Interest in the band was immediate and a short while later they signed to New Jersey based Ferret Records. Their debut full-length, 2003's Make Yourself Sick, was to the shock of some fans much lighter and punk-pop-oriented, but with the same heavy screaming and guitars found on earlier releases. It was shortly after this when drummer Ben Arseneau parted with the band and was replaced by former Fordirelifesake guitarist Brian Southall.
The band's next effort came in the form of 2005's Trainwreck. This release was a somewhat more subdued, experimental concept record based on a man's loss of sanity. It was in this same album where the boys made a brave move by introducing Kara Dupuy, who brought with her not only a fresh, new synth to their sound but female vocals as well. But all good things have to end and after only a short stint with the band they parted ways.
Trainwreck tells the story of a man who murders his wife, with whom he is deeply in love with, all while under the influence of deeply troubling dreams. Upon waking from these dreams, he realizes what he's done and slips into a catatonic state. The remainder of the album follows the man from his release from a psych ward, through his obsession with a song heard only by him. He belives the song influences himself to kill more, so he cuts off both his own hands, to never kill again. The eventual conclusion of the story where he dies from a overdose and a infection from the rusty machine used to cut his hands off. Trainwreck is a tribute to the versatility of Boys Night Out. Their style has evolved and matured, but the components that are explicitly BNO remain in their music.
In early 2006, Kara Dupuy (vocals and synthesizer/keyboard) left Boys Night Out due to her engagement. She has not currently been replaced. Later that year, Andy Lewis, formerly of The Fullblast, joined Boys Night Out on guitar, and Ben Arseneau, the original drummer in the band, re-joined after Brian Southall left to join The Receiving End of Sirens.
It's Dylan You Know The Drill
Boys Night Out Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And it is there to keep you together while we're all falling apart
My conscience drifts and sleeps in shifts
Trading off between my open hand and swinging fists
And this alcohol, my wrecking ball,
Keeps me talking to the angels buried in these walls
I don't care if the killing stops
Or if suffocation claims my lungs
We walk a nightmare line
Wide awake and dead at the same time
We walk a nightmare line
Wide awake and dead at the same time
This ringing room has been raped and ruined
And completely torn apart by the few who think that they'll find you
But time and fate, those things I hate,
Both have their of ways of playing off the winters weight
So, we're both older and seven snowfalls worth of colder earth has left us reaching
We walk a nightmare line
Wide awake and dead at the same time
We walk a nightmare line
Wide awake and dead at the same time
(At the same time)
The cellar door is coming up, coming up
And we've had time to lock it up, lock it up
I'm feverish. I'm burning up, burning up
And I pray to god there's time enough, time enough
You know that I LOVE YOU
Now I just can't shut you up, shut you up
So now I have to chop you up, chop you up
And I'll just wait till I get caught
The lyrics to Boys Night Out's song "It's Dylan You Know The Drill" paint a picture of a protagonist struggling to keep it together amidst the chaos of life. The lyric "An I.O.U. tattoo strung along the finer rips and tears of your heart/And it is there to keep you together while we're all falling apart" suggests that the singer has a mental or emotional burden they are carrying, which may be alleviated by the tattoo - though at the same time, they are aware of the fact that everyone around them seems to be struggling as well. The stanza that follows speaks to the singer's inner turmoil - they struggle with their conscience and their actions, possibly fueled by alcohol. Despite feeling at odds with themselves, they claim that they do not care if the "killing stops" or if they suffocate - suggesting a deep sense of apathy or even nihilism.
The song continues on a gloomy note in the next verse as the singer reflects on a ruined space (potentially a metaphor for their life). They feel the weight of time and fate, which "have their own ways of playing off the winters weight." The final refrain of "We walk a nightmare line/Wide awake and dead at the same time" echoes the chorus, emphasizing the duality of the singer's existence - they are alive and walking, but they feel dead and numb inside.
Line by Line Meaning
An I.O.U. tattoo strung along the finer rips and tears of your heart,
Your heart is damaged and broken into little pieces, hence the I.O.U. tattoo is there to keep it together.
And it is there to keep you together while we're all falling apart
While everyone around you is struggling and going through a tough time, the I.O.U. tattoo is there to keep your heart intact.
My conscience drifts and sleeps in shifts
My sense of right and wrong is not always present, sometimes it fades away.
Trading off between my open hand and swinging fists
I struggle with violent tendencies which alternate with a desire to help.
And this alcohol, my wrecking ball,
Alcohol is like a destructive force in my life, similar to a wrecking ball.
Keeps me talking to the angels buried in these walls
Drinking alcohol leads me to speak to the nonexistent spirits buried in the walls.
But, contrary to counter culture,
Despite societal norms that value rebellion and revolution,
I don't care if the killing stops
I am apathetic towards the cessation of violence.
Or if suffocation claims my lungs
I am indifferent towards dying by suffocation.
We walk a nightmare line
Our lives are like a constant nightmare, treading on the edge of danger.
Wide awake and dead at the same time
We are fully conscious of our pain and trauma, while feeling numb and dead inside.
The cellar door is coming up, coming up
The door leading to the suppressed traumatic experiences is approaching.
And we've had time to lock it up, lock it up
We have had time to hide our traumatic experiences away.
I'm feverish. I'm burning up, burning up
The thought of reliving these experiences is causing me great distress and anxiety.
And I pray to god there's time enough, time enough
I hope that I have enough time in my life to deal with and overcome these traumas.
You know that I LOVE YOU
I care deeply for you and your well-being.
Now I just can't shut you up, shut you up
But now you won't stop talking and reminding me of my pain.
So now I have to chop you up, chop you up
I feel like I have to violently get rid of you in order to rid myself of the pain you bring.
And I'll just wait till I get caught
I know that what I'm thinking is wrong and I'm likely to face consequences for my violent thoughts.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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