Billy Talent is a Canadian rock band from Mississauga, Ontario. They formed… Read Full Bio ↴Billy Talent is a Canadian rock band from Mississauga, Ontario. They formed in 1993 with lead vocalist Benjamin Kowalewicz, guitarist Ian D'Sa, bassist Jonathan Gallant, and drummer Aaron Solowoniuk. There have been no lineup changes, although Solowoniuk is currently taking a hiatus from the band due to a relapse of multiple sclerosis, In the 28 years since their inception, Billy Talent has sold well over a million physical albums in Canada alone and nearly 3 million albums internationally. Between 1995 and 2016, Billy Talent were the 27th-best-selling Canadian artist in Canada and among the top 10 best-selling Canadian bands in Canada.

The band existed for almost a decade before mainstream success. The members met and played in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Secondary School under the name Pezz and remained underground in Toronto's indie music scene until 2001. The band renamed itself Billy Talent after running into legal trouble with the old name. It was then that Kowalewicz's connection with an employee of Warner Music Canada's A&R department landed the band a record deal and launched them into mainstream success. Since then, Billy Talent has made three multi-platinum records in Canada and continues to expand their success overseas; this included touring for 20 months supporting their second album. They released their third album, Billy Talent III, in 2009, and their fourth album, Dead Silence, in 2012. Dead Silence was followed up by a full UK tour throughout October and November 2012. To commemorate the longevity since the release of their first studio album, the band has released a greatest hits album entitled Hits in 2014. In 2015, they began to prepare material for their fifth studio album. Just before entering the studio, drummer Aaron Solowoniuk decided to sit out the recording sessions while he continued his longstanding battle with multiple sclerosis. Fellow Canadian Jordan Hastings was quickly recruited to play as Solowoniuk's studio stand-in, and, in early 2016, the group completed work on Afraid of Heights, which was released in July of that year. The band's most recent album is Crisis of Faith, released in January 2022.

Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Talent

Studio albums
Billy Talent (2003)
Billy Talent II (2006)
Billy Talent III (2009)
Dead Silence (2012)
Afraid of Heights (2016)
Crisis of Faith (2022)

Hook Line & Sinker
Billy Talent Lyrics

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What you see is what you get (don't you know)
Fishing for the answer with a line and sinker
Look at me and don't forget (don't you know)
Hard to get a grip with all these broken fingers
Today I don't feel pretty
And I'm tired of trying to fit right in
Don't think they're just so great
Cause being great must suck

We don't always see the bright side
We all need ego suicide
You hung my id today
But I have licked my wounds and carried on
Everybody needs some sympathy
Santa seemed to miss my chimney
Reality is truly scaring me
So set 'em straight and finally say
What you see is what you get (don't you know)
Fishing for the answer with a line and sinker
Look at me and don't forget (don't you know)
Hard to get a grip with all these broken fingers
My heart is in the right place
So wipe that smirk right off your face
Don't make me feel like that
Cause that's just plain not nice
We don't always see the bright side
And I lied when I said I was fine
You slammed my face today
But I have licked my wounds and carried on
Everybody needs some sympathy
Santa seemed to miss my chimney
Reality is truly scaring me
So set 'em straight and finally say
What you see is what you get (don't you know)
Fishing for the answer with a line and sinker
Look at me and don't forget (don't you know)
Hard to get a grip with all these broken fingers
Everybody needs some sympathy
Santa seemed to miss my chimney
You stole my luck from me
And now my fortune cookie's empty
Cause you came and you stole it all from me
So set 'em straight and finally say
What you see is what you get (don't you know)
Fishing for the answer with a line and sinker

Look at me and don't forget (don't you know)
Hard to get a grip with all these broken fingers

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Billy Talent's "Hook Line & Sinker" seem to address the struggles of fitting into society and feeling like an outcast, while also acknowledging that everyone needs sympathy and understanding. The chorus, "What you see is what you get, fishing for the answer with a line and sinker," suggests that people are often judged solely based on their outward appearance or actions, and that others may not take the time to truly understand them.

The verses continue this theme, with lines like "don't think they're just so great, 'cause being great must suck" and "and I lied when I said I was fine, you slammed my face today, but I have licked my wounds and carried on." These lyrics convey a sense of isolation and struggle, while also showing resilience and the ability to persevere in the face of adversity.

The bridge, with its repeated refrain of "everybody needs some sympathy, Santa seemed to miss my chimney, reality is truly scaring me," adds a touch of vulnerability to the song, implying that even those who appear to be strong and confident on the surface have their own fears and uncertainties.

Overall, "Hook Line & Sinker" is a powerful anthem for anyone who has ever felt like an outsider, reminding us that we are all human and deserving of understanding and kindness.

Line by Line Meaning

What you see is what you get (don't you know)
There are no hidden surprises or ulterior motives, what you see is exactly what you will get. It's important to be upfront and honest.

Fishing for the answer with a line and sinker
Trying to get a straight answer by asking pointed questions, often to no avail. Sometimes the only way to get a real answer is by being patient.

Look at me and don't forget (don't you know)
Acknowledging one's presence and importance. It's important to be seen and recognized for who you are.

Hard to get a grip with all these broken fingers
Life is tough and it's hard to hold onto things when you're dealing with challenges and obstacles. Despite the challenges, we must persevere and push forward.

Today I don't feel pretty
Feeling self-conscious and lacking confidence in oneself. It's important to recognize that everyone has off days and that it's okay not to feel perfect all the time.

And I'm tired of trying to fit right in
Trying to conform to other people's expectations and ideals can be exhausting and unfulfilling. It's important to be true to oneself and not worry about fitting in with others.

Don't think they're just so great
Don't be envious or put other people on a pedestal. Everyone is human and imperfect in their own way.

Cause being great must suck
Being successful or popular may seem appealing, but it often comes with its own set of challenges and sacrifices.

We don't always see the bright side
It's easy to get bogged down by negativity and focus on the negatives. But it's important to try and stay positive and see the good in every situation.

We all need ego suicide
Sometimes we need to let go of our ego and our preconceived notions of ourselves. Acknowledging our flaws and imperfections can be liberating.

You hung my id today
Feeling embarrassed or ashamed of oneself. It's important to remember that mistakes happen and to learn from them.

But I have licked my wounds and carried on
Despite setbacks and challenges, it's important to keep moving forward and not give up.

Everybody needs some sympathy
We all need compassion and understanding from others, especially during tough times.

Santa seemed to miss my chimney
Feeling like luck or good fortune has not been on one's side lately. Sometimes it feels like the universe isn't on our side.

Reality is truly scaring me
The harshness and unpredictability of life can be overwhelming and scary at times. It's important to face our fears and not let them hold us back.

So set 'em straight and finally say
It's important to speak up for oneself and stand up for what we believe in.

My heart is in the right place
Despite mistakes and imperfections, one's intentions are good and pure.

So wipe that smirk right off your face
Not tolerating condescending or dismissive behavior. It's important to demand respect from others.

Don't make me feel like that
Not wanting to be made to feel inferior or belittled. Everyone deserves to be treated with kindness and respect.

Cause that's just plain not nice
Treating others poorly or disrespectfully is never acceptable.

And I lied when I said I was fine
Feeling the need to put on a brave face and hide one's true emotions from others. It's important to be honest with oneself and with others about how we are feeling.

You slammed my face today
Feeling attacked or criticized by someone else. It's important to remember that not everyone will agree with us or treat us kindly.

Everybody needs some sympathy
We all need compassion and understanding from others, especially during tough times.

You stole my luck from me
Feeling like someone else has taken away one's opportunities or good fortune. It's important to not let external factors control our happiness.

And now my fortune cookie's empty
Feeling like there are no more opportunities or good luck coming one's way. It's important to have hope and keep an open mind.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: AARON SOLOWONIUK, BEN KOWALEWICZ, IAN D'SA, JON GALLANT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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