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)
Standing in the Rain
Billy Talent Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My looks and smile have now become my curse
Tight lips, red skirt, the never ending street
Big car, little man, my lover for a fee
So if you see me, will you just drive on by?
Or will I catch the twinkle inside your eye?
And if you want me, well, I guess I want you
Standing in the rain
Milk carton mug shot, baby
Missing since 1983
Standing in the rain
Twenty years of dirty needles
Raindrops running through my veins
My head, it hurts, each day it's getting worse
No sun, my room has now become my hearse
Cold sores, I'm beat, got bruises on my feet
My pride, these men have taken it from me
So if you see me, will you just drive on by?
Or will I catch the twinkle inside your eye?
And if you want me, well, I guess I want you
Oh, pretty baby, how could you?
Standing in the rain
Milk carton mug shot, baby
Missing since 1983
Standing in the rain
Twenty years of dirty needles
Raindrops running through my veins
Standing in the rain
Milk carton mug shot, baby
Missing since 1983
Standing in the rain
Twenty years of dirty needles
Raindrops running through my veins
So if you see me, will you just drive on by?
Or will I catch the twinkle inside your eye?
And if you want me, well, I guess I want you
Oh, pretty baby, how could you?
Standing in the rain
Standing in the rain
Standing in the rain
Milk carton mug shot, baby
Mother, I have lost my way
Standing in the rain
Milk carton mug shot, baby
Missing since 1983
Standing in the rain
Twenty years of dirty needles
Raindrops running through my veins
Standing in the rain
Mother, I have lost my way
Standing in the rain
Mother, I have lost my way
The lyrics of "Standing in the Rain" by Billy Talent portrays the life of an individual in the streets who has been a victim of prostitution, drug addiction, and other social vices. The song highlights the pain that the person experiences every day as a result of the bad choices and circumstances that led them to the streets. The lyrics use vivid imagery to describe the life of this person - from the tight lips and red skirt, to the big car and little man, and to the bruises on their feet. The person is tired, lost, and hopeless, and yearns for a way out. The chorus repeats the line "Standing in the rain" which could be interpreted as a metaphor for the person's life, always being in a state of despair and sadness regardless of the weather.
The second verse of the song adds more depth to the story with the mention of bruises on their feet and no sun in their room. These lines intensify the song's dark energy while maintaining a sense of hopelessness. The person has been missing since 1983, it is unclear whether they are lost, dead or have just stopped trying to connect back to society. Despite this tragic background the chorus suggests that they still hope that someone will help them to get out of this situation, as they wonder if anyone who sees them will drive off, or if they will find the twinkle of hope in someone's eye.
Overall, "Standing in the Rain" is a poignant and emotional commentary on the life of people who have found themselves in a state of despair on the streets, and the song encourages listeners to offer some help and kindness to those in need.
Line by Line Meaning
My head, it hurts, each day it's getting worse
I am experiencing a constant headache that is gradually worsening
My looks and smile have now become my curse
My good looks and pleasant demeanor are now a condemnation due to my current state
Tight lips, red skirt, the never ending street
I tread the streets tightly holding my breath in a red skirt as the path seems endless
Big car, little man, my lover for a fee
I have a small male client base that pays for my services with their sizable cars
So if you see me, will you just drive on by?
If you come across me, will you intentionally pass by without notice?
Or will I catch the twinkle inside your eye?
Or will you show me a glimmer of compassion or understanding upon seeing me?
And if you want me, well, I guess I want you
If you desire my companionship, I suppose I too desire yours
Oh, pretty baby, how could you?
Oh, you beautiful person, how could you do this to me?
Standing in the rain
I am physically present outside, enduring the elements
Milk carton mug shot, baby
I have my picture on a missing person's notice, baby
Missing since 1983
I have been missing since the year 1983
Twenty years of dirty needles
I have used dirty needles for the past two decades
Raindrops running through my veins
The raindrops falling on me are akin to the fluids coursing through my veins
No sun, my room has now become my hearse
My room does not receive sunlight and has become my deathbed
Cold sores, I'm beat, got bruises on my feet
I have cold sores on my lips and am exhausted, with bruised feet to boot
My pride, these men have taken it from me
These men have taken away my sense of self-worth and honor
Mother, I have lost my way
Mother, I have wandered away from my intended path and am lost
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Aaron Solowoniuk, Ben Kowalewicz, Ian D'sa, Jon Gallant
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind