that the singer feels.
Overall, "Your Neck" is a song about the complex emotions that stem from fear and a desire for control. The lyrics are dark and unsettling, but also reflective of the human experience and the ways in which we cope with our fears and anxieties.
Line by Line Meaning
Well things they go bump in the night that you can't see
There are many things that happen at night that we cannot explain
How were the mishaps that always have burdened threes
The bad things that happen to us always seem to come in threes
They say no rocket science, no big mystery
Some things in life are simple and don't require a lot of explanation
Why the light of day is shown to us is absolutely meaningless to me
The concept of daylight and its significance is lost on me
Well first things first, we've gotta find a way
Our first priority is to figure out a solution
To make the beauty of the nighttime last all day
We want to prolong the enjoyable aspects of the night
We'll do our very best to keep our appetites in check
We will try not to give in to our urges
You better watch your back, we want your neck
You should be cautious because we are after you
Nothing but rotten apples lay here like years from the tree
This place is full of bad things, like fruit that has been left to go bad
Got thrown out of the house at the ripe age of three
I was abandoned at a very young age
I'll do my very best to keep my feelings off my chest
I will try not to express my emotions
And out of your neck, out of your neck
I won't let my emotions get the best of me and lead to violence
Well the dreams that tremble into nightmares while you sleep
Sometimes our dreams turn into terrifying nightmares
How were that feeling someone's watching from the street
The sensation of being watched by a stranger is unsettling
Why the light of day is shown to us is absolutely meaningless to me
The significance of daylight is still lost on me
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DANIEL MICHAEL ANDRIANO, DEREK R. GRANT, MATTHEW THOMAS SKIBA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind