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
I
Black Lips Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come on and and give me a sip
If the police only knew
That blue lights induced a trip
Well if you give your middle finger to the Bloods and Crips
Well you duckin from the blue lights
Boy you better dip
Come on dip, come on dip, come on dip,
Well if you really lookin
For what you want the most
Check out what you drinkin
Fore you announce a prost
If you tryin messin
To the holy ghost
Watch the rainbow blur
It's looking kind of gross
The most, the most, the most
A ghost, a ghost, and ghost
The most, the most, the most
The most, the most, the most
The lyrics to Black Lips's song "I Saw a Ghost" seem to be discussing drug use and the potential dangers that come with it. The first verse mentions Lean, a narcotic concoction that contains cough syrup and soda, and encourages taking a sip of it. However, the lyricist warns that the blue lights of the police can lead to a "trip" which may not end well. The chorus then suggests that listeners should "come on trip" and "come on dip", which could be interpreted as both an encouragement to indulge in drugs or to escape danger.
The second verse appears to be a cautionary tale about being careful about what one consumes before making a toast (announcing a prost). It then ends with a warning about potentially messing with the "holy ghost" and the consequences that could stem from that kind of action. The final chorus repeats the phrase "the most" and "a ghost" multiple times, perhaps indicating that the focus of the song is not just drug use, but also the haunting consequences that can come with it.
Overall, the song seems to be a reflection on the dangerous nature of drug use and the importance of being cautious when deciding what substances to take. The use of police lights and the holy ghost as cautionary symbols further emphasize the potentially dire consequences of drug use.
Line by Line Meaning
Well if you got that Lean
If you have Lean (a drug cocktail typically containing codeine and promethazine), share it with me.
Come on and give me a sip
Please give me a drink of the Lean.
If the police only knew
If law enforcement was aware of the effects of blue lights on drug users,
That blue lights induced a trip
they would know that blue lights cause drug-induced hallucinations.
Well if you give your middle finger to the Bloods and Crips
If you show disrespect to rival gangs, like the Bloods and Crips,
Well you duckin from the blue lights
you will have to hide from the blue lights of police cars.
Boy you better dip
You better get out of there quickly.
Come on trip, come on trip, come on trip
Encouraging the listener to continue having a drug-induced hallucination.
Come on dip, come on dip, come on dip
Encouraging the listener to flee from the authorities.
Well if you really lookin
If you are truly searching,
For what you want the most
for what you desire most,
Check out what you drinkin
examine the substance you are ingesting
Fore you announce a prost
before proclaiming a toast.
If you tryin messin
If you are attempting to mess with,
To the holy ghost
the holy spirit,
Watch the rainbow blur
beware of the distorted, illusory perception you may see
It's looking kind of gross
because it may appear unappealing or unsettling.
The most, the most, the most
Repetition of 'the most' emphasizes the importance and intensity of the experience.
A ghost, a ghost, and ghost
Repetition of 'ghost' may suggest a haunting, otherworldly presence, or a metaphor for drug-induced hallucinations.
The most, the most, the most
Reiteration of the intensity and significance of the experience.
The most, the most, the most
Reaffirmation of the intensity and centrality of the experience.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gluedmygreeneye
- Lyrics -
Raw oysters, Texas Pete
Sea urchin on the reef
Sour cheeseburger bit to eat
Lick butter goes with keef
Into the cocoa leaf
Fresh maggots on my teeth, they're cheap
Oh baby!
Sweet bread's my favorite treat
Fresh lactaid from my teeth
And surely it's right and meat and cheap
Fresh onions on my leaf
Horse radish with horse meat
Sea urchin, ocean skeet to you
Oh baby!
@zveena
They should make more songs like this one.
@TigerSham
I love The Black Lips! They sound like Screeching Weasel on this track! Love it!!!
@nonadorsky6891
just started listening to these guys. pretty impressed
@shadylurker138
this band is awesome
@ArmanzaSuperNova
The Ramones are iconic. Of course you pay tribute. Great song.
@Vega3rd
They sound like the Ramones in this on ! Amazing song!
@jimmydelaroca459
This band is fucking awesome
@manuelbucciriedel7363
ONE HIT FOLLOWS AFTER THE NEXT
@lenkamoj
leo fitzpatrick & black lips together in one video?! it's a dream.
@restingglitchface1866
An oddball friend of mine showed me black lips a long time ago I just happened to also be an avid fanatic of pieces of wood with metal and urethane 🤪