The end of 2008 saw Grieves enlisting the help of friend and collaborator Budo to co-produce Together/Apart bringing his signature swiss-army knife, multi-instrumental backdrop to Grieves' hauntingly poignant narrative. The album began taking shape in New York as the two built off the success 88 Keys and Counting had generated and paired it with the intensity they developed from their live performances. The recording process began to shadow the theme of the album as it saw tracks recorded in Colorado and Washington in addition to New York, infusing it with a mixture of regional influences while still maintaining a cohesive sound. As the album neared completion the title took on a double meaning for Grieves as he explored new subject matter in the absence of trust, refuge in addiction, acceptance and honesty in self-reflection, and trying to find his place in the world without forgetting his roots.
bottom of the bottle
Grieves Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're looking at me like another broken glass, getting closer to the edge with out emotional attachment
Maybe you don't see that all of this around you is a simple web of lies that was designed to make you soundproof,
that's exactly why I scream like all the crowd do and slam against the cage with my music until I plow through
I see the smies and your frowns, how you feel like everything in your life is nailed to the ground
I see you speak with the stain that stays in your mouth while everything breaks you down in the bottle,
tryin' to drown yourself
I guess there's no hope left, all that ship to leave the port and the wine is smellin' like death
all your demons are gonna get you x5
And this wood room's full of em, from the bar to the booth
Leave the guitar in the corner and stray far from your roots
Never thanked your father for infecting your youth with a healthy taste for violence and 150 proof
All you ever learned from life is an ice pack,It's good to stop the swelling and for chilling down your pint glass
now, every evening as you open up your night cap you drink yourself away like it's the only way to fight back
I can show you how I feel and what it does to me and how I look you in the face and see what it's become of me
I'm a product of your liquid courage company, to drown away your sorrows 'fore you knew that they were running free
so, breathe in and breathe out, blur the space between us and constrict me when I reach out
break the mirrors so you never have to see out, and know that you were talking to yourself
I wish I coulda shown ya
all your demons are gonna get you x5
bottom of the bottle x10
In "Bottom of the Bottle," Grieves speaks about addiction and the impact of it on one's life. The first verse speaks about his experience of feeling isolated and how he tries to connect with others by slipping in words that they can understand. He describes the person he is speaking to as someone who is on the edge and unable to connect emotionally. Grieves then refers to the world around them as a "simple web of lies" designed to make them soundproof. He uses music as a way to break out from this and to try and connect. He sees the emotions on people's faces and hears the pain in their voices, and he feels helpless. The chorus "all your demons are gonna get you" is a warning, a proclamation that if we don't deal with our issues, eventually they will come back to haunt us.
In the second verse, Grieves continues with his theme of addiction. He talks about being in a wood room, full of demons, from the bar to the booth. He references a father figure who infected his youth with a taste for violence and alcohol. He talks about how people use alcohol to numb pain and how it's all they've learned from life. The line "It's good to stop the swelling and for chilling down your pint glass" gives a double meaning to the word "chilling." It refers to both the physical effect of the ice pack and the emotional effect of alcohol. In this way, Grieves highlights the way addiction is often used to numb pain, but ultimately perpetuates it.
Overall, "Bottom of the Bottle" is a powerful song that explores the realities of addiction. Grieves speaks from a place of vulnerability, and his lyrics offer insight into the complex experience of those who struggle with addiction. The chorus "all your demons are gonna get you" is a warning to listeners that if they don't deal with their issues head-on, they will eventually catch up to them.
Line by Line Meaning
My whole life i've been starin' out the cracks, slipping words amongst the people that get close enough to grasp it
Throughout my entire existence, I have been quietly expressing my thoughts to those who come close enough to understand it, while gazing through the crevices of life.
You're looking at me like another broken glass, getting closer to the edge with out emotional attachment
You perceive me as a shattered fragment of glass, inching closer to the precipice without any emotional involvement.
Maybe you don't see that all of this around you is a simple web of lies that was designed to make you soundproof, that's exactly why I scream like all the crowd do and slam against the cage with my music until I plow through
Perhaps you are oblivious to the intricate network of falsehoods that surround you, which is why I passionately express myself like the masses and relentlessly break free from the constraints with my music.
I see the smies and your frowns, how you feel like everything in your life is nailed to the ground
I perceive the joyless expressions on people's faces and their profound sense of stagnancy in life.
I see you speak with the stain that stays in your mouth while everything breaks you down in the bottle, tryin' to drown yourself
I notice the mark of despair in your words, as you attempt to numb your pain with alcohol.
I guess there's no hope left, all that ship to leave the port and the wine is smellin' like death you can smoke it till there's no hopeholes in your chest, until you're breathin' out your last breath
It seems as though all hope is lost, as the ship has sailed and the wine reeks of decay. You may continue to consume it until your lungs can no longer contain it and your life slips away.
all your demons are gonna get you x5
Your inner demons will eventually catch up to you.
And this wood room's full of em, from the bar to the booth Leave the guitar in the corner and stray far from your roots Never thanked your father for infecting your youth with a healthy taste for violence and 150 proof
The wooden room is brimming with these demons, from the bar to the recording studio. You've abandoned your musical roots and failed to express gratitude to your father for instilling you with a proclivity for alcohol and aggression during your formative years.
All you ever learned from life is an ice pack,It's good to stop the swelling and for chilling down your pint glass now, every evening as you open up your night cap you drink yourself away like it's the only way to fight back
The only lesson you've gleaned from life is that ice packs are effective for reducing swelling, as well as for chilling your drink. Every night you open your bottle cap, and overpower your emotions with alcohol as if it's the only means of coping.
I can show you how I feel and what it does to me and how I look you in the face and see what it's become of me I'm a product of your liquid courage company, to drown away your sorrows 'fore you knew that they were running free so, breathe in and breathe out, blur the space between us and constrict me when I reach out break the mirrors so you never have to see out, and know that you were talking to yourself I wish I coulda shown ya
I can demonstrate to you how my excessive imbibing affects me, and how I look at myself in the mirror and feel ashamed. I am a mere consequence of your culture of drinking to escape your troubles before you are even aware of them. Thus, inhale and exhale, blur the distance between us, and grab hold of me when I approach you. Smash the mirrors so you never have to confront your own reflection and realize that you have only been conversing with yourself. I truly wish I could have enlightened you.
bottom of the bottle x10
I have reached the very bottom of the bottle.
Contributed by Olivia A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.