Initially, they played at night clubs in the greater London area and recorded some demos under the name of Fleeing New York before changing their name to Band of Skulls in November 2008. Their debut album Baby Darling Dollface Honey, distributed by Shangri-La Music, was released exclusively on the iTunes Store on 6 March 2009, followed by a general release on 20 March. The track I Know What I Am was chosen as iTunes' free Single of the Week to coincide with the digital release. The song was also featured in the soundtrack for TV series Friday Night Lights, Volume 2, which was released on 4 May 2010. The song also appeared in Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock. Another track that was not actually on the album, "Friends", was included on The Twilight Saga: New Moon soundtrack in November 2009.
On 23 March 2010, Band of Skulls released Friends EP, which includes the studio-recorded version of "Friends", a live version, and a music video of the song.
Band of Skulls played at the SXSW Festival in early 2010 and toured the Midwest in March in support of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. The band appeared on the French TV show Taratata broadcast in March 2010, where they covered the song "Sympathy for the Devil" by The Rolling Stones with the band John & Jehn.[4] In April 2010, they toured the U.S. and Canada followed by England in May 2010, including a sold-out show at the London Electric Ballroom. On 28 June 2010, Band of Skulls supported The Dead Weather at The Roundhouse in London. In July 2010, the band covered Goldfrapp's "Strict Machine" for Australian radio. They were also one of three bands who opened for Muse on 4 September 2010 at Lancashire County Cricket Ground. In October 2010 they also toured to South Africa to play at the annual Rocking The Daisies festival.
On 26 October 2010, Band of Skulls released a live album called Live on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic.
On 5 October 2011, the band released "The Devil Takes Care of His Own"—the first single to be taken from the new album—with an accompanying music video. The second studio album Sweet Sour was recorded at Rockfield Studios in Wales. It is produced by Ian Davenport (Supergrass, Badly Drawn Boy), who also produced their debut album, and was released on February 21, 2012 in the US, and February 20, 2012 in the UK and Europe.
On 12 April 2012, Channel 4 broadcast a short documentary starring the band. They discuss the formation of Band Of Skulls through to going from working the bars of their hometown to playing music in front of expansive crowds of adoring fans across the globe. It is a rare and intimate insight into the world of Band Of Skulls, focusing of their success and achievements over the years.
On 13 October 2012, Band of Skulls played the 11th Annual Austin City Limits Music Festival. The show was briefly interrupted by a rainstorm that soaked the front of the stage, including Russell's pedal board, prompting the band to leave the stage while crews dried and moved the affected equipment. The band was able to return and complete their set after about a 10-minute delay.
On 2nd December 2013, the band released the video for "Asleep At The Wheel" - the first track to be shared from their yet unreleased album 'Himalayan'.
In January 2017, it was announced via social media that Hayward had left the band.
Lies
Band of Skulls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It’s wrote in a letter ? upon, you fool me
You’re givin’ it up and you’re movin’ on
Cause you wanna be free
You’re gettin’ so easy to read
Lies are the truth
That you tell to yourself
Who can take what they’re dealt
You say it again just to rub it in, baby
How can you not have a little fun, dark face honey
Givin’ it up and you’re movin’ on
Cause you wanna be free
You’re gettin’ so easy to read
Lies are the truth
That you tell to yourself
Lies are the truth
That you tell to yourself
Watch other fools
Who can take what they’re dealt
Lies are the truth
That you tell to yourself
Lies are the truth
That you tell to yourself
Watch other fools
Who can take what they’re dealt
The lyrics of Band of Skulls’ song Lies explore the concept of lying, particularly its destructive effects on oneself. The song begins with a clear message that whatever someone starts, it will carry on, and this is something that is already written; the line “It’s wrote in a letter upon, you fool me” evokes a sense of inevitability, as if the singer is acknowledging their own fate. The lyrics then reveal the singer's partner's intentions to move on in life and find freedom, which echoes the singer's feeling of being trapped. The line “You’re gettin’ so easy to read” seems to indicate that the singer's partner is becoming increasingly transparent and disingenuous as they move on with their lives.
The chorus, “Lies are the truth/ That you tell to yourself/ Watch other fools/ Who can take what they’re dealt” delves into the idea that lies can be harmful because they can prevent someone from seeing things clearly. The singer seems to be telling their partner that they're ignoring their true feelings by lying to themselves, and that it’s better to face the truth than to live a lie. The line “Watch other fools/ Who can take what they’re dealt” implies that the singer is urging their partner to take ownership of their situation rather than running from it.
The second verse implies that the singer's partner is trying to make them feel worse than they already do by mocking them. “You say it again just to rub it in, baby/ How can you not have a little fun, dark face honey” indicates that the partner is not acting with empathy or kindness. By the end of the song, the chorus is repeated with the poetic repetition of “Lies are the truth/That you tell to yourself,” emphasizing the importance of being honest with oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
All that you started will carry on, honey
Every action that you have taken has consequences that will follow you.
It’s wrote in a letter ? upon, you fool me
You wrote down your intentions, and I believed them. But now I realize you were not truthful.
You’re givin’ it up and you’re movin’ on
Cause you wanna be free
You’re gettin’ so easy to read
You are giving up on what we had and moving on because you want to be free. Your feelings are becoming clear to me.
Lies are the truth
That you tell to yourself
Watch other fools
Who can take what they’re dealt
You are lying to yourself and believing your own lies. You look at other people who accept their situation and think they are fools.
You say it again just to rub it in, baby
How can you not have a little fun, dark face honey
You keep repeating hurtful things to me just to make me feel worse. You think it's amusing but it's not.
Givin’ it up and you’re movin’ on
Cause you wanna be free
You’re gettin’ so easy to read
You are leaving me behind to pursue your own freedom. Your actions are making it clear to me that you no longer care.
Lies are the truth
That you tell to yourself
Lies are the truth
That you tell to yourself
Watch other fools
Who can take what they’re dealt
Lies are the truth
That you tell to yourself
You continue to deceive yourself by accepting your own lies as the truth. You are unable to face reality and look down on those who can.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: EMMA RICHARDSON, MATT HAYWARD, RUSSELL MARSDEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Randall Nichols
All that you started will carry on, honey
It’s wrote in a letter ? upon, you fool me
You’re givin’ it up and you’re movin’ on
Cause you wanna be free
You’re gettin’ so easy to read
Lies are the truth
That you tell to yourself
Watch other fools
Who can take what they’re dealt
You say it again just to rub it in, baby
How can you not have a little fun, dark face honey
Givin’ it up and you’re movin’ on
Cause you wanna be free
You’re gettin’ so easy to read
Lies are the truth
That you tell to yourself
Lies are the truth
That you tell to yourself
Watch other fools
Who can take what they’re dealt
Lies are the truth
That you tell to yourself
Lies are the truth
That you tell to yourself
Watch other fools
Who can take what they’re dealt
Joey Fittipaldi
Definantly some Led Zeppelin influences in there, especially that riff. This song is badass
MotorCityPhoenix
fing love this. the riffs, the drums, and emma's vocals put it over the top!
Anna Johnson
Thank you Emma Richardson for being a real rocker chick, like Joan Jett and Ann Wilson, and for not representing the ever growing pathetic mass of female popstars that just keep cropping up! What the world needs now is badass rocker babes!
Randall Nichols
All that you started will carry on, honey
It’s wrote in a letter ? upon, you fool me
You’re givin’ it up and you’re movin’ on
Cause you wanna be free
You’re gettin’ so easy to read
Lies are the truth
That you tell to yourself
Watch other fools
Who can take what they’re dealt
You say it again just to rub it in, baby
How can you not have a little fun, dark face honey
Givin’ it up and you’re movin’ on
Cause you wanna be free
You’re gettin’ so easy to read
Lies are the truth
That you tell to yourself
Lies are the truth
That you tell to yourself
Watch other fools
Who can take what they’re dealt
Lies are the truth
That you tell to yourself
Lies are the truth
That you tell to yourself
Watch other fools
Who can take what they’re dealt
ukhio
it is a miracle to find good songs nowdays I love this new album
A Jack
"lies are the truth, that u tell to your self".... I love u Band of Skulls!!!!
bryn sprado
This band is good.
joan summer
amazing drums!!!!
GurgleBub
i seriously love this
Thecharliejay1
such a cool song