Sometimes (2005) and Live (2007)
Green began releasing City and Colour songs on the Internet for fans to download in 2004. Eventually, he compiled and rewrote several of these songs to make his first album, Sometimes. The full length debut was released on November 1, 2005 to a good reception, described by one reviewer as "dynamically gentle and vulnerable". The cover art was designed by Scott McEwan, in a tattoo-esque style; Green "still may decide to have some of them inked at a later point in time". Sometimes was re-released on Vagrant Records on January 13, 2009, which was the first time the album was available in physical form in the United States.
Bring Me Your Love (2009)
Green's second album, Bring Me Your Love, was released on February 12, 2008 and features a wide array of instruments not used on his previous recordings (such as harmonica, banjo, drums and lap steel) giving it a more folk-influenced sound. The album also features collaborations with other musicians, such as Canadian musician Gordon Downie of The Tragically Hip on the track "Sleeping Sickness", and additional instrumentals done by Matt Sullivan and the members of Attack in Black. The lead single, "Waiting...", was released on Green's official MySpace page for the first time featuring a "making of" video. The album is named after a short story by Charles Bukowski. It is also a line sung in the closing track, "As Much As I Ever Could".
On September 26, 2008, City and Colour embarked on their first American tour, in support of Bring Me Your Love. On the tour, the band supported Tegan and Sara along with Girl in a Coma. This tour was followed by a headlining tour of the US in January 2009, with support from William Elliott Whitmore. In October 2008, Dine Alone Records announced a special 2-disc limited edition of Bring Me Your Love to be released on December 2, 2008. Only 6,000 copies are available; 5,000 in North America and 1,000 in Australia.[5] In Canada, when the record label put up the album on pre-sale on November 20, 2008, so many fans tried to pre-order it that the store's website crashed.
In January 2010, City and Colour embarked on an additional US headlining tour, again supporting Bring Me Your Love, with supporting act Lissie, and an additional UK tour in June 2010, supporting P!nk, along with Butch Walker, along with a few headlining dates. On these tours, Dallas Green performed two new songs by the titles of "Silver and Gold" and "O' Sister", as well as a couple of never-played-before covers - "Murderer", originally by Low, and "Grinnin' in the Face", originally by Son House.
Little Hell (2011)
On February 23, 2011, it was officially announced on the Dine Alone Records website that City and Colour's third album would be titled Little Hell and was set for release in June 2011. On March 23, 2011, the official track listing was posted on City and Colour's official website. On April 5, 2011, "Fragile Bird", the first single off Little Hell was released to the radio. The song had its world premiere on Australian radio station Triple J, where the band was touring at the time. The single became City and Colour's highest charting single, reaching No. 1 on the Canadian rock/alternative chart. On August 5, 2011, Alexisonfire announced their break-up. George Pettit wrote a message on the band's official website saying Dallas had been planning to leave to focus on City and Colour, as balancing the two bands had become too difficult.
The Hurry and The Harm (2013)
City and Colour announced the release of the new album entitled The Hurry and The Harm to be released on June 4, 2013. The song "Of Space and Time" was released on March 11, 2013 prior to the announcement of the new album. The song "Thirst"was released on April 1, 2013 on City and Colour's Soundcloud page.
If I Should Go Before You (2015)
City and Colour announced the release of the new album entitled If I Should Go Before You via Twitter and Facebook to be released on October 9, 2015. The sole lead single "Woman" was released exclusively on Beats 1 station on Apple Radio on July 15, 2015 hosted by Zane Lowe. Upon its release, the album garnered highly favourable reviews, with some suggesting it could be Green's finest work up to that point. Additionally, it achieved notable commercial success by securing the top spot as the band's first number one album on the Canadian iTunes Store. Furthermore, the album received multiple Juno Award nominations, including an Artist of the Year nod for Green, along with recognition for outstanding songwriting on tracks like "Blood", "Lover Come Back", and "Wasted Love".
Guide Me Back Home (2018)
In September 2018, City and Colour unveiled plans for a forthcoming compilation album titled "Guide Me Back Home (Live)" featuring live recordings from Dallas Green's 2017 "An Evening with City and Colour" solo Canadian tour. The digital release was scheduled for October 5, 2018, followed by a physical release on November 23, 2018, through Still Records, a record label established by Dallas Green himself as a subsidiary of Dine Alone. On September 21, 2018, three tracks from the album, namely "Casey's Song (Live in Banff, AB April 18th, 2017)", "Sensible Heart (Live in St. John's, NL May 14th, 2017)", and "As Much as I Ever Could (Live in Halifax, NS May 10th, 2017)" were made available for digital download. An additional trio of tracks, "The Girl (Live in Halifax, NS May 10th, 2017)", O' Sister (Live in Vernon, BC April 13th, 2017)", and "Lover Come Back (Live in Cornerbrook, NL May 15th, 2017)" were released one week later on September 21, 2018.
In April 2019, City and Colour had the privilege of being the opening act for Alice in Chains' Canadian tour, along with participating in three additional U.S. concerts in support of Alice in Chains' album Rainier Fog (2018) It's worth noting that Green has long been an avid fan of Alice in Chains and regards them as one of his early musical influences. During their joint performances, Green shared the stage with Alice in Chains for a rendition of their song "Nutshell," a track that Green often covered himself. These memorable collaborations took place at the Budweiser Gardens in London, Ontario on April 23, 2019, and at the FirstOntario Concert Hall in Hamilton on April 24, 2019. Furthermore, Green joined the band to perform "Got Me Wrong" on April 25 in Rama, April 27 in Montreal, and April 28 in Quebec. An especially meaningful moment occurred when Jerry Cantrell, Alice in Chains' guitarist and vocalist, gifted one of his guitars to Green after their joint performance at the MTELUS in Montreal on April 27, 2019. Green has since expressed that this gesture from Cantrell played a pivotal role in igniting his passion for playing the guitar.
A Pill for Loneliness (2019) and Low Songs (2020)
On June 3, 2019, the band made a highly-anticipated return with their first new song in four years, titled "Astronaut." Alongside this exciting release, they also unveiled plans for a 22-date North American tour set to kick off in October 2019. Building on the momentum, they dropped another single, "Strangers," on June 21.
Then, on August 15, 2019, City and Colour officially announced their album A Pill for Loneliness (2019). Just after midnight on August 16, they treated fans to a third single, "Living in Lightning." Reflecting on the album, Dallas Green shared, "I wrote a lot of dark songs and wrapped them in the most beautiful sounds we could find. There are personal connotations, but they're also relatable. I'm thankful for the opportunity to create." The album was eventually released on October 4, 2019, to the delight of their fanbase. Notably, in January 2020, the album received a Juno Award nomination in the Adult Alternative Album of the Year category.
Additionally, on June 19, 2020, Dallas released a two-track EP (titled Low Songs)featuring covers of songs by the band Low. This release was part of Bandcamp's 24-hour Juneteenth fundraiser for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. A limited edition 7-inch physical version of the EP was also made available for pre-order through Dallas Green's webstore, with the proceeds going to the Black Youth! Pathway 2 Industry project.
The Love Still Held Me Near (2023)
On November 18, 2022, Dallas released a new single titled "Meant to Be" to critical acclaim. Shortly after, on January 22, 2023, he announced his seventh studio album The Love Still Held Me Near (2023)alongside the release of the second single off the album "Underground." The final single titled "Fucked It Up" released February 24, 2023. The full album released to streaming and physical on March 31, 2023 to critical acclaim.
Shortly after the start of 2023, Green and his band began his 2023 Australian Tour all around Australia for most of the spring. Then he started his 2023 "The Love Still Held Me Dear" Tour as he travelled all across the United States. In October, he performed a couple times in the UK as a part of the European leg of the tour. He has dates planned all throughout Winter 2023/2024 as a part of the Canadian leg of the tour.
www.cityandcolour.ca
www.myspace.com/dallasgreen
Sleeping Sickness
City and Colour Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And through the night, so it seems I'm not breathing
And now my dreams are nothing like they were meant to be
And I'm breaking down
I think I'm breaking down
And I'm afraid
To sleep because of what haunts me
That I'll never find the words to say
Which would completely explain
Just how I'm breaking down
Someone come and, someone come and save my life
Maybe I'll sleep when I am dead
But now it's like the night is taking sides
All the worries that occupy the back of my mind
Could it be this misery will suffice?
I've become a simple souvenir of someone's kill
And like the sea, I'm constantly changing from calm to ill
Madness fills my heart and soul
As if the great divide could swallow me whole
Oh, how I'm breaking down
Someone come and, someone come and save my life
Maybe I'll sleep when I am dead
But now it's like the night is taking sides
All the worries that occupy the back of my mind
Could it be this misery will suffice?
Someone come and, someone come and save my life (save my life)
Someone come and, someone come and save my life (save my life)
Someone come and, someone come and save my life
Could it be this misery will suffice?
The lyrics of City and Colour's Sleeping Sickness express the emotional turmoil of the artist as he wakes up feeling empty with his dreams shattered. The artist portrays himself as breaking down and unable to find the words to explain his inner struggle, which he associates with uncertainty. The chorus calls out desperately for someone to come and save his life as he fears sleeping with the haunting anxieties that occupy his mind. He compares his state of mind to a sea that is ever-changing and constantly in turmoil, consumed by madness, and the fear that it could swallow him whole. The repetition of the line "someone come and save my life" highlights the urgent need to be rescued from the situation that he has found himself in. In the final lines of the song, the artist wonders if this state of misery would suffice.
The song's lyrics delve into the depths of the artist's psyche, portraying the struggles with mental health and the fear of losing control. The artist expresses the urge to be saved from his inner turmoil, which he feels is taking sides with the night. The verses' vivid descriptions, which jump from hopelessness to despair, help to create a sombre and melancholic atmosphere. The lyrics' structure and progression mirror the artist's thought process, allowing the listeners insight into his psyche and emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
I awoke
I opened my eyes
Only to find my lungs empty
I realized that I am not breathing
And through the night, so it seems I'm not breathing
I feel like a breathless creature as the night passes
And now my dreams are nothing like they were meant to be
My reveries have taken a sharp turn from their aim
And I'm breaking down
I am having an emotional breakdown
I think I'm breaking down
I am not sure, but I believe I am deteriorating emotionally
And I'm afraid
I am filled with dread
To sleep because of what haunts me
I fear falling asleep due to my recurring nightmares
Such as living with the uncertainty
I cannot accept the fact that my life is full of vagueness
That I'll never find the words to say
I am unable to express myself to the fullest
Which would completely explain
If only I could find suitable words to explain
Just how I'm breaking down
I wish I could articulate how I am losing control
Someone come and
I need someone to
Someone come and save my life
Rescue me from my misery
Maybe I'll sleep when I am dead
Perhaps I can only obtain rest after I have perished
But now it's like the night is taking sides
It seems like the negative forces are taking over the night
All the worries that occupy the back of my mind
My mind is perpetually occupied by my anxieties
Could it be? This misery will suffice
Is it conceivable that this pain is enough to satisfy me?
I've become
I have transformed into
A simple souvenir of someone's kill
I am just a byproduct of someone else's destructive action
Like the sea, I'm constantly changing from calm to hell
Like an ocean, I vacillate from tranquillity to torment
Madness fills my heart and soul
Insanity has taken over my entire being
As if the great divide could swallow me whole
I feel like I am being consumed by a great abyss
Oh, how I'm breaking down
Oh, how I am falling apart
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Dallas Green
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-ul9gw5bw7o
Saw City and Colour live last night. They played this song as the final encore and had the crowd sing Gord's part. One of the best concert moments I've attended.
@keithethel7391
RIP GORD DOWNIE. I’ll never forget being at your last concert in our hometown Kingston.
@crackofdawn4435
I wish
@camelcase9225
Yeah it was unreal
@Stefano.Valentini
Rest in peace Gord Downie
@Kallavs
I know eh, i watched and recorded that one on CBC
@staygold902
One of the best I've ever seen
@phylneil1109
This song haunts and comforts me. When i am at my worst i feel every lyric in my soul. ‘That ill never find the words to say… which would completely explain, just how im breaking down…’
@Stefano.Valentini
I thought I was the only one who had that problem... Well welcome to the group
@MarkHoltze
man still gives me bumps when Downie comes in. This is such a brilliant collab