David Roland Cook (born December 20, 1982 in Houston, Texas, United States)… Read Full Bio ↴David Roland Cook (born December 20, 1982 in Houston, Texas, United States) is an American rock singer-songwriter, who rose to fame after winning the seventh season of the reality television show American Idol. Prior to Idol he released an independent album entitled "Analog Heart" released on May 6, 2006. This was followed by his post-Idol major-label debut "David Cook" which was released on November 18, 2008 and has since been certified platinum by the RIAA, as were two singles from the album, “Light On” and “Time of My Life.” A third single, “Come Back To Me,” was certified gold.

On June 28, 2011, Cook released his second major-label studio album, entitled "This Loud Morning". Produced by Matt Serletic, the album consists of 14 tracks penned by Cook along with co-writers David Hodges, Ryan Tedder, Kevin Griffin and Marti Frederiksen, among others. The album title comes from a line in the song “Rapid Eye Movement” – “Give me one more quiet night, before this loud morning gets it right, and does me in.”

On May 10, 2012, Cook debuted a new, independently released single, The Last Song I’ll Write for You, on American Idol. Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Cook denied this was written with his former record company in mind, despite the fact it was his first new song after losing his recording contract with RCA. He insisted it was a break-up song that came together very quickly.

Early Music Career: David Cook formed a band with his friend Bobby Kerr while at high school. The band was initially named Red Eye, later Axium. He wrote his first song titled “Red Hot” when he was fifteen. He was encouraged by Evan Sula-Goff of 8stops7 to make an album when he went to Cook’s school to judge a contest, Mr. Jaguar, where David Cook and his band performed Guns N’ Roses’ “Paradise City”. The band had some success when one of their songs, “Hold”, was selected to be played in movie theaters across the country, and they were named one of the top 15 independent bands in the country by “Got Milk?” contest as well as the best Kansas City band in 2004.

Axium however broke up in 2006 and David Cook moved to Tulsa where he joined Midwest Kings, a band he once opened for. Members of that band Andy Skib and Neal Tiemann later became part of David Cook’s post-Idol band The Anthemic. He recorded and self-released a solo album Analog Heart in 2006, which sold well regionally.He worked as a bartender prior to appearing on Idol.

In 2006, after obtaining a degree in graphic arts, Cook had to decide whether he wanted to be a musician or a graphic designer. “I gave myself every opportunity not to do music,” he says, “but it was always there. I couldn’t ignore it.” He moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, and was in the early stages of recording his second album when his younger brother Andrew asked Cook to accompany him to Omaha and lend moral support while he tried out for American Idol. Andrew didn’t make the cut, but he encouraged a very reluctant David to try out. After Cook made it through the early auditions, he reportedly told his brother he’d drop out if Andrew didn’t want him to go through with it. “He threatened to beat my ass if I didn’t, so it’s entirely his fault that all this happened to me,” Cook says with a smile.

One week after being declared the winner with a record-breaking 56 percent of the nearly 100 million votes cast, Cook rewrote chart history when 11 of his songs debuted on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart — the highest number of new entries in a single week by an artist since the Beatles in 1964. Topping the list was “The Time of My Life,” which debuted at No. 3, making it the highest new entry on the Hot 100 of 2008.

Cook’s self-titled major-label debut was released on November 18, 2008. His debut album was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association for America (RIAA) for sales exceeding one-million units in January 2009.

In January 2009, Cook announced he would be embarking on a national tour in February. The Declaration Tour began on February 13, 2009 in Tallahassee, Florida, and was originally set to end in Tulsa, Oklahoma on April 25, 2009. Due to strong ticket sales, the tour was extended several times, finally wrapping up on December 1, 2009 at The Fillmore in Charlotte, North Carolina, after 154 concerts in the U.S. and Canada. During 2009 Cook also took his show overseas to the Philippines, and performed for troops in Iraq with the USO.

On April 30, 2013, Cook released a new single, “Laying Me Low”, through XIX Recordings, the record label of American Idol creator Simon Fuller. The song was written by David Cook, Chris Reardon, and Andy Waldeck.

Kiss & Tell
David Cook Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I, I'm never really awake
You take it all away until my will begins to break
You, you've got me in your sights
You're doing something right 'cause all I see is blue tonight

Yeah, we're lost in the dark and we're praying for light
Reaching out for a heart where the beat never dies
Yeah we're crossing the line between heaven and hell

I'll never kiss and tell
Now we're facing the flood and it's rising fast
We keep holding our breath 'til we both collapse
Lying still in the place right where our bodies fell
But I'll never kiss and tell

I, I feel my pulse increase
Do anything you please as long as I can hear you breathe
We, we're losing all control
I thought we had it all but now your lips are turning cold

Yeah, we're lost in the dark and we're praying for light
Reaching out for a heart where the beat never dies
Yeah we're crossing the line between heaven and hell
I'll never kiss and tell
Now we're facing the flood and it's rising fast
We keep holding our breath 'til we both collapse
Lying still in the place right where our bodies fell
But I'll never kiss and tell

Yeah, we're lost in the dark and we're praying for light
Reaching out for a heart where the beat never dies
Yeah we're crossing the line between heaven and hell
I'll never kiss and tell
Now we're facing the flood and it's rising fast
We keep holding our breath 'til we both collapse
Lying still in the place right where our bodies fell
But I'll never kiss and tell

I'll never kiss and tell

I'll never kiss and tell

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of David Cook's song "Kiss & Tell" depict a tumultuous relationship that is filled with intense passion and secrecy. The singer describes feeling constantly entranced by their partner, unable to resist their influence and the way they take control. The partner's actions, whether intentional or not, seem to have a profound impact on the singer, causing them to lose their will and begin to break under the weight of their presence.

The repeated mention of the color blue suggests a sense of melancholy and sadness in the relationship. The singer acknowledges that they are lost in the dark, desperately yearning for light and a sense of clarity. They find themselves caught between two extremes - heaven and hell - symbolizing the contrasting emotions that this relationship evokes in them.

Despite the challenges they face, the singer's loyalty to their partner is unwavering. They claim that they will never reveal the intimate details of their relationship to others, pledging to never "kiss and tell." This declaration suggests a sense of devotion and trust in their partner, even in the face of hardships and uncertainties.

The second verse delves deeper into the singer's emotional state within the relationship. They describe a feeling of adrenaline rushing through their veins, willing to do whatever their partner desires as long as they can continue to hear their breath. However, the relationship starts to lose its grip on them, as the once warm and passionate lips of their partner begin to grow cold.

The chorus repeats the idea of being lost in the dark and praying for light, emphasizing the ongoing struggle within the relationship. They reach out for a love that never fades, fighting to maintain the intensity and connection they once had. The singer acknowledges the fragility of their situation, comparing it to a rising flood that threatens to consume them both. They hold their breath in anticipation, but ultimately collapse under the weight of the relationship.

The final repetition of the line "But I'll never kiss and tell" reinforces the singer's commitment to their partner, despite the challenges they face. It signifies their decision to keep their relationship private, maintaining trust and loyalty in the face of adversity.

Overall, "Kiss & Tell" explores the complexities of a passionate and secret-filled relationship, highlighting the emotional highs and lows experienced by the singer. It showcases the deep bond and loyalty they have for their partner, even in the face of obstacles that threaten to tear them apart.

Line by Line Meaning

I, I'm never really awake
I'm always in a state of numbness or unawareness

You take it all away until my will begins to break
You gradually drain me of my strength and determination

You, you've got me in your sights
You have complete control over me

You're doing something right 'cause all I see is blue tonight
Your actions or presence bring me sadness or despair

Yeah, we're lost in the dark and we're praying for light
We feel disoriented or helpless, hoping for guidance or resolution

Reaching out for a heart where the beat never dies
Seeking a deep connection that will last forever

Yeah we're crossing the line between heaven and hell
We're experiencing intense emotions that fluctuate between joy and pain

I'll never kiss and tell
I will always keep our secrets and experiences private

Now we're facing the flood and it's rising fast
We're confronted with overwhelming challenges or problems

We keep holding our breath 'til we both collapse
We endure the difficulties together until we can no longer bear it

Lying still in the place right where our bodies fell
Remaining motionless in the spot where we experienced a significant event

But I'll never kiss and tell
However, I will never disclose what happened

I, I feel my pulse increase
I sense a surge of excitement or anticipation

Do anything you please as long as I can hear you breathe
I'm willing to do whatever you want as long as I know you're alive

We, we're losing all control
We're surrendering our ability to manage or regulate our actions or emotions

I thought we had it all but now your lips are turning cold
I believed we possessed everything, but now your affection is waning

But I'll never kiss and tell
Still, I won't disclose our intimate moments

I'll never kiss and tell
I will always keep our secrets and experiences private

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANDY WALDECK, ANDY SKIB, DAVID COOK

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS