While still teenagers, they formed after guitarist Cole Alexander and bassist Jared Swilley left the Renegades, and guitarist Ben Eberbaugh left the Reruns. Drummer Joe Bradley joined a few months later. They released their first 7" in late 2001/early 2002 on their own Die Slaughterhaus label.
Just days before a tour was to begin in December 2002, Ben Eberbaugh was killed in a car accident after his car was hit by a drunk driver. The band carried on believing that Eberbaugh would want them to continue.
The band's debut full length album was released on Bomp! Records in 2003. Eberbaugh was replaced by Jack Hines, a friend of the band members, but he too was eventually replaced by current guitarist, and former Renegades member, Ian St. Pe , in 2004.
The Black Lips have a reputation for crazy live shows that have included vomiting, urinating, nudity, band members kissing, fireworks, and a chicken. They have slowly built a fanbase that appreciates their energy and style that is a rough mishmash of blues, rock, doo-wop, country, and punk.
They gained national attention in 2006 with features in Spin and Rolling Stone magazines. The band got exposure in the New York Times for being the hardest working band during the 2007 South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas, in which they played a dozen shows over a three-day period.
In September 2007 their most recent album entitled Good Bad Not Evil was released. The Black Lips made their American national television debut in October 2007 on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and played O Katrina.
The band also has songs from previous recording sessions, and they will eventually be released by In The Red Records.
The Black Lips are going to star in a film called Let It Be. They will play musicians in a fictitious '1980s era DIY band called The Renegades. The movie is set for production in 2008.
Cole, Jared and Joe also play in a band called The Spooks, along with members of Deerhunter and The Kiwis. The Spooks have recorded an album which should be released in 2007 or 2008 on the Die Slaughterhaus label. Ian also plays in a blasphemous garage punk band called The Original Three. There is a full length record out on Empty records and a single out on SYA records (Italy). The Original Three will have a new single coming out in December 2007 on Savage records (Sweden). Jared plays in a band called The Gaye Blades. Rob's House Records has released one 7" by The Gaye Blades, and another one should be released before the end of 2007. Cole has also released solo material under the name Old King Cole Younger. There is one split 10" release of his material on Rob's House Records that features Bradford Cox of Deerhunter, under the name of Atlas Sound, on the other side.
In 2009, the band released their fifth album, "200 Million Thousand", on Vice Records.
Band Members
* Cole Alexander (Old King Cole Younger) - Vocals, Guitar (2000 - present)
* Jared Swilley - Vocals, Bass Guitar (2000 - present)
* Joe Bradley - Vocals, Drums (2000 - present)
* Ian St. Pe - Guitar (2005 - 2014)
* Jack Hines - former Guitar (2002 - 2005, 2014 - present)
* Ben Eberbaugh - Guitarz(2000 - 2002) - deceased
Crystal Night
Black Lips Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The snow was falling
And I held you in my arms and we kiss
I think it was November
The very last time
We never said goodbye
And now I cry
Where did they take you?
Where have you gone?
I keep wishing and hoping and praying
But it′s been so long
Since the very last time
We never said goodbye
And now I cry
On crystal night
I wanna know
Why you had to go
Are you still alive?
You still on my mind
On crystal night
(Crystal night, crystal night)
(Crystal night)
Do you remember first time I saw you?
I look into your eyes and thought
That you were my sugar
Not in this life
We never said goodbye
Now you're sent to die
On crystal night
So while I′m leaving
From this planet
If I don't see you
I'm just waiting to the day
That we could meet in heaven
Up in the sky
And then we′ll never cry
Or have to say goodbye
No more crystal night
I wanna know
Why you had to go
I′d like you to tell
Our love never ends
But things just ain't right
Crystal night (crystal night)
(Crystal night, crystal night)
One, two, three, four
"Crystal Night" by Black Lips is a sad and longing song about lost love that was never properly mourned. The singer remembers holding his lover in his arms, kissing her as the snow falls. It was November, and it was the very last time they were together. They never said goodbye, and now the singer cries on crystal night. The song's title refers to the Night of Broken Glass or Kristallnacht, a pogrom in Nazi Germany when Jewish homes, businesses, and synagogues were attacked and destroyed, and many Jews were killed or sent to concentration camps.
The singer is consumed by the loss of his lover and desperately searches for answers. He asks where she has gone and where they took her. He keeps wishing, hoping, and praying for her return, but it's been so long. He wonders why she had to go, if she's still alive, and if she still thinks of him. He thinks back to the first time he saw her and how he thought she was his "sugar" (sweetheart). They never said goodbye, and now she's "sent to die" on crystal night.
