Owen Ashworth started to make music on a small casio keyboard back in 1997. His first two albums, "Answering Machine Music" and "Pocket Symphonies for Lonely Subway Cars," were made using nothing but small, battery-operated keyboards and Ashworth's own voice (along with occasional accompaniment by guest musicians). These early albums are now available on one CD, appropriately titled "The First Two Albums by Casiotone for the Painfully Alone."
Ashworth has released numerous EPs and full-length albums, with a trademark austere lyrical style that conveys emotions through its simplicity and directness.
CFTPA expanded its sound in 2006 with Ashworth's release 'Etiquette,' now using more instruments and effects (as well as more professional production and vocals from Jenny Herbinson). This album has given Ashworth room for experimentation and thinking space.
In 2009, CFTPA's newest album, titled 'Vs. Children,' was released. Although vocally very similar to his earlier work, the album features a greater variety of acoustic instruments and further demonstrates Ashworth's interest in pursuing more complex arrangements for his songs. His live shows reflect this as on his most recent tour he is joined by a full band.
In 2010 Ashworth announced that he was retiring the "Casiotone for the Painfully Alone" name, as well as the songs he wrote under that name. He now performs as Advance Base and a producer.
New Year's Kiss
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In a boy's bed with your pants off.
After polite declines of coffee and toast,
Walked home itching in last night's clothes.
Past the Phone Booth and the Beauty Bar,
The broken windows of your neighbors' cars.
Through the backdoor to a message from Sis,
Took the afternoon to piece it all,
Plus a half a dozen phone calls.
Crashed a party with Larissa and Chris
In pursuit of a New Year's kiss.
Not the way that you'd imagined it.
On a balcony with champagne lips.
But in a pantry against the pancake mix,
You had your New Year's kiss.
The lyrics of Casiotone for the Painfully Alone's song New Year's Kiss depict a narrative of confusion and disappointment, yet with a hint of resolution. The singer wakes up in a boy's bed with her pants off, realizing with fingers crossed that they didn't have intercourse. The following morning, the singer declines the polite offer of coffee and toast, opting to walk home, itching in the clothes she wore last night. During this walk, she notices the broken windows of her neighbors' cars together with the Phone Booth and the Beauty Bar. Upon arriving home, she receives voicemail from her sister, asking who the singer's New Year's kiss was.
The remainder of the song explores the singer's pursuit of the New Year's kiss, resulting from the overwhelming pressure to adhere to societal expectations. Together with her acquaintances, Larissa and Chris, she crashes a party. However, her New Year's kiss happens not on the balcony with "champagne lips," as she'd imagined, but "against the pancake mix" in the pantry. Although the singer's expectations were not met, the lyrics suggest a sense of acceptance, resolution, and the acknowledgment that sometimes life doesn't meet our expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
Woke up with fingers crossed
You woke up hoping that everything would turn out fine
In a boy's bed with your pants off.
You woke up in a boy's bed after a one-night stand
After polite declines of coffee and toast,
You were too polite to accept coffee and toast offered by the boy
Walked home itching in last night's clothes.
You walked home feeling uncomfortable in your clothes from the previous night
Past the Phone Booth and the Beauty Bar,
You walked past an iconic phone booth and a beauty bar
The broken windows of your neighbors' cars.
You noticed that your neighbors' cars had broken windows
Through the backdoor to a message from Sis,
You entered your home through the backdoor and found a message from your sister
Asking, "Who was your New Year's kiss?"
Your sister was curious to know who you kissed on New Year's Eve
Took the afternoon to piece it all,
You spent the afternoon trying to recall everything that happened the previous night
Plus a half a dozen phone calls.
You made several phone calls to your friends to get more information
Crashed a party with Larissa and Chris
You went to a party with your friends Larissa and Chris
In pursuit of a New Year's kiss.
You went to the party hoping to get a New Year's kiss
Not the way that you'd imagined it.
The way you got your New Year's kiss was not how you had envisioned it
On a balcony with champagne lips.
You thought you would get your kiss on a balcony with champagne but that did not happen
But in a pantry against the pancake mix,
You got your New Year's kiss unexpectedly in a pantry near the pancake mix
You had your New Year's kiss.
You finally got your New Year's kiss in an unexpected way
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Finn Montaner
One of the greatest songs ever made. The lyrics r melancholy as all hell
Maia Jintcharadze
One of the saddest(
GiantGrowth420
the worst part about the song is it ends. ugh. I want more
Defrag's bin
that and the way he breathes before he says a line ._.
it's a cracking song though
Josh Starks
Saw him back in '08.
Absolutely fantastic show.
Loser's Club
Real etiquette is being polite no matter if you're sitting across from a ghost or a crocodile.
Woodsman Last
2020 first song I’m playing for my gf.
Lyle Kang
that drum sound is seriously so fuckin sick
milkbox
i feel like I just discovered a little gem in the corner of youtube, wow
toby s
i want the sky to swallow me, just so i don't have to feel anything anymore.