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
Stranger
Black Lips Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I lay down to rest but my eyes are open wide (wide)
Jealousy’s so strong, gunna take me to my grave
Gunna keep on holding off and going to turn you into a slave (slave)
And now you gotta stop
Looking for a stranger (stranger), looking for me
Looking for a stranger (stranger), looking for me (me-me-me-me-me)
Looking for a stranger (stranger), looking for me
Your nose is like a tower, like the one in Lebanon (Lebanon)
Your breath smells like some flowers
65 queens and lady concubine (concubine)
Gotta keep you hanging around cause you gotta help drink my wine (wine)
And now you gotta stop
Looking for a stranger (stranger), looking for me
Looking for a stranger (stranger), looking for me (me-me-me-me-me)
Looking for a stranger (stranger), looking for me
Looking for a stranger (stranger), looking for me
The lyrics to the Black Lips’ song Stranger are quite cryptic, but seem to be about jealousy and possessiveness in a relationship. The opening lines, “Hey pretty baby, why am I feeling so despised / I lay down to rest but my eyes are open wide,” suggest that the singer is struggling with feelings of mistrust and paranoia. He then declares that “jealousy’s so strong, gonna take me to my grave” and that he’s going to “keep on holding off and going to turn you into a slave.” This suggests that the singer is so consumed with jealousy that he’s willing to do whatever it takes to control his partner and prevent her from leaving him.
The chorus of the song, which repeats the phrase “Looking for a stranger (stranger), looking for me,” reinforces the idea that the singer is feeling alienated and disconnected from his partner, as if he’s searching for someone else to connect with. The second verse contains some more odd imagery, with the singer comparing his partner’s nose to a tower and her breath to flowers. He seems to view her as a sort of exotic object, referring to her as a “concubine” and saying that he needs her to help him drink his wine.
Overall, the lyrics to Stranger create a portrait of a toxic and possessive relationship, with the singer struggling to control his feelings of jealousy and pushing his partner away in the process.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey pretty baby, why am I feeling so despised (despised)
Addressing someone, questioning why the singer is experiencing such strong negative feelings.
I lay down to rest but my eyes are open wide (wide)
Despite trying to rest, the singer is still very alert and anxious.
Jealousy’s so strong, gunna take me to my grave
The intensity of the emotion of jealousy is unbearable for the singer.
Gunna keep on holding off and going to turn you into a slave (slave)
The artist will play hard-to-get to manipulate their love interest into being more devoted.
And now you gotta stop
The artist is giving a command, but the reason for this is unclear.
Looking for a stranger (stranger), looking for me
The singer is actively seeking out new experiences or relationships.
Your nose is like a tower, like the one in Lebanon (Lebanon)
The singer is complimenting their love interest's nose for being prominent and attractive, using a specific reference.
Your breath smells like some flowers
The artist is noting a pleasant scent about their love interest's breath.
65 queens and lady concubine (concubine)
This phrase is likely meant to show the love interest's power and desirability.
Gotta keep you hanging around cause you gotta help drink my wine (wine)
The artist expects their love interest to stick around and participate in their lifestyle or habits.
Contributed by Elizabeth L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.