The group began as a side project of Eli Janney and Fugazi drummer Brendan Canty. Canty soon left the project and by 1991 Janney had gone on to recruit three former members of D.C. hardcore punk group Soulside - Scott McCloud, Johnny Temple, and Alexis Fleisig - to complete the line-up. Girls Against Boys are perhaps most notable for employing dual bass guitars, a rarity in rock music, and for their second album, "Venus Luxure No.1 Baby", a heavy yet nuanced entry into early 1990s post-hardcore. Their third album Cruise Yourself raised their profile, film director Kevin Smith used a song in each of his first two films. House of GvsB showed their sound taking a more soulful approach to their noiserock with a semi-successful single "Superfire", at which point they signed to Geffen. Their major label debut saw them take a more industrial disco approach similar to Nine Inch Nails while retaining their postpunk feel, the album failed to launch the band into the mainstream and the band went on hiatus until their contract ended. Among the many side projects undertaken was Scott McCloud's jazzy New Wet Kojak. The band reunited in 2002 to record 'You Can't Fight What You Can't See', released on Jade Tree Records which was a welcome return to their pre-Geffen sound and a critical success. The band have also recorded music for the soundtrack of the film Series 7: The Contenders, appeared as themselves in the film 200 Cigarettes and acted as Gina Gershon's backing band for her reality tv series! The band recently performed Venus Luxure for the Don't Look Back concerts, and continue to record http://epitonic.bandcamp.com/album/the-ghost-list-ep & play live, despite other commitments, including Scott McCloud's other project Paramount Styles.
Black Hole
Girls Against Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The life's too sweet to eat like candy.
Drain is now king.
King with a sampler.
Hook me up.
Eat like candy.
Shut the freak up and dance.
I'm only on this ride.
To see if I'm lucky.
Hook yourself inside.
One way only to ride.
American black hole.
Go be a movie.
Your stars are all in line.
Go be a movie.
After all this...
After all this time.
In the realm of the value neutrals,
Out here puffin' crazy lies to infinity.
American black hole.
The life's too good to eat like candy,
And I want more than you can give me.
The lyrics of Girls Against Boys’ song Black Hole portray a larger social commentary on American culture, and its excesses, which are personified as a black hole- a void that engulfs everything around it. The lyrics critique a lifestyle that is obsessed with consumption while also feeling hollow and empty. The phrase “American black hole” alludes to the insatiable appetite of the “American Dream,” which promises success, power, and wealth but fails to deliver true happiness and fulfillment. The lyrics suggest that this lifestyle is too good to be true and just like candy, it may seem sweet on the surface, but ultimately it will leave a bad taste in your mouth.
The second half of the song shifts from a societal critique to a personal one. The singer is longing for more than the superficial connections and experiences that the “American black hole” offers. The repetition of “hook me up, eat like candy” and “go be a movie” highlights the desire for instant gratification and validation that is prevalent in modern culture. However, the singer realizes that they don’t want to be a part of this rat race, and they are only on this ride to see if they are lucky enough to escape it. The final lines of the song suggest that despite the emptiness and hollowness of the “American Dream,” people still continue to pursue it, and those who dare to challenge it are met with skepticism and ridicule.
Line by Line Meaning
American black hole.
Everything is being sucked into a void that is uniquely American.
The life's too sweet to eat like candy.
Life is too precious to be taken for granted and enjoyed like a simple treat.
Drain is now king.
The emptiness of the American black hole has taken over as ruler.
King with a sampler.
The emptiness of the black hole is being expressed through music, sampled and recreated.
Hook me up.
Connect with me, give me something real.
Eat like candy.
Enjoyment of life shouldn't be shallow, like eating sweet treats.
Shut the freak up and dance.
Don't overthink it, just enjoy the moment and dance.
I'm only on this ride.
I'm only here temporarily so I want to get the most out of it.
I'm only in your eyes
My presence only exists because you see me that way.
To see if I'm lucky.
To see if fate will bring me something good or bad.
Hook yourself inside.
Get lost in the experience, let yourself go.
One way only to ride.
This life only goes one way, so make the most of it.
American black hole.
A recurring reminder that everything is being sucked into the void.
Go be a movie.
Get lost in your dreams and imagination.
Your stars are all in line.
The universe is conspiring to help you achieve your dreams, everything is aligned.
Go be a movie.
Don't be afraid to pursue your passion and creativity.
After all this...
Despite all these reminders of life's fleeting nature and the American black hole.
After all this time.
Even after a lifetime of experiences.
In the realm of the value neutrals,
In a world where everything is equal and value-free.
Out here puffin' crazy lies to infinity.
Out here spouting nonsense and false promises that go on forever.
American black hole.
The void continues to pervade everything, a constant reminder of life's transience.
The life's too good to eat like candy,
The beauty and complexity of life deserve to be savored, not mindlessly consumed.
And I want more than you can give me.
I crave something deeper and more meaningful than what this American black hole can provide.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: IAN SEFCHICK, SHARKY LAGUANA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind