The name "Blake Babies" was provided by the poet Allen Ginsberg; following a reading at Harvard University, the group (which had just begun to play together) raised their hands and asked him to name their band. Ginsberg's suggestion was likely inspired by the first half of William Blake’s Songs of Innocence and Experience. The name proved quite apt in regard to what was perhaps the group's most distinctive aspect: the juxtaposition of Hatfield's pure, somewhat thin and childlike (yet forceful) vocal quality with often surprisingly acerbic lyrics.
Musically, the Blake Babies' songs are highly melodic, with instruments supporting rather than covering vocals; in this way, their music falls somewhere between pop and rock and could be described as "power pop". Songs are generally upbeat and the group's work features both female (Hatfield) and male (Strohm) vocals, often together in harmony or in octaves. Strohm's intricate guitar picking style and preference for a "clean" (as opposed to distorted) guitar tone owes much to R.E.M.'s Peter Buck, although Neil Young and punk rock are other important influences. Close listening shows that Hatfield's bass playing is particularly expressive, using octaves and sliding tones to create melodies as well as anchoring bass lines. Songs are carefully constructed, with sophisticated harmonic and dynamic shifts showing the results of the band members' training at the Berklee School of Music.
The Blake Babies toured the United States and Europe, eventually achieving a moderate amount of notice, particularly among listeners of college age who were appreciative of the group's "intelligent" brand of rock music. The band's music (released on the independent North Carolina-based record label Mammoth Records) received little airplay on commercial radio, instead being played primarily on college radio stations.
The group formally disbanded in 1991 but reunited briefly in late 1999, performing a few shows in 1999 and 2000 and embarking on one last U.S. tour in 2001.
Following the band's breakup, Hatfield went on to fame as a solo artist, and Strohm and Love continued to perform together in the Indiana-based group Antenna. Hatfield and Love have since worked together in the band Some Girls along with fellow musician Heidi Gluck.
Alright
Blake Babies Lyrics
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Do they lock up all the doors at night? Did they take away your farm?
Do they stare at you? Do they make you talk? Do they watch you every hour?
Wish I could hold you up, but I don't have the power.
[Chorus]
Will you really be alright?
Promise me you'll sleep tonight.
Stop falling down.
They're slowly sucking from your bloodstream day by day.
Your eyes are tired and I don't like to look at you that way.
Bodies are walking back and forth. You can hear them moan.
Wish I could give you hope, but I can't do it alone.
[Chorus: x2]
The lyrics of Blake Babies' song Alright describe a feeling of helplessness towards someone who is confined and suffering. The singer asks several questions about the conditions of the person's confinement, such as if there is any access to sunlight, if they are being monitored and if they have lost everything, including their farm. The lyrics also describe a feeling of desperation, as the singer wishes to hold the person up, but admits they do not have the power to do so. These lyrics convey a strong sense of empathy and compassion towards someone who is going through a difficult time, as well as a feeling of frustration at not being able to do more to help.
The chorus of the song serves as a plea to the person in confinement to promise that they will sleep and get back up off the ground, to stop falling down. The repeated chorus is both a reminder and a reassurance that the person will be alright, despite their current situation. The second verse further describes the person's deteriorating condition, with their energy and life force being slowly drained day by day. The lyrics convey the singer's sadness at witnessing their friend's suffering, as they watch them become more and more tired and sick. The final lines of the chorus serve as a hopeful message of recovery for the person in confinement.
Line by Line Meaning
How is it on the inside? They say you can't see the sun.
Are you feeling trapped and isolated? Are they restricting your access to the outside world?
Do they lock up all the doors at night? Did they take away your farm?
Are they controlling your every move? Have they taken away something that was important to you?
Do they stare at you? Do they make you talk? Do they watch you every hour?
Are they constantly monitoring you? Are they making you feel uncomfortable?
Wish I could hold you up, but I don't have the power.
I want to help you, but I feel powerless to do so.
Will you really be alright? Promise me you'll sleep tonight. Get back up off the ground. Stop falling down.
I'm worried about you. Please take care of yourself and try to stay positive.
They're slowly sucking from your bloodstream day by day. Your eyes are tired and I don't like to look at you that way.
They are draining your energy and vitality. You look exhausted and it's hard for me to see you like this.
Bodies are walking back and forth. You can hear them moan. Wish I could give you hope, but I can't do it alone.
The environment around you is depressing and demoralizing. I want to give you hope, but I can't do it alone.
Will you really be alright? Promise me you'll sleep tonight. Get back up off the ground. Stop falling down.
I'm still worried about you. Please take care of yourself and try to stay positive.
Will you really be alright? Promise me you'll sleep tonight. Get back up off the ground. Stop falling down.
I care about you and want you to be okay. Keep fighting and don't give up.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Markus Johnson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind