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.
Sailor Boy
Black Tape for a Blue Girl Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She craves confusion, I aid her delusion.
The sailor boy, her sailor boy.
A junkie's eyes, handsome and thin.
Ropes blows and whips, oh I bound her within.
Oh - oh.
How insecurity works out this way.
The bigger my sins, more she wants me.
The bigger my lies, more she gives to me.
I choose when I hurt her, I choose when she smiles.
There's annihilation here, the love I defile.
I lose my need for her, lose my feelings.
Lose myself in this puddle of drugs.
In our ship, she patches the holes.
I hit her when she needs me to, she keeps control.
Thought I was on top, but I see I'm below.
Thought I was captain, she stows me in hold.
Now I cannot get this collar off of my neck.
Now I cannot abandon this wreck.
The lyrics to "Sailor Boy" by Black Tape for a Blue Girl speak of a dysfunctional, BDSM-infused relationship where the singer knows he's terrible at being a lover, but his partner enjoys the confusion and delusion he brings. The sailor boy is a character who represents the singer's partner's desire for danger and edge, with references to drug use, bondage, and domination. The singer is aware of the power dynamic in their relationship and admits to choosing when he hurts her or makes her smile, revealing his control over her. The song ends with a metaphor of a ship taking on water, where the singer is no longer in charge, and they are both trapped in the wreckage they've created.
This song explores themes of power dynamics, manipulation, and dysfunction in romantic relationships. The lyrics also suggest a level of self-awareness on the part of the singer, who acknowledges his flaws as a lover and the ultimately destructive nature of their relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
As lover, I'm shit. She's always known it.
I am a terrible partner, and my significant other has always been aware of it.
She craves confusion, I aid her delusion.
She is attracted to chaos and I enable her delusional behavior.
The sailor boy, her sailor boy.
She is attached to a mysterious and adventurous sailor.
A junkie's eyes, handsome and thin.
The sailor has the appearance of a drug addict - thin and attractive, yet unhealthy.
Ropes blows and whips, oh I bound her within.
I restrained her using ropes, blows, and whips.
It's funny, it's funny, it's funny I say.
It is ironic, but I find it amusing.
How insecurity works out this way.
Insecurity can lead to unconventional relationships.
The bigger my sins, more she wants me.
The more I do wrong, the more she desires me.
The bigger my lies, more she gives to me.
The more I deceive her, the more she gives me.
I choose when I hurt her, I choose when she smiles.
I have control over her emotions and can hurt or please her at my whim.
There's annihilation here, the love I defile.
Our love is being destroyed by my actions.
I lose my need for her, lose my feelings.
I am losing my emotional attachment to her.
Lose myself in this puddle of drugs.
I am indulging in drugs to escape my problems.
In our ship, she patches the holes.
Metaphorically speaking, she fixes our relationship's issues.
I hit her when she needs me to, she keeps control.
I abuse her when she wants me to, she has the upper hand in the relationship.
Thought I was on top, but I see I'm below.
I thought I was in control, but I am actually powerless.
Thought I was captain, she stows me in hold.
I believed I was the leader, but she is really the one in charge.
Now I cannot get this collar off of my neck.
I feel trapped and unable to escape this toxic relationship.
Now I cannot abandon this wreck.
I am unable to leave this situation, even though it is harmful to me.
Contributed by Nathan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Sam Rosenthal
on All my lovers
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