Although their memorable songs and melodic, hard-driving sound has earned t… Read Full Bio ↴Although their memorable songs and melodic, hard-driving sound has earned them demo deals with both Immortal and Columbia, IF ALL ELSE FAILS decided to stick to their punk rock roots and pursue independent status in the spring of 2005. They havent looked back. Their music, a refreshing change from the love-angst emo and sugary pop-punk flooding todays popular radio, is rooted in classic songwriting, diverse melodies, pounding rhythms and a variety of lyrical topics ranging from the hypocrisy of fundamