Garneau, a native of Boston, lived with his family in Paris during grade school, and later New Jersey before moving to New York City. Garneau discovered a love of music at a young age while learning to play piano. After high school, Garneau briefly attended Berklee Music School in Boston, but left after completing one term and moved to Brooklyn, NY. There he began writing music and playing live shows at small venues in the East Village and Lower East Side of Manhattan, including CBGB's Gallery and "The Living Room".
Garneau eventually signed with Absolutely Kosher Records, an Emeryville, California-based record label. He was brought to the label by Jamie Stewart and Caralee McElroy of Xiu Xiu. Garneau released his debut album Music for Tourists in October 2006 and on iTunes in January 2007. His second project, an EP titled "C-Sides", was released in December 2007. Garneau's second full-length album, titled "El Radio," was released in July 2009.
Black & Blue
Chris Garneau Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Summers hot and love is old
I wish I was smaller
I little creepy crawler
Theirs lovers sin in this town
Lovers cannot let down
The summers hot as hell here you know
We won't stop cause we don't know how
It's cold, but we love
How it feels alright
I sweat it all out, you sweat a lot too
We heart the same, the same black and blue
Oh, I wanna catch my difficult
Oh, oh, 'cause I'm scared I'm growing old
Oh, oh, oh , don't return the love I give
Oh oh, oh, your still my favorite
Trouble's win in this town
Trouble's don't turn upside-down
Oh they shit on the last bit of fun
There's sin all around
Lovers cannot let down
And the winter wears and tears
Our bones
There's a man in this town
Is shooting us down, he
Thinks he's a big man but he doesn't know anything about us or anything at all
At night he lies awake
And his heart aches
Cause its cold, oh, oh, old
He sweats it out all the night through
And he throws up all over me and you
Oh, oh, I wanna catch my difficult
Oh, oh, 'cause I'm scared of growin' old
Oh, oh, oh, don't return the love I gave you
Oh, oh, oh, your still my favorite
Chris Garneau's "Black & Blue" is a melancholic, introspective meditation on the complexities of love, aging, and life in a small town. The opening lines of the song, "Air conditioning is cold, Summer's hot and love is old, I wish I was smaller, a little creepy crawler," immediately evoke a sense of discomfort and longing. It is as if the singer feels trapped in their own skin, wishing they could retreat from the struggles of the world.
The central theme of the song is the idea that love is both beautiful and painful. While the "lovers sin" and "lovers cannot let down," the singer still craves the warmth and connection that physical intimacy provides. They acknowledge that the love they share with their partner may not always be returned in the same measure, but they still value and cherish it. This is expressed in the repeated chorus: "Oh, I wanna catch my difficult, oh, oh, 'cause I'm scared of growin' old, oh, oh, oh, don't return the love I gave you, oh, oh, oh, you're still my favorite."
The final verse of the song introduces a new character: a man who is "shooting us down." It is unclear whether this is meant to be taken literally or figuratively, but it reinforces the sense of danger and isolation that permeates the rest of the song. The man is described as ignorant and vindictive, unable to understand or appreciate the complexities of life in the small town. The song ends with a haunting repetition of the word "old," emphasizing the inevitability of aging and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
Air-conditioning is cold
The surroundings are chilly and uncomfortable
Summers hot and love is old
The summers are hot and love seems to be a familiar feeling
I wish I was smaller
Feeling insignificant and wanting to be less noticeable
I little creepy crawler
Feeling powerless and helpless like a tiny insect
Theirs lovers sin in this town
There is a lot of immoral behavior happening in this place
Lovers cannot let down
People in love cannot seem to disappoint each other
The summers hot as hell here you know
The summers are extremely hot in this place
If we think we can drink now
People think they can consume alcohol without any limits
We won't stop cause we don't know how
People are unable to control their drinking habits
It's cold, but we love
Despite the discomfort, people still seem to enjoy this place
How it feels alright
People have a sense of comfort even in the uncomfortable conditions
I sweat it all out, you sweat a lot too
Both people are perspiring a lot because of the heat and humidity
We heart the same, the same black and blue
Both are experiencing the same feelings of love and pain
Oh, I wanna catch my difficult
Wanting to overcome their personal distress and hardships
Oh, oh, 'cause I'm scared I'm growing old
Fearing the idea of getting older and the changes that come with it
Oh, oh, oh , don't return the love I give
Feeling unappreciated for the love given to another person
Oh oh, oh, your still my favorite
Despite everything, the other person still holds a special place in their heart
Trouble's win in this town
This place is dominated by problems and challenges
Trouble's don't turn upside-down
No solution exists to turn the problems around
Oh they shit on the last bit of fun
The problems have ruined the last remaining enjoyment that existed
There's sin all around
Immoral and wrongful activities are happening everywhere
And the winter wears and tears
The winter season has a damaging effect on their emotional and physical state
Our bones
Referring to the human body and the effects of the cold weather
There's a man in this town
Referring to someone who lives there
Is shooting us down, he
This person is causing harm to them and their community
Thinks he's a big man but he doesn't know anything about us or anything at all
This person believes he is superior but is ignorant about facts and situations
At night he lies awake
This person is unable to sleep at night
And his heart aches
This person is feeling emotional pain
Cause its cold, oh, oh, old
Referring to the coldness and harshness of the winter season that is causing them distress
He sweats it out all the night through
This person is experiencing physical discomfort during the night
And he throws up all over me and you
This person is feeling sick and vomiting
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHRIS GARNEAU
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind