Chris recorded his first album, The Swiss Army Romance, in 2000. The following year, he recorded Further Seems Forever's debut album The Moon Is Down. However, he left the band soon after the album's release, instead recording and releasing his sophomore album The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most, as well as a follow-up EP titled So Impossible.
By 2002, three other musicians had joined the band, including former Further Seems Forever band mate Jerry Castellanos and started the process of recording the band's next album. After the success of his second album, Carrabba was asked to perform on MTV Unplugged, and the subsequent release marked the first time many of the songs were recorded with a full band.
Also in 2002, the music video for "Screaming Infidelities" won the coveted MTV2 award at the MTV Video Music Awards, beating out Norah Jones, The Strokes, The Hives, Nappy Roots and Musiq. This video starred Chris in both the performance and the storyline. The video was directed by Maureen Egan and Matthew Barry.
In 2003, the band released its third album A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar. Peaking at #2 on the United States Billboard charts, the album proved to be the band's most commercially-viable album yet. In the summer of 2004, Dashboard Confessional recorded the song "Vindicated" for the film Spider-Man 2. The song was featured on the soundtrack and played over the film's end credits. Because of this, the band gained a sizable audience for their next release the following summer.
In May of 2005, Dashboard Confessional entered the studio to record their fourth album with acclaimed producer, Daniel Lanois. The album was released on June 27, 2006; its first single was "Don't Wait". Following the release of Dusk and Summer, Dashboard Confessional went on a summer tour of the U.S. with special guests Say Anything and Ben Lee, followed by a co-headlining arena tour with alternative rock band Brand New.
In 2007, the band released its follow-up to Dusk and Summer, The Shade of Poison Trees.
During an interview with Billboard posted on September 11, 2007, Carrabba stated that he is 14 tracks into what would be the band's sixth studio album. He is also unsure about when it would be recorded, but plans to have 30 tracks to draw from. It may be a concept album: "only with the last three has it become, like, 'All right, these have a continuity and there's something going on,' so I'm excited to see where that leads".
The album, titled 'Alter The Ending', was released November 10 2009 (US). A two disc version of the album is available. In this edition, the first disc consists of full band workings of the twelve tracks while the second disc features acoustic versions akin to the first two Dashboard Confessional albums.
The Sharp Hint of New Tears
Dashboard Confessional Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This car hears my confessions
I think tonight I'll take the long way
In this weather
The wind outside is biting
It's left me feeling tired and exposed
It seems these kinds of questions
Come too easy to you now
Your lack of shame comes naturally
I should not be surprised
I should have seen it sooner
Expect me to apologize
For things that you've done wrong
While you're inciting others
You're owning up to nothing
And I wish that I was gone
'Cause you're not going anywhere
And this damp air
It's fighting my defroster
My sighs, they ring victorious and fog this tinted glass
And it's clouded
And so is my head
The hint of these new tears are sharp
I try to choke them back
But it's useless
I'm useless against them
They are beating me with ease
On the way home
This car hears my confessions
I think tonight I'll take the long way
Expect me to apologize
For things that you've done wrong
While you're inciting others
You're owning up to nothing
And I wish that I was gone
'Cause you're not going anywhere
On the way home
This car hears my confessions
I think tonight I'll take the long way
The lyrics to Dashboard Confessional's song, "The Sharp Hint of New Tears", are full of raw emotion, as lead singer Chris Carrabba sings about feeling tired, exposed, and defeated. He starts by confessing to his car and taking the long way home, suggesting that he is avoiding confronting his problems head-on. The weather is cold and biting, mirroring the singer's emotions of feeling vulnerable and worn out.
The second verse introduces the idea of someone else asking the singer to "bleed", or share their deepest emotions. The singer seems hesitant to do so, possibly because of this person's lack of shame and their tendency to incite others. The chorus repeats the idea of the singer being expected to apologize for things they did not do, while the other person refuses to take ownership of their actions. The bridge of the song is particularly powerful, as the singer feels defeated and unable to control their own tears. The cloudy windows of the car mirror the cloudiness in their head and emotions.
Overall, the lyrics suggest a complex and unhealthy relationship dynamic, where one person is exerting control and manipulation over the other. The singer is struggling to keep their emotions in check and resents being made to feel guilty for things they did not do. The car becomes a sanctuary where they can confess and process their emotions without fear of judgment.
Line by Line Meaning
On the way home
During my drive home
This car hears my confessions
I use this time alone in my car to reflect and reveal my innermost thoughts and feelings
I think tonight I'll take the long way
I may extend my drive to have more time to reflect
In this weather
The current climate
The wind outside is biting
It's uncomfortably cold and harsh
It's left me feeling tired and exposed
I feel drained and vulnerable due to the weather conditions
You've been asking me to bleed
You push me to reveal my most painful experiences and emotions
It seems these kinds of questions
You repeatedly ask me these probing and invasive questions
Come too easy to you now
It seems you are desensitized to the impact of these questions
Your lack of shame comes naturally
You have no qualms in making me feel uncomfortable or vulnerable
I should not be surprised
I am not shocked by your behavior, as it has become expected
I should have seen it sooner
I should have recognized these red flags earlier on in our relationship
Expect me to apologize
You demand an apology from me for things that you are actually responsible for
For things that you've done wrong
You refuse to take accountability for your actions
While you're inciting others
You are manipulating those around us to take your side and believe your lies
You're owning up to nothing
You refuse to acknowledge your faults or take responsibility for your actions
And I wish that I was gone
I want to escape this toxic situation
'Cause you're not going anywhere
You are not changing your behavior and are bound to continue these patterns
And this damp air
The moisture in the air
It's fighting my defroster
It's impeding the function of my car's defroster, making it hard to see
My sighs, they ring victorious and fog this tinted glass
My breath condenses on the window, clouding my view
And it's clouded
My thoughts are unclear and muddled
And so is my head
My mind is overwhelmed and confused
The hint of these new tears are sharp
I feel a sudden onset of intense emotions and the possibility of crying
I try to choke them back
I attempt to suppress these tears
But it's useless
My attempts to hold back my emotions are ineffective
I'm useless against them
I feel powerless against my emotions
They are beating me with ease
My emotions are overwhelming and difficult to control
On the way home
As I drive home
This car hears my confessions
I continue to reveal my deepest thoughts and feelings to my vehicle
I think tonight I'll take the long way
I may prolong my drive to further process my emotions
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRISTOPHER ANDREW CARRABBA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind