Fronted by Projekt Records' Sam Rosenthal, the band's line-up has changed significantly over time. The current lineup has Rosenthal on programming, guitar and keyboards, Jon DeRosa ( Aarktica) on vocals, and Henrik Meierkord on strings. The most notable former members of the band are Brian Viglione (The Dresden Dolls) on percussion, guitar & bass, and vocalists Athan Maroulis (ex-Spahn Ranch), Nicki Jaine, and long time vocalists, Oscar Herrera & Elysabeth Grant.
The style of Black Tape for a Blue Girl is generally described as "gothic", though their long catalog of music does not often gel with all of the contemporary standards of gothic music over time. The lyrics are by Rosenthal himself and explores powerful emotions of love, vulnerability, isolation, loss, jealousy, and passion.
Across a Thousand Blades
Black Tape for a Blue Girl Lyrics
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The room: sweat pouring, eastern incense
warm red embers within amber flesh
slithering naked across a thousand blades
...across a thousand blades
I hold you gently, your eyes so far away
searching for your justice
searching for your innocence
...on a lonely sea
burn my memory, burn my outline
the tears scream to scar your unpierced flesh
shattered mirrors reflecting back your face
"let your defenses fall"
your candles never burned me
the ashes fall to the ground
...as you try to pierce my poisoned flesh
as I try to pierce your tortured heart
In Black Tape for a Blue Girl's song Across a Thousand Blades, the singer is speaking to an angel, whom they feel they cannot see or understand. The opening line, "Angel, why am I so blind?" conveys the singer's sense of confusion and helplessness. The following lines describe a sensory-laden scene, with a room filled with sweat, eastern incense, and warm embers. The image of someone "slithering naked across a thousand blades" is both sensual and ominous; it suggests both vulnerability and danger.
The second stanza brings the focus onto the singer's interaction with the angel. They hold the angel "gently," but feel that the angel's "eyes are so far away." The singer is searching for justice and innocence, perhaps in the angel or in themselves. The imagery of a lost child adrift on a lonely sea emphasizes this sense of longing and desperation. The third stanza is more violent, with references to burning and tears screaming. The singer and the angel are trying to penetrate each other's defenses, but there is pain and danger in doing so.
Overall, Across a Thousand Blades is a dark and complex exploration of relationships, vulnerability, and the struggle for connection.
Line by Line Meaning
Angel, why am I so blind?
Asking a higher power why they cannot see clearly.
The room: sweat pouring, eastern incense
Describing the physical setting, creating an atmosphere of sensory overload.
warm red embers within amber flesh
Imagery of fire and skin, possibly symbolizing passion.
slithering naked across a thousand blades
Suggesting a feeling of vulnerability and danger.
...across a thousand blades
Repeating the previous line for added emphasis.
I hold you gently, your eyes so far away
Physical contact paired with emotional distance.
searching for your justice
Seeking fairness and vindication.
searching for your innocence
Perhaps looking for purity in a tainted world.
lost as a child adrift on a lonely sea
Feeling directionless and isolated.
...on a lonely sea
Repeating the previous line for added emphasis.
burn my memory, burn my outline
Desiring to rid oneself of unpleasant memories and past mistakes.
the tears scream to scar your unpierced flesh
Emotional pain causing physical reaction.
shattered mirrors reflecting back your face
The idea of seeing oneself fractured in the reflections.
"let your defenses fall"
A request to let go of emotional barriers and be vulnerable.
your candles never burned me
A metaphor for the idea that someone's actions never truly hurt another person.
the ashes fall to the ground
The end of something, possibly a relationship.
...as you try to pierce my poisoned flesh
Two characters attempting to hurt each other emotionally or physically.
as I try to pierce your tortured heart
Continuation of the previous line, portraying the conflict between two characters.
Contributed by Elijah N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Angel Doll
I love the feel of this song. The music and the vocals are great.
DarkAmbient MusicLover
Excellent band :~)
Yo
MARAVILLOSA!!!
Arthur Contreras
I love u're music I've been listening to it since u came out with the sawdust scatters
Jacopo Freddi
Burn my memories, burn my ashes...
Eric Canales
Found this song on Cleopatra's Goth Box compilation.
Chris Richards
we angels had it worse than anyone else, they want to eat us just like behemoth the band.
Iry-Hor
this is not the only studio version of this song from the BT i recall
Azargled
great!
Katie LaStrange
BLADES!!