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
The Lonely Life
City and Colour Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where would that leave me
Would I wonder through the avenues
Under a pall of misery
Would I be face down in the gutter
With cheap whiskey on my breath
The lonely life of a writer
Singin' please don't, please don't pass me by
I am alive, oh can't you see?
That I've been blinded completely
Please don't, please don't pass me by
I am alive, oh can't you see?
That I am pleading for your mercy
What if we became strangers?
Would you notice my face in a crowd?
And could you hear the sorrow in my voice?
Helplessly crying your name out loud
Would I be searching for a savior?
Burned and burning with regret
The lonely life of a writer
Only if one last desperate request
Singin' please don't, please don't pass me by
I am alive, oh can't you see?
That I've been blinded completely
Please don't, please don't pass me by
I am alive, oh can't you see?
That I am pleading for your mercy
I've been on the lam
Being hunted, somethin' fierce
They say time and tide, it waits for no man
But I was just hopin'
These storm filled skies would clear
Please don't, please don't pass me by
(Please don't, please don't pass me by)
Please don't, please don't pass me by
(Please don't, please don't pass me by)
Please don't, please don't pass me by
I am alive, oh can't you see?
That I am pleading for your mercy
The lyrics of the song The Lonely Life by City and Colour are a reflection of the fear of being alone, abandoned and forgotten. The song talks about the vulnerabilities and uncertainties associated with love, and the haunting feeling of not being wanted. The singer wonders about the consequences of not being loved and being left alone, imagining himself lost on the streets, homeless and heartbroken, praying for mercy. He also envisions a future where he is estranged from his lover, fading into obscurity as a faceless stranger in a crowd, yearning for a second chance. The lyrics are an emotional commentary on the pain and desperation of unreciprocated love and the hopelessness that follows a breakup, seeking relief from the isolation and suffering.
The lyrics are rich in metaphors and imagery, evoking powerful emotions and themes such as betrayal, regret, and self-pity. The words 'lonely life of a writer' suggest a person left alone with his thoughts and pen, pouring his heart out but unable to escape the pain. The use of 'searching for a savior,' 'storm-filled skies,' and 'hunted, something fierce' amplify the sense of despair and fear that accentuates the mood of the song. The refrain of 'please don't, please don't pass me by' highlights the desperation and appeals to the need for human connection and companionship.
Line by Line Meaning
What if I did not love you?
If I did not love you, I wonder where I would be.
Where would that leave me
I would be lost and uncertain without your love.
Would I wonder through the avenues
Would I wander aimlessly through the streets?
Under a pall of misery
Feeling sad and gloomy, with no hope in sight.
Would I be face down in the gutter
Would I be lying in the street, drunk and hopeless?
With cheap whiskey on my breath
Drinking cheap whiskey until I can't think anymore.
The lonely life of a writer
Living a lonely life as a struggling writer.
Whose words could not pay his debts
Not being able to make a living off of my writing.
Singin' please don't, please don't pass me by
Begging for someone to pay attention to me.
I am alive, oh can't you see?
I am still here, trying to be noticed.
That I've been blinded completely
Feeling lost and alone to the point of being unable to see a way out.
Please don't, please don't pass me by
Please don't ignore me in my time of need.
I am alive, oh can't you see?
I am still here, even if I feel invisible.
That I am pleading for your mercy
I am begging for someone to show me compassion and help me.
What if we became strangers?
If we were no longer close, what would happen?
Would you notice my face in a crowd?
Would you be able to recognize me among many people?
And could you hear the sorrow in my voice?
Would you be able to hear the sadness in my words?
Helplessly crying your name out loud
Feeling helpless and alone, calling out to you.
Would I be searching for a savior?
Would I be trying to find someone to save me?
Burned and burning with regret
Feeling consumed by regret and guilt.
Only if one last desperate request
My only hope is if I make one final plea for help.
I've been on the lam
I've been running away from something.
Being hunted, somethin' fierce
I am being pursued relentlessly.
They say time and tide, it waits for no man
Time moves forward no matter what we do.
But I was just hopin'
I was hoping for things to turn around.
These storm filled skies would clear
Things would get better if these difficulties in my life go away.
Please don't, please don't pass me by
I am still here, pleading for someone to take notice of me.
(Please don't, please don't pass me by)
Please don't ignore me.
I am alive, oh can't you see?
I am still here, despite feeling like I'm not being seen.
That I am pleading for your mercy
I am begging for someone to show me kindness and help me.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Dallas Green
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cityandcolour
Get the new album "The Love Still Held Me Near" at cityandcolour.com ✌
@MarianaSouza-ib7ji
PLEASEEEE COME TO BRAZILLLL
@sean92able
This is music at it's finest. What a Masterpiece.
@grillscheese1805
Amen bro!
@ozarksliving1927
Absolutely
@sloshhead2
Songs like this make life worth living...in this lonely world
@GianniEndo
I totally agree. It makes you wonder...In a world full of 4.8 people how could one feel so alone
@Biogenesys
Salvatore Anzalone And I was under the impression the population was alot higher than that...
@GianniEndo
Derek Lahti Whoops...My mistake, i dont reside here on earth, im just visiting.
@ZairaSimon1
+Slytherin Parker Music makes you less lonely. Until you enjoy solitude.