The song is touching and poignant, evoking the pain of separation and the longing for closure. The imagery of the falling snow, the night of broken glass, and the heavenly reunion all add to the emotional impact of the song. It's a reminder that love is fragile and can be shattered like crystal. The singer's pain is palpable, and the song stays with you long after it's ended.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you remember?
Asking the person if they recall a particular memory
The snow was falling
Recalling a scene where it was snowing heavily
And I held you in my arms and we kiss
Sharing a moment of intimacy with the person
I think it was November
Trying to remember the exact time when the above event took place
The very last time
Reflecting on a time which was the last time they met the person
We never said goodbye
Realizing that they never had the chance to say one last goodbye
And now I cry
Feeling emotional about the absence of the person
On crystal night
Connecting their emotions to a particular night which they call 'crystal night'
Where did they take you?
Wondering about the whereabouts of the person
Where have you gone?
Questioning where the person has disappeared to
I keep wishing and hoping and praying
Continuing to hold onto hope that the person will return
But it′s been so long
Realizing that a lot of time has passed since the person left
Since the very last time
Emphasizing how long it has been since the last time they saw the person
I wanna know
Expressing curiosity about what happened
Why you had to go
Questioning why the person left
Are you still alive?
Asking if the person is still alive
You still on my mind
Admitting that the person still occupies their thoughts
I look into your eyes and thought
Recalling a memory of meeting the person for the first time
That you were my sugar
Referring to the person as their sweetie or darling
Not in this life
Realizing that things don't always work out the way we want them to
Now you're sent to die
Referring to the person as being sent to die
So while I′m leaving
Implying that they are leaving or will leave soon
From this planet
Leaving Earth or dying
If I don't see you
Speculating that they may not be able to see the person one last time
I'm just waiting to the day
Holding onto hope that someday they will be reunited
That we could meet in heaven
Believing in an afterlife where they could be together again
Up in the sky
Visualizing the afterlife as being in the sky or in heaven
And then we′ll never cry
Believing that when reunited, they will no longer have a reason to cry
Or have to say goodbye
Assuming that when reunited, they will never have to say goodbye again
No more crystal night
Imagining a future where 'crystal night' will no longer exist
I′d like you to tell
Wanting to hear the person's side of the story
Our love never ends
Holding onto the belief that their love for each other is infinite
But things just ain't right
Admitting that things aren't as they should be
Crystal night
Calling to memory the emotions of the night they call 'crystal night'
Writer(s): Saul Henry Owen Adamczewski, Jack Andrew Hines, Jared Swilley, Cole Alexander
Contributed by Alice B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@lecourtemma159
Do you remember?
The snow is falling
And I held you in my arms and we kiss
I think it was November
The very last time
We never said goodbye
And now I cry
On crystal night
Where do they take you?
Where have you gone?
I keep wishing and hoping and praying
But it's been so long
Since the very last time
We never said goodbye
And now I cry
On crystal night
I wanna know
Why you have to go
Are you still alive?
You still in my mind
On crystal night
Crystal night
Crystal night
Crystal night
Do you remember first time I so you
I look in to your eyes and thought
That you would be my sugar
Not in this life
We never say goodbye
Now you sent to die
On crystal night
So I'm leaving from this planet
If I not see you
I just wait until the day
That we could meet in heaven
Up in the sky
And then we never cry
Or have to said goodbye
No more crystal night
I wanna know
Why you have to go
I like you to tell
Our love never ends
But things just seem right
Crystal night
Crystal night
Crystal night
Crystal night
@NyqWill95
I love the amount of change this band went through. Hardcore garage rockers to country rockers.
@RM-qn3ro
To very inclusive tasteless band
@emmanethery685
@@RM-qn3ro Not really, no.
@nem9000
Yeah, nah
@andtheskywasopened
Man, Ithey have been one of my favorites the black lips since 2005. I was 15 when i first seen them, now here I am 27 now and i've seen them at least 40 times and party with them quite a few times as well, man time flys..
@karlsebastiansollenhag8802
It's funny because it's true.
@sergez6172
My nigga you 30 now!!!
@AssMcBlast
Welcome to your 30's...
@mnk_7907
i just turnt 19 n i remember my dad playing black lips all through my child years i wish i could go back
@liambuckley4045
Ace