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 and 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
The lyrics of Chris Garneau's song "Black & Blue" discuss the challenges of love and the pain that comes with it, using vivid imagery to convey the feeling of being stuck in a place where nothing seems to change. The opening lines introduce a contrast between the coldness of the air-conditioning and the heat of summer, emphasizing the fixed nature of the environment. The singer then expresses a desire to be smaller, to retreat into the crevices of life as a little creepy crawler, indicating a feeling of vulnerability and powerlessness.
The chorus contains the most poignant imagery of the song, with its references to sweat, heartache, and being black and blue. The lines suggest a relationship that is difficult, but still worth holding onto, even as the singer grows scared of growing old and doubting whether their love will be returned. The repeated phrase "still my favorite" seems to indicate a resilience, a clinging onto something that gives the singer some sense of joy and meaning amidst the turmoil.
The later verses continue with the theme of oppression and limited choices, referencing a town where lovers cannot let down and trouble seems to always win. The lines about a man who shoots people down and lies awake with aching heart add a layer of despair to the song, as the singer wonders whether anyone will ever be able to break free from the cycle of pain and hurt.
Line by Line Meaning
Air-conditioning is cold
The room is cold and uncomfortable because of the air conditioning.
Summers hot and love is old
Summer is uncomfortably hot and the idea of love is outdated and no longer exciting.
I wish I was smaller
The singer wishes they were smaller or more insignificant, as they feel their presence is burdensome.
I little creepy crawler
The singer feels small and insignificant like a creepy-crawly bug.
Theirs lovers sin in this town
This town is full of people engaged in love affairs or other sinful activities.
Lovers cannot let down
Those in love are unable to end their relationships and move on to something better.
The summers hot as hell here you know
The summer heat in this town is unbearable and oppressive.
If we think we can drink now
The singer and others in this town engage in excessive drinking as a form of escape.
We won't stop cause we don't know how
They don't know how to stop drinking and cope with the problems of their lives.
It's cold, but we love
Despite the cold and uncomfortable nature of their surroundings, they still find comfort in each other.
How it feels alright
Despite the problems in their lives, they find temporary relief in the comfort they provide each other.
I sweat it all out, you sweat a lot too
The singer and their lover are physically intimate and experiencing a lot of stress.
We heart the same, the same black and blue
They are both experiencing emotional pain and heartbreak, represented metaphorically by the color black and blue.
Oh, I wanna catch my difficult
The singer wants to overcome their emotional struggles that are causing them pain.
Oh, oh, 'cause I'm scared I'm growing old
The singer is afraid of getting older and not being able to find happiness and fulfillment.
Oh, oh, oh , don't return the love I give
The singer is afraid of not receiving the same love and commitment they are giving to their lover.
Oh oh, oh, your still my favorite
Despite everything, the singer's lover is still their favorite and they cannot imagine being without them.
Trouble's win in this town
This town is full of problems and negative situations that people cannot escape from.
Trouble's don't turn upside-down
The problems and troubles in this town cannot be resolved easily and often lead to further chaos.
Oh they shit on the last bit of fun
The problems in this town ruin any opportunities for enjoyment or happiness.
There's sin all around
The town is full of sinful activities and behaviors.
Lovers cannot let down
Those in love in this town cannot escape the negative repercussions of their relationships, regardless of how unhealthy they may be.
And the winter wears and tears
The cold winter months take a physical and emotional toll on people in this town.
Our bones
The physical and emotional hardships of living in this town affect people down to their bones, causing deep pain and trauma.
There's a man in this town
There is a person in this town who represents the problems and negativity that exist here.
Is shooting us down, he
This person is causing further problems and destruction in the town.
Thinks he's a big man but he doesn't know anything about us or anything at all
This person is arrogant and abusive, but does not understand the struggles of the people living in this town.
At night he lies awake
This person has trouble sleeping and may be struggling with inner demons or a guilty conscience.
And his heart aches
This person is experiencing emotional pain and conflict.
Cause its cold, oh, oh, old
The town and the situation this person is in is cold and unforgiving, and has been this way for a long time.
He sweats it out all the night through
This person is experiencing intense emotions and struggles, to the point where they are physically exerting themselves while they sleep.
And he throws up all over me and you
This person's emotional turmoil affects the people around them in a negative way, ruining any chance for comfort and stability.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHRIS GARNEAU
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind