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)
Line And Sinker
Billy Talent Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fishing for the answers 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
What you see is what you get (don't you know?)
Fishing for the answers 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 that you're 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 stand up straight and firmly say
What you see is what you get (don't you know?)
Fishing for the answers 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
What you see is what you get (don't you know?)
Fishing for the answers 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 slapped 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 stand up straight and firmly say
What you see is what you get (don't you know?)
Fishing for the answers 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
What you see is what you get (don't you know?)
Fishing for the answers 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 stand up straight and firmly say
What you see is what you get (don't you know?)
Fishing for the answers 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
What you see is what you get (don't you know?)
Fishing for the answers 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
The lyrics to Billy Talent's song Line And Sinker are a reflection of the frustration and anxiety that comes with trying to fit in and be accepted by others, while also experiencing the harsh realities of life. The opening lines "What you see is what you get, fishing for the answer with a line and sinker" suggest that people often try to present a certain image of themselves to others, but ultimately it's just a facade that they use to seek validation. The lyrics mention broken fingers, wounds, and a stolen fortune, which could be interpreted as physical or emotional pain caused by rejection, failure, or loss.
The chorus repeats the idea that everyone needs sympathy, but sometimes it's hard to find. The line "reality is truly scaring me" could be a reference to the anxiety that comes with facing the truth about oneself and the world, and the difficulty of accepting it. The phrase "hard to get a grip with all these broken fingers" could also imply a sense of helplessness or powerlessness.
The lyrics also touch on the theme of ego and how it can be both a driving force and a burden. The line "don't think they're just so great, cause being great must suck" suggests that the pressure to be perfect and successful can be overwhelming and isolating. The line "my heart is in the right place, so wipe that smirk right off your face" implies that the singer is sincere and well-meaning, but others may not recognize or appreciate it.
Some possible interpretations of the lyrics include the struggle to find one's identity, the tension between individuality and conformity, the fear of rejection and isolation, and the challenge of maintaining optimism in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
What you see is what you get (don't you know)
Nothing hidden, no disguises; this is all there is, so believe what you see
Fishing for the answer with a line and sinker
Searching for a straightforward answer by using a foolproof method
Look at me and don't forget (don't you know)
Take a good look at me and don't underestimate me
Hard to get a grip with all these broken fingers
Difficult to hold onto things properly due to multiple physical injuries
Today I don't feel pretty
I'm not feeling attractive or confident today
And I'm tired of trying to fit right in
I'm exhausted from trying to blend in with everyone else
Don't think they're just so great
Don't assume they're better than me
Cause being great must suck
Being successful and famous probably has its own downsides
We don't always see the bright side
Optimism isn't always possible or realistic
We all need ego suicide
We all need to humble ourselves and let go of our pride at times
You hung my id today
You exposed or embarrassed me by revealing my true identity
But I have licked my wounds and carried on
Despite being hurt, I've managed to heal and move forward
Everybody needs some sympathy
Everyone needs some empathy and understanding
Santa seemed to miss my chimney
I didn't get the things I wanted or needed, as if Santa had skipped my house
Reality is truly scaring me
The harshness of life is overwhelming and terrifying me
So set 'em straight and finally say
Stand up for yourself and speak the truth without holding back
My heart is in the right place
I mean well and my intentions are good
So wipe that smurk right off your face
Stop smirking or mocking me; take me seriously
Don't make me feel like that
Don't treat me in a way that makes me feel bad or inferior
Cause that's just plain not nice
Because that behavior is rude and hurtful
And I lied when I said I was fine
I wasn't really okay, but I pretended to be
You slammed my face today
You hurt me or made me look bad publicly
Everybody needs some sympathy
Everyone deserves some kindness and compassion
You stole my luck from me
You took away my good fortune or opportunities
And now my fortune cookie's empty
There's nothing left for me to hope for or expect
Cause you came and you stole it all from me
Because your actions or words caused me to lose everything
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Aaron Solowoniuk, Ben Kowalewicz, Ian D'sa, Jon Gallant
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind