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.
baby its you
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who let me write my name
In her tattoo
Do you remember hiding out with me
In theatre number two
Can you believe
That I don't even recall
I still have your sweatshirt
I still have your records
I still have those tapes you'd made
Of all your favorite songs
But I just can't quite bring myself
To put em on
And maybe it's too late for that now
I still have the letter you wrote
Sitting on my steps
Waiting for me to come home
On the night
That I did not come home
And I still have the letter where you said
Those words I'd waited for
Since the day we met
Maybe it's too late for that now
Maybe I fucked it all up somehow
But I wrote my name on your arm in blue
Baby it's you
The lyrics to Casiotone for the Painfully Alone's song Baby Its You speak of nostalgia, lost love, and missed opportunities. The singer reminisces about a girl who allowed him to write his name in her tattoo and with whom he once hid out in theatre number two. He cannot recall if they ever kissed, but he still holds on to her sweatshirt, records, and tapes of all her favorite songs. The singer cannot quite bring himself to listen to these tapes, and wonders if it is too late for him to reconnect with this person. He still has a letter she wrote, waiting for him on his doorstep on the night that he did not come home, and in which the girl wrote the words he had been waiting to hear. The song concludes with the singer having written his name on her arm in blue ink, before confessing that it is her who he is truly missing.
The lyrical interpretation of this song is one that many can relate to. It speaks of a past love that may have been doomed from the beginning, but one that the singer still holds on to. The use of nostalgia to convey the singer's longing for his past love and the regret he feels for possibly losing her is powerful. He thinks of lost opportunities with her and of how it may be too late for them now.
Line by Line Meaning
Whatever happened to the girl
I wonder what became of the girl I used to know.
Who let me write my name
The girl had allowed me to write my name on her body.
In her tattoo
Specifically, she allowed me to write on her tattoo.
Do you remember hiding out with me
Do you recall the times we hid together?
In theatre number two
We used to hide in theatre number two.
Can you believe
It's hard to imagine.
That I don't even recall
But I hardly remember.
If we ever kissed
If we ever shared a kiss.
I still have your sweatshirt
I still possess your sweatshirt.
I still have your records
I still have your music collection.
I still have those tapes you'd made
I still have the mixtapes you made for me.
Of all your favorite songs
Those tapes contained all your beloved music.
But I just can't quite bring myself
However, I am finding it hard to do something.
To put em on
I can't bring myself to listen to those tapes.
And maybe it's too late for that now
Perhaps, it is too late for that now.
I still have the letter you wrote
I still have the letter you sent me.
Sitting on my steps
It still sits on the front steps of my house.
Waiting for me to come home
It waited for me to come back home.
On the night
That particular evening.
That I did not come home
When I failed to come home.
And I still have the letter where you said
I also have the letter where you said.
Those words I'd waited for
They contained the words I longed to hear.
Since the day we met
Since the very first day we met each other.
Maybe it's too late for that now
It might be too late for that now.
Maybe I fucked it all up somehow
Maybe I ruined everything somehow.
But I wrote my name on your arm in blue
Nevertheless, I wrote my name on your arm in blue ink.
Baby it's you
Because, baby, it's you.
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: Johnathan Jason Green
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind