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
Dog Years
Black Lips Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I love you like a missile
And when I come, I always whistle
It's the liquid on your tongue
It always ripples
Don't dial, dial don't dial
Don't dial, dial don't dial
I love you for my cuts
It makes me wanna throw up
Actin' like a grown up
I hate my teachers, they always get shown up
And now I got the math skills of a cup
Don't dial, dial don't dial
Don't dial, dial don't dial
You came to party and you stepped outside
You grabbed your Virginia Slim ultra light
Menthol 100s, kush, soft pack
You lit a match and the puny flame could
Barely withstand the wind
You looked at me so wild
You blew smoke in my twinkling eyes
And it burned as the carbon dioxide
Activated into my pulsating retinas
Staring back at you in awe
Like some cutting-edge piece
Of technological equipment
I knew you were the one
The lyrics to Black Lips' song "Dog Years" convey a tumultuous and intense love. The opening line, "I love you but your heart is made of gristle," suggests that despite the singer's love for the other person, they recognize that their heart is tough and resilient. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for the person's emotional walls or their resistance to vulnerability.
The next lines, "I love you like a missile, and when I come, I always whistle," convey a sense of explosive passion and desire. The singer equates their love to a missile, representing its intensity and the impact it has on them. The reference to whistling when they come could be interpreted as a metaphor for expressing their satisfaction or joy.
The next stanza, "Don't dial, dial don't dial," suggests a sense of urgency or need for communication. It could imply a desire to maintain a connection or avoid any form of disconnection.
The following lines mention the singer's self-destructive tendencies, expressing that their love for the other person makes them want to throw up. This suggests that the singer's emotions are overwhelming, causing discomfort or unease. The reference to acting like a grown-up could hint at the singer's struggle with maturity and their longing for a simpler, carefree existence.
The lyrics then shift to a scene at a party, where the other person steps outside and lights a cigarette. The specific mention of a Virginia Slims ultra light and Menthol 100s adds detail to the imagery and emphasizes the sensuality associated with smoking. The act of blowing smoke in the singer's eyes seems to be a symbol of the other person's defiance and unpredictability, their ability to disrupt and captivate the singer's senses.
The final lines, "And it burned as the carbon dioxide activated into my pulsating retinas, staring back at you in awe like some cutting-edge piece of technological equipment, I knew you were the one," describe the singer's intense fascination and admiration for the other person. The comparison to technological equipment suggests that the other person has a captivating presence and is perceived as innovative or groundbreaking.
Overall, "Dog Years" explores the complex nature of love, with its intense emotions, contradictions, and moments of both desire and discomfort.
Line by Line Meaning
I love you but your heart is made of gristle
I am deeply affectionate towards you, even though your heart feels tough and unyielding
I love you like a missile
My love for you is powerful and unstoppable, just like a missile
And when I come, I always whistle
Whenever I arrive, I can't help but make a joyful noise
It's the liquid on your tongue
It always ripples
The substance on your tongue creates constant waves or disturbances
Don't dial, dial don't dial
Please refrain from making a phone call, let's not communicate in that manner
I love you for my cuts
I appreciate you for the pain and struggles I have endured
It makes me wanna throw up
It stirs up intense emotions that make me feel sick
Actin' like a grown up
Behaving maturely and responsibly
I hate my teachers, they always get shown up
I dislike my teachers because they are constantly overshadowed and outperformed
And now I got the math skills of a cup
Now my ability in mathematics is as insignificant as that of an empty cup
You came to party and you stepped outside
You arrived at the gathering, but then you went outdoors
You grabbed your Virginia Slim ultra light
You took hold of your slim cigarette brand called Virginia Slim ultra light
Menthol 100s, kush, soft pack
You had Menthol 100s cigarette, marijuana (kush), and a pack that is soft to touch
You lit a match and the puny flame could
Barely withstand the wind
You ignited a match, but its small flame struggled to endure the strong wind
You looked at me so wild
You gazed at me with an untamed and unpredictable expression
You blew smoke in my twinkling eyes
You exhaled smoke directly into my sparkling eyes
And it burned as the carbon dioxide
Activated into my pulsating retinas
The carbon dioxide from the smoke caused a burning sensation in my throbbing eyes
Staring back at you in awe
I couldn't help but gaze back at you in a state of wonder and admiration
Like some cutting-edge piece
Of technological equipment
I saw you as a revolutionary and advanced piece of machinery
I knew you were the one
I had a strong certainty that you were the person I was looking for
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: JARED SWILLEY, PATRICK CARNEY, JOE BRADLEY, COLE ALEXANDER, BRADFORD COX
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind