Formed in 1999, by vocalist/guitarist Count Lyle (Solitude Aeturnus, The Killcreeps), Ghoultown recorded its first 3-song EP in October of that same year. Titled Boots of Hell, the EP illustrated the power of the band's Tex-Mex blend while garnering rabid reviews, a fanbase and independent radio airplay. With Boots of Hell in circulation, the band's early buzz landed them several compilation appearances. The most notable being Skully Records' (NY) Gothabilly 2: Rockin' Necropolis where they share the bill with some of the best psychobilly acts around the world. As a kick off, the band was invited to participate in the world-release show held at NY's infamous CBGB's on Halloween 2000.
In early 2001, Ghoultown released their full-length debut Tales from the Dead West. The album, produced by Kol Marshall (Mercyful Fate, etc.), captured the versatility and unique sound of the Texan quintet from the powerful "Killer in Texas" to the Doors-esque "Running From the Sun." "This album already has a place on my best of 2001 list," quoted a Harder Beat reviewer who reflected the positive response. Not only were ears turned, but eyes as well as the release pushed the band into new live show territory. With highlight performances such as an Atlanta benefit, which featured Jerry Only of the legendary Misfits as an onstage guest, Ghoultown has played with an amazing variety of bands such as Hank III, Rocket from the Crypt, The Independents, DRI, Bile, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Flametrick Subs, Dick Dale, Road Kings, Men of Porn, Captured By Robots, Fear, Cruxshadows, and The Misfits.
By 2002, four of the band's songs were chosen for the soundtrack of the horror-slasher American Nightmare, starring B-movie queen Debbie Rochon (Tromeo and Juliet). The movie script was subsequently altered to include a Ghoultown performance cameo after the director witnessed the band live, and the video for their track "Killer In Texas" was included as a bonus on the DVD.
In the spring of 2002, the band released their follow-up Give 'Em More Rope, and Angry Planet Records signed an exclusive licensing deal with Netherlands-based Corazong Records to release the Ghoultown U.S. catalog in Europe and Canada. The first Euro-Canadian release was a special version of Tales from the Dead West, which included tracks from their Boots of Hell EP as well.
In the late summer, Ghoultown did a 35 date U.S. tour which included performances at NY's CBGBs to The Garage in L.A. The tour was concluded by a performance at one of the world's largest annual entertainment media conventions, Dragon*Con in Atlanta, where the band has performed for the last two years by popular demand.
Hitting 2003, Ghoultown's signature tune "Killer In Texas" made yet another appearance in a short film called Headcheese which was released on DVD with a movie called Freak. Appropriately, Headcheese was filmed in the same location as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre... house and all! Spending the first half of 2003 performing, the band toured the midwest and east coast, in addition to numerous Texas area shows. By the end of spring, Ghoultown completed work on songs for two upcoming Jon Keeyes films, Slice of Life and Hallow's End, the later in which they will also be making a cameo appearance. These are due on the market around Halloween.
In 2004, Ghoultown released a double disc set, Live From Texas!, which showcased their powerful live show on both CD and DVD. "Ghoultown puts the grit back into rock 'n' roll with a blazing hellfire vengeance!" said Horror Garage in praise of the release, which has garnered extremely positive feedback and become the best selling release to date. Also in 2004, the band managed to creep into the video game market where several of their actual gig posters can be seen in the award-winning Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines PC game.
October 2006 saw the release of the full-length Ghoultown album, Bury Them Deep, with a cover painted by illustrator Dan Brereton, creator of Nocturnals.
In 2008, Ghoultown had two releases: Skeleton Cowboys, a limited edition hand-numbered 7" vinyl single; and Life After Sundown, a full-length studio album (also featuring cover art by Dan Brereton.
*Ghoultown is not a part of any genre, musical scene, or trend.
Blood On My Hands
Ghoultown Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From all the years that come and go
Cleanin up the messes that i've made
I just keep on washin but it never goes away
The more i scrub the more it stays
I got a pint from carol ann
Who left me for a friend
The night i caught 'em in the sheets
Of that ol' feather bed
Lord did that scene get out of hand
So i took an eye for an eye
For what they did to me
Don't pray for my soul
Just give me soap
Cuz you know it's a bitch comin clean
I got a quart from laura sue
Who went and took me for a fool
But i sent her down to chainsaw school
First you fill 'er up
Then you yank the cord and look out when the chain it starts to roar
I got the most from katy jo
Who left me down and broke
After all the promises we pledged
But when it comes right down to it
Love is just an axe
It cuts you through the heart
And leaves you dead
They say i need one more verse
One verse for this song
But i can't think of a single thing
I'd like to add
Suffice to note
That there ain't no hope
When you're always in the red
Chances are that now i'll be condemned
The lyrics of Ghoultown's song Blood on My Hands describe a person who has made mistakes and has left behind a trail of victims. The opening lines "I got blood on my hands, from all the years that come and go" indicate that the singer has been responsible for the messes and problems in their life. The lines "Cleanin up the messes that I've made, I just keep on washin but it never goes away, the more I scrub the more it stays" express the futility of trying to wash away the guilt of past actions. The singer is haunted by their past and their attempts to atone for their mistakes are in vain.
The song then goes on to describe three specific incidents that have left blood on the singer's hands. These incidents involve people who have hurt, betrayed or abandoned the singer. The first incident involves Carol Ann, who left the singer for a friend. The singer retaliates by taking an "eye for an eye" and committing an act of violence. The second incident is about Laura Sue, who takes the singer for a fool. The singer gets revenge by sending Laura Sue to "chainsaw school". The third and final incident involves Katy Jo, who broke the singer's heart. The singer compares love to an axe that cuts through the heart and leaves one dead.
The song ends with the singer acknowledging that they are in a hopeless situation. They are always in the red and there is no hope for redemption. The last lines "Chances are that now I'll be condemned" suggest that the singer is resigned to their fate.
Line by Line Meaning
I got blood on my hands
I have done many unfavorable things in the past.
From all the years that come and go
Throughout the years, the number of my mistakes keeps on increasing.
Cleanin up the messes that i've made
I am always trying to fix my previous wrongdoings.
I just keep on washin but it never goes away
Despite trying to correct myself, the guilt still remains the same.
The more i scrub the more it stays
The more I try to hide it, the more apparent it becomes.
I got a pint from carol ann
One of my ex-girlfriends named Carol Ann betrayed me.
Who left me for a friend
She left me for someone she considered a friend.
Never saw it comin nor did she
None of us anticipated the mishap that took place.
The night i caught 'em in the sheets
The night I witnessed them both in bed.
Of that ol' feather bed
In my bed, which I always kept comfortable with feather covers.
Lord did that scene get out of hand
The situation got worse than I could have ever imagined.
So i took an eye for an eye
I took revenge as they did to me.
For what they did to me
I did the same thing as a payback.
Don't pray for my soul
I am not a saint and don't expect to be spared for what I have done.
Just give me soap
The only thing I want is a way to free myself from guilt, which is impossible.
Cuz you know it's a bitch comin clean
It's challenging to cleanse oneself of sin.
I got a quart from laura sue
Another ex of mine, Laura Sue, also betrayed me.
Who went and took me for a fool
She played me for a fool.
But i sent her down to chainsaw school
I took revenge by sending her somewhere that she would undoubtedly not enjoy.
First you fill 'er up
To operate a chainsaw, you fuel it up first.
Then you yank the cord and look out when the chain it starts to roar
You have to be careful while operating a chainsaw.
I got the most from katy jo
My ex-girlfriend Katy Jo hurt me the most.
Who left me down and broke
She shattered me completely when she left.
After all the promises we pledged
We went through numerous vows together and still, it all went futile.
But when it comes right down to it
Ultimately, love is not worth all the agony.
Love is just an axe
Love is painful, and it can be destructive like cutting oneself with an axe.
It cuts you through the heart
It can wound someone deep inside.
And leaves you dead
Love can damage to the point where a person feels emotionally dead.
They say i need one more verse
Many believe this song requires an additional verse.
One verse for this song
Another stanza for this particular song.
But i can't think of a single thing
I have nothing more to say on the topic.
I'd like to add
I would like to incorporate more into it.
Suffice to note
Ultimately, I had nothing more to say.
That there ain't no hope
I do not see any light at the end of the tunnel.
When you're always in the red
When someone is in too deep and cannot recover.
Chances are that now i'll be condemned
There is a possibility that I am now held responsible for all that I did wrong.
Contributed by Jordyn B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.