They added the 1979 suffix to the name following a legal dispute with New York City dance-punk label Death From Above (known as DFA Records since the September 11, 2001 attacks). "Death from above" was written on a helicopter in the movie Apocalypse Now, which was copyrighted in 1979. However, Grainger says this is simply a coincidence; 1979 was chosen as it was, amongst other reasons, "the year I was born."
Death from Above 1979 had planned on recording the follow up to its debut full-length You're A Woman, I'm A Machine. There were plans to release it in three versions: the traditional bass/drums lineup, a full-band lineup with musicians assembled by Grainger, and a remix album. The albums featuring a full band and remixes were supposedly to be released on the band's official website.
In 2005 the video for "Romantic Rights" won a VideoFACT award at the MuchMusic Video Music Awards.
On August 4, 2006, the band announced they had decided to split "almost a year ago" due to the strained relationship between the two - claiming they only talked during interviews and just before shows - not to mention the fact that they had achieved all their aims after the record went gold in their native Canada.
Keeler was slated to play bass on the Queens Of The Stone Age album Era Vulgaris, but later revealed on the Death From Above 1979 message board that he could not due to scheduling conflicts. Keeler is now one half of MSTRKRFT, his new project with producer Al-P.
Sebastien Grainger is now in his own side project band Sebastien Grainger & the Mountains
In 2011 it was announced that the band were reuniting to perform at Coachella, then the band announced that they were planning to reunite on an ongoing basis.
Blood on Our Hands
Death from Above 1979 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the basement is where I'm gonna stay
There is blood in all the things I say
Will you hate me if I stay this way?
From the bedroom, where we're running from
There's a sequel to the things I've done
You're a woman, we both know it's true
By the things that I have done to you
There is blood on all the shoes you've worn
From the people you've been stepping on
There is blood in all the things you say
I won't hate you if you go away
There is blood on our hands again
From the bedroom is where we will
Bring it back to the start again
Bring it back to the love we had
There is blood on our hands again
From the bedroom is where we will
Bring it back to the love we had
Bring it back to
I am leaving if you turn away
In the basement is where I'm gonna stay
From the bedroom, where I'm running from
There's a sequel to the things I've done
There is blood on our hands again
From the bedroom is where we will
Bring it back to the start again
Bring it back to the love we had
There is blood on our hands again
From the bedroom is where we will
Bring it back to the start again
Bring it back to
The lyrics of "Blood On Our Hands" by Death From Above 1979 depict a relationship that is stained with harmful actions that cannot be undone. The first stanza describes the singer's departure while the other person turns away. The singer chooses to stay in the basement, suggesting a desire to escape the realities of the relationship. The "blood" in "all the things" that the singer says refers to the hurtful and cruel words that have been spoken, which are irreparable. However, the singer questions whether they will be hated for staying the same, indicating a desire for forgiveness while struggling to overcome the bad habits they have developed in the relationship. Similarly, in the second stanza, the singer suggests that the other person is also at fault, and their words and actions have also caused harm. The singer promises not to hate the other person if they choose to leave.
The chorus shows that both parties have "blood on their hands again" and that the bedroom is the site of their wrongdoing. However, instead of walking away, they want to "bring it back to the start again" and "bring it back to the love we had." The repetition of this phrase highlights a hopeful desire to start over and recapture the love they once had despite the harm they have caused each other.
Overall, "Blood On Our Hands" explores the complexity of relationships and the difficulty of escaping the harmful habits that can develop over time.
Line by Line Meaning
I am leaving while you turn away
I'm departing, while you avoid looking at me.
In the basement is where I'm gonna stay
I'm going to reside in the underground space below this building.
There is blood in all the things I say
The things I speak are tinged with violence and harm.
Will you hate me if I stay this way?
Would you despise me if I can't change how I am?
From the bedroom, where we're running from
We're trying to flee from our shared bedroom.
There's a sequel to the things I've done
There's a continuation of my past actions.
You're a woman, we both know it's true
It's a fact that you're a female, and we both acknowledge it.
By the things that I have done to you
I'm judged by the acts I have committed towards you.
There is blood on all the shoes you've worn
The shoes you've worn have come into contact with blood.
From the people you've been stepping on
You've been trampling over people and causing them harm.
There is blood in all the things you say
The things you speak are saturated with violence and aggression.
I won't hate you if you go away
I won't develop hatred towards you if you depart.
There is blood on our hands again
We're responsible for causing harm and violence once more.
From the bedroom is where we will, bring it back to the start again
The bedroom is where we'll rekindle our relationship and bring it back to its origins.
Bring it back to the love we had
We should return to the affection we once shared.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Jesse Keeler, Sebastien Grainger
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kvbiaq
I can't believe it's been 8 years since I discovered them... One of my favourite bands ever
Dallas Reinhart
These guys rock pretty damn hard!
Andrew Green
I can't believe I missed these guys 10 years ago... Their new album is amazing! Need to go back and catch up on the first record.
TheShameofaNation
I sure hope so, man. I only discovered them last November and I immediately bought every album and became a fan for life. My life would be complete seeing them live.
uNkLeRaRa4
Awesome song. Amazing video. Outstanding band!! DFA!!
CapaldiFan
This song is so awesome! And the outro is amazing. Theys should play it live.
Jay VanDevender
Fantastic bass and drums! Vocals pretty good too
gigantore
been jamming this record a lot lately.. i wish these guys were still around.
Sarah L
YESSSSS heard them at the Williamsburg waterfront. This and Romantic Rights are forever part of my young adulthood years :')
burg nations
Mee too with arcade fire, whites stripes and queen of the stone age...