Biffy, as they are often referred to, utilise a quiet/loud dynamic, constructing songs that can range from a whisper-quiet pick on the guitar, to huge walls of noise with massive distortion and crashing drums. Their sound has simplified somewhat in recent times yet still occasionally contains complex time signatures and heavy riffs. While Simon Neil sings lead, all three members provide vocals. "'Mon the Biffy!" is a well known chant amongst Biffy fans; it is usually shouted in between songs at gigs, or before the band come on stage. Some fans have reacted poorly to the band's recent output.
The first incarnation of what would eventually become Biffy Clyro was formed in 1995 by fifteen-year-old Irvine-born, Ayr-raised guitarist Simon Neil, who recruited Kilmarnock-born Ben Johnston and someone known only as Barry on drums and bass respectively, calling themselves Screwfish. Barry was soon replaced by James Johnston, Ben's twin brother, and the three spent the next two years rehearsing, writing and covering songs. In 1997, they played their first gig as the support for a band called Pink Kross at a local youth centre. The trio then moved to Glasgow, where Neil went to the University of Glasgow and the Johnston twins went to Stow College, studying Electronics with Music and Audio Engineering respectively.They then progressed onto the bigger stage
After playing gigs around Glasgow and receiving positive and enthusiastic reactions from the audiences, the band were spotted by Dee Bahl, who soon became their manager. Bahl offered them a chance to release an independent single on Aereogramme's Babi Yaga record label. "Iname" was released on 28 June 1999, and led to the band being chosen by Stow College's Electric Honey record label to release a record. thekidswhopoptodaywillrocktomorrow... was released on 13 June 2000, and after hearing it, BBC Radio Scotland DJ Vic Galloway gave the band airplay. A few days prior to the release of thekidswho..., the band were spotted at the Unsigned Bands stage at T in the Park 2000 by a Beggars Banquet representative. Soon after, the band was signed to the independent Beggar's Banquet, and on 30 October 2000, they re-recorded and released the single, "27", which became Kerrang!'s Single Of The Week.
On 1 October 2001, one of the songs from thekidswho... was re-recorded and released as a single, "Justboy". This was repeated on 4 February 2002, when the song "57" was released. On 11 March, the band's debut album, Blackened Sky, was released to generally positive reviews. It was around this time that the band began touring extensively, including being the support for Weezer on 20 March at the Barrowlands in Glasgow. On 15 July, the fourth single from the album, "Joy.Discovery.Invention" was released as a double A-side with a newly recorded song, entitled "Toys, Toys, Toys, Choke, Toys, Toys, Toys", which later appeared on The Vertigo of Bliss.
In 2003, the band retreated to the Linford Manor recording studio in Great Linford, Milton Keynes, England to record the follow-up to Blackened Sky. On 24 March, a new single was released entitled, "The Ideal Height", followed by another new single entitled "Questions and Answers" on 28 May. The band's second album, The Vertigo of Bliss was released on 16 June, to positive reviews, which focused on the more experimental style of the album in comparison to Blackened Sky, as well as the introduction of string sections.
In 2004, after touring relentlessly for The Vertigo of Bliss, the band retreated to Monnow Valley Studios in Monmouth, Wales to record a follow-up. As with the previous album, two singles were released before the actual album; "Glitter and Trauma" and "My Recovery Injection" on 9 August and 20 September, respectively. A digital download was also released; "There's No Such Thing As A Jaggy Snake", on 31 May. On 4 October, the band's third album, Infinity Land was released, and on 14 February 2005, the last single from the album, "Only One Word Comes To Mind" was released. On 16 February, the band performed a cover of Franz Ferdinand's "Take Me Out" live from Maida Vale on Zane Lowe's BBC Radio 1 show. Simon Neil's side project, Marmaduke Duke, also released an album in 2005, The Magnificent Duke, and toured the UK, along with the Johnston twins accompanying on bass and drums, for it.
In 2006, Biffy Clyro left Beggars Banquet and signed a deal with 14th Floor, an offshoot of Warner Bros. In June, the band contributed a cover of Weezer's "Buddy Holly" to Kerrang!'s High Voltage!: A Brief History of Rock, which came free with Issue #1110 of the magazine. In September, the band moved temporarily to Canada to record their fourth album at The Warehouse Studio in Vancouver, and The Farm Studio in Gibsons, which they finished doing in November. The song "Semi-Mental" was released as a digital download on 25 December. In 2007, the song "Saturday Superhouse" was released on 14 May, where it reached #13 on the UK Singles Chart; the band's highest single chart position to date. On 14 May, the song "Living is a Problem Because Everything Dies" was released, reaching #19 on the UK Singles Charts. On 21 May, Biffy were confirmed for T in the Park 2007, as well as being announced as one of the support bands for the 17 June gig at the new Wembley Stadium for Muse. On 1 June, Biffy were confirmed for Glastonbury 2007. On 4 June, Puzzle was released to critical acclaim, and eventually helped the band to reach their highest UK Albums Chart position ever, reaching #2 in the first week of release. On 6 June it was announced that Biffy were to support The Who at Marlay Park in Ireland. On 12 June, it was announced that "Folding Stars" was released as a single on July 16. On the 23rd of August 2007, Biffy Clyro were announced as the support act for the Red Hot Chilli Peppers at Hampden Stadium in Glasgow, for the Stadium Arcadium tour.
Picture A Knife Fight
Biffy Clyro Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd rather listen to man, woman but not whatever you are
We'll tip it over the edge and watch it disappear
I'll paint a picture of you, well my impression of what is inside
With your stolen eyes
I'm gonna stare at the sun
Until I burn them out
We're gonna dig up the sky tonight
Bury the sun for the rest of our lives
Lay low and never lie
We're gonna stay here 'til we make it alright
I'm going to grip onto her tiny saxophone
Place an absurd mound of flesh down the tube
And whistle what's inside
I'll tie a ribbon to her because she's all I need
And then I whisper to her, I'd gladly live my whole life on my knees
With your stolen eyes
I'm gonna stare at the sun
Until I burn them out
And then I'll picture a knife fight
We're gonna dig up the sky tonight
Bury the sun for the rest of our lives
Lay low and never lie
We're gonna stay here 'til we make it alright
We're gonna dig up the sky tonight
Bury the sun for the rest of our lives
Lay low and never lie
We're gonna stay here 'til we make it alright
What's the use if we're struggling on?
We've got to let this go
Before it sinks its claws
Deeper into our souls
We've got to stick together,
We've got to stick together
We've got to stick together
What's the goal if we're struggling on?
We've got to let this go
Before it sinks its claws
Deeper into our souls
We've got to stick together,
We've got to stick together
We've got to stick together
We've got to stick together
We've got to stick together
We've got to stick together
The song "Picture A Knife Fight" by Biffy Clyro takes on a confrontational tone throughout its lyrics. The opening lines, "I wouldn't listen to her, she'll only break your heart // I'd rather listen to man, woman but not whatever you are," suggest a put-down of someone whom the singer feels is not worth their time. The aggression is then heightened further in the lines "With your stolen eyes // I'm gonna stare at the sun // Until I burn them out // And then I'll picture a knife fight," indicating that the subject of the song is being actively challenged.
The chorus of the song takes on a more positive tone, with the singer suggesting that they will "dig up the sky tonight // Bury the sun for the rest of our lives // Lay low and never lie // We're gonna stay here 'til we make it alright." This tone is continued in the final lines of the song, where the singer emphasizes the importance of sticking together in order to overcome whatever struggles they may be facing.
Overall, "Picture A Knife Fight" paints a complex portrait of someone who is capable of both intense aggression and a sense of camaraderie with those around them. The lyrics suggest that while the singer may be challenging, they are ultimately committed to achieving a sense of unity and overcoming the obstacles that stand in their way.
Line by Line Meaning
I wouldn't listen to her, she'll only break your heart
I advise you not to pay attention to her because she will ultimately hurt you
I'd rather listen to man, woman but not whatever you are
I'd prefer to listen to someone who identifies as male or female, but not someone who identifies differently
We'll tip it over the edge and watch it disappear
We'll go beyond the acceptable limits and witness the outcome
I'll paint a picture of you, well my impression of what is inside
I'll create an image of you that best reflects what's within you
With your stolen eyes
Looking at something with an intense and focused manner
I'm gonna stare at the sun
I will keep looking at the sun
Until I burn them out
Until my eyes don't have the ability to see anymore
And then I'll picture a knife fight
I'll imagine a violent confrontation with sharp-edged weapons
We're gonna dig up the sky tonight
We'll do something that's outrageously impossible
Bury the sun for the rest of our lives
We'll do something that will have long-term effects
Lay low and never lie
Remain calm and truthful
We're gonna stay here 'til we make it alright
We'll stay here until we reach our desired objective
I'm going to grip onto her tiny saxophone
I'll grasp tightly on her small saxophone
Place an absurd mound of flesh down the tube
I'll insert something nonsensical into the instrument
And whistle what's inside
And play the instrument with the strange object inside
I'll tie a ribbon to her because she's all I need
I'll tie a ribbon onto her because she's my everything
And then I whisper to her, I'd gladly live my whole life on my knees
I'll confess to her that I'm willing to do anything to make her happy
What's the use if we're struggling on?
What's the point in continuing if things are difficult
We've got to let this go
We need to release this tension
Before it sinks its claws
Before it hooks onto us
Deeper into our souls
And affects us at a profound level
We've got to stick together,
We must rely on each other
We've got to stick together
We must rely on each other
We've got to stick together
We must rely on each other
What's the goal if we're struggling on?
What's the objective if we're having difficulties
We've got to let this go
We need to release this tension
Before it sinks its claws
Before it hooks onto us
Deeper into our souls
And affects us at a profound level
We've got to stick together,
We must rely on each other
We've got to stick together
We must rely on each other
We've got to stick together
We must rely on each other
We've got to stick together
We must rely on each other
We've got to stick together
We must rely on each other
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: SIMON ALEXANDER NEIL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Adam Holman
how the hell is this album not even known to a lot of people
Fabian Peña
Caviar is not for everyone... Though it should! 😅✌️
André Solis
After over 6 years, this song keeps on clicking in my head
#BJJ #GRAPPLEBEAST2000
Brilliant album
Mark Fitzpatrick
Best biffy song!
Sean Patterson
Whole album is brilliant Iove Simons scotch lilt when he's singing...picture a wolf fight gripping onto a tiny saxophone staring at the 🌞
The Anonymous Commenter
"Place an absurd mound of flesh down the tube and whistle what's inside"
K den
DARKASUS
I may be the only boy yet listened to rock at 13 I love you my biff sorry with my traduction it is google traduction because i am french
DARKASUS
@WoeisEuTu [&] again and again BIFFY CLYRO I love their new album but I also listen to green day the offspring but also the beatles and metal like megadeth slipknot stone sour and especially avenged sevenfold but biffy clyro remains my favorite band I'm going to do the puzzle piece as first tattoo
WoeisEuTu [&]
@DARKASUS which bands do you listen now? Im 22 btw.