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.
The Gravediggers
Black Tape for a Blue Girl Lyrics
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And push their shovels against the earth
In anticipation, they discretely look my way
No, no, I reproach
You've come for the wrong one today
I don't have the strength to walk away
I pray
They stand together, discuissing my fate
The wind carries to them my assurances
There's still warm blood coursing through these veins
Impure thoughts inside this brain
I wake with a start in a luxurious warm bed
Beyond the curtains, I see the cathedral
And at her feet, the gravediggers work
They turn my way, shouting and smiling mockingly
I throw open the delicate lock
Snow rushes in to fall on me
No, no, I reproach
You've come for the wrong one, I'm afraid
They look at me incredulously
They wait improperly, eyes devouring me
In anticipation, they discretely look my way
The Gravediggers by Black Tape for a Blue Girl is a hauntingly beautiful poem-like song with deep and profound lyrics. The song tells a story of a person facing their fate as the gravediggers watch on, waiting to collect their next victim. The first stanza sees the gravediggers licking their lips and ready to push against the earth with their shovels. The singer, knowing their fate is near, reproaches them and wishes to be spared. However, their fate is sealed, and they're afraid, and they begin to pray, hoping for mercy. The second stanza has the gravediggers standing together, discussing their fate while being reassured that there's still blood flowing through their veins and impure thoughts inside their brain.
The singer then wakes up in a luxurious warm bed, and beyond the curtains, they see the cathedral, and at her feet, the gravediggers work. The gravediggers turn their way, shouting and smiling mockingly. The singer throws open the delicate lock, and snow rushes to fall on them as they reproach the gravediggers for coming for the wrong person today. The gravediggers look at them incredulously, and they wait with improper eyes, devouring them in anticipation as they discretely look their way.
Line by Line Meaning
The gravediggers lick their lips
The gravediggers are eager and anticipating the task at hand.
And push their shovels against the earth
They are eager to dig the grave and begin their work.
In anticipation, they discretely look my way
They have noticed the singer and are waiting for him to approach the gravesite.
No, no, I reproach
The artist protests and tells the gravediggers they have the wrong person.
You've come for the wrong one today
The artist is not the one they are looking for.
I don't have the strength to walk away
The singer is too weak to leave the situation.
I wait, afraid
The singer is scared and hesitant of what's going to happen.
They stand together, discussing my fate
The gravediggers are deciding what to do with the artist.
The wind carries to them my assurances
The artist tries to communicate that they are not the right person, but the wind carries away their message.
There's still warm blood coursing through these veins
The artist is alive and pleading for the gravediggers to let them go.
Impure thoughts inside this brain
The singer acknowledges that they are not perfect and have made mistakes in their life.
I wake with a start in a luxurious warm bed
The artist wakes up from a nightmare in a comfortable environment.
Beyond the curtains, I see the cathedral
The singer can see a place of worship in the distance.
And at her feet, the gravediggers work
The gravediggers are still doing their job of digging graves, even in close proximity to a religious site.
They turn my way, shouting and smiling mockingly
The gravediggers taunt the singer, indicating that they still have unfinished business.
I throw open the delicate lock
The artist makes a break for it and tries to escape.
Snow rushes in to fall on me
The artist experiences a cold, harsh physical reality in their escape attempt.
They look at me incredulously
The gravediggers are in disbelief that the singer has managed to escape.
They wait improperly, eyes devouring me
The gravediggers are angry and hungry for revenge.
Contributed by Sophia K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Sam Rosenthal
on All my lovers
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