The band's first single, Babyshambles, was released in April 2004 on High Society Records. Fewer than 1,000 copies of the CD and 7" were released and both can now be found changing hands for more than £50 on internet auction sites such as eBay.
During September and October 2004 Babyshambles embarked on a UK tour culminating in two sold-out shows at the London Scala. Despite claims that the band were only touring to raise money to support Doherty's drug habit the tour sold-out and received critical acclaim. The band's second single Killamangiro was released November 29 2004 on Rough Trade Records and reached number 8 in the UK charts. The band embarked on another tour in December amid increasing concern about Doherty's drug use. During a gig in Blackpool the band walked off stage as it became clear Doherty was too intoxicated to perform and a riot broke out at the London Astoria when Doherty failed to turn up for a gig.
In January 2005, Gemma Clarke quit the band, citing disagreements with the management who she considered irresponsible for failing to address Doherty's obvious drug problem. She was replaced with Adam Ficek, Patrick Walden's former bandmate in The White Sport. In February 2005 Doherty, along with fellow musician Alan Wass, was arrested on suspicion of assault and blackmail. It was alleged that Doherty assaulted Max Carlish, a documentary maker, in a London hotel, a charge he strenuously denied. Carlish had made a documentary about Doherty, from which clips were used for the channel 4 documentary 'Stalking Pete Doherty'. After allegedly assaulting Carlish, Doherty spent several nights in prison until £150,000 bail could be raised. After being released on bail Doherty spent several weeks in a recording studio in Wales working on Babyshambles' debut album. All charges against him were dropped in April 2005.
On October 1, 2005, the Babyshambles tour bus was raided by police. Doherty was charged on suspicion of possession of class A drugs and bailed until December, although Doherty claims that the substances were related to his Naltrexone implant.
Work on Babyshambles' debut album continued throughout April and May 2005 with Mick Jones, who worked with Doherty on the producing of The Libertines' albums. The album, Down in Albion was released on 14th November, having been leaked onto the internet on 19th October. It came 10th in the Radio 1 Album Charts. The single Albion was released on the 28th November and came 8th in the Radio 1 Single Charts. Another single Fuck Forever was released on August 15th, reaching #4 on the UK Singles Chart.
Peter Doherty appeared on Newsnight at the end of 2005, and played a few secret and personal gigs to fans at the end of the year. At the start of 2006 the band announced that they would play 3 small club shows in London, Sheffield and Stoke. To fans' surprise, Babyshambles performed at the first of the London dates without guitarist Patrick Walden. Instead of Walden, Doherty played guitar at the London date. The band have since made an announcement that Walden quit the band to pursue other projects. Walden was replaced by Mick Whitnall.
December 2006 saw the release of a new EP, featuring The Blinding EP, the July single 'Beg, Steal & Borrow' and new single 'I Love You (But You're Green)'.
On January 18th, 2007 it was announced that the band signed a "long term" album deal with Parlophone.
Babyshambles released their 2nd album, Shotter's Nation, on October 1, 2007. It was produced by Stephen Street (Morrissey, Blur) and features Bert Jansch on guitar on the last track Lost Art Of Murder.
UnBiloTitled
Babyshambles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You tried to build around him
To dumb and dumbfound him
For two thousand years I waited for your call
Screaming from the windows
Screaming bloody murder
The more that you follow me
You think that you know me
You're pissing me off
Yeah, you said that you love me
Why don't you fuck off?
Anyone would think that you own me
You're ripping me
Messed my head, I messed my head
Oh, happy will I be
To shine fire upon everyone and no one
I messed my head and I messed my head
Oh, happy would I be
To shine fire upon everyone and no one
Wolfman and Bilo, on the run
Wolfman said to Bilo, "I'm calling it on"
Bilo said to blue eyes, "Put your trousers back on"
He's stronger than the walls
You tried to build around him
To dumb and dumbfound him
Two thousand years I waited for your call
Screaming from the windows
Screaming bloody murder
The lyrics of Babyshambles’s “UnBiloTitled” seem to be about a person who is strong enough to break through any barriers set up against him, and is tired of being controlled and manipulated by others. The opening lines, “He’s stronger than the walls you tried to build around him, to dumb and dumbfound him” suggest that the subject of the song is someone who is difficult to control, someone who cannot be contained by outside forces. The line “Two thousand years I waited for your call, screaming from the windows, screaming bloody murder” suggest that the subject has been waiting for a long time for someone to understand him and his struggles.
As the song progresses, the subject seems to be growing frustrated with those who claim to care about him, saying “The more that you follow me, the more I get lost” and “you think that you know me, you’re pissing me off. Yeah, you said that you love me, why don’t you fuck off?” The subject feels trapped and suffocated within a relationship, feeling as though they are being owned and ripped apart by the other person. Towards the end of the song, the lyrics suggest a desire for freedom and the ability to control one’s own life, with lines like “To shine fire upon everyone and no one.”
Overall, the song seems to be about the desire for freedom and the fight against manipulation and control.
Line by Line Meaning
He's stronger than the walls
He is resilient and cannot be confined by your attempts to control him.
You tried to build around him
You attempted to use physical or emotional barriers to restrict his freedom.
To dumb and dumbfound him
You tried to use confusion and ignorance to control and manipulate him.
For two thousand years I waited for your call
It feels like he has been waiting forever for a sign of affection or attention from you.
Screaming from the windows
He is desperately trying to communicate his feelings to you.
Screaming bloody murder
His feelings are so intense that he cannot help but express them in a loud and aggressive manner.
The more that you follow me
Your attempts to control him are only pushing him further away.
The more I get lost
The harder you try to control him, the more he gets lost and confused.
You think that you know me
You have an idea of who he is in your mind, but you do not truly understand him.
You're pissing me off
Your actions and behavior are causing him to become angry and frustrated.
Yeah, you said that you love me
You have told him that you love him, but your actions do not match your words.
Why don't you fuck off?
He is tired of your empty declarations of love and wishes that you would leave him alone.
Anyone would think that you own me
Your possessive behavior and attempts to control him suggest that you believe you have ownership over him.
You're ripping me
Your behavior is causing him emotional pain and tearing him apart.
Messed my head, I messed my head
He is feeling disoriented and confused due to his emotions.
Oh, happy will I be
He will find happiness if he can move on from his current situation.
To shine fire upon everyone and no one
He wants to express his emotions fiercely and freely without targeting any specific person or group.
Wolfman and Bilo, on the run
The two characters referenced are escaping from a difficult or dangerous situation.
Wolfman said to Bilo, "I'm calling it on"
One of the characters is declaring that they are taking control of their situation and making a decision.
Bilo said to blue eyes, "Put your trousers back on"
A humorous or lighthearted moment occurs between the characters, as one tells another to get dressed.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ADAM FICEK, PETER DOHERTY, PETER WOLFE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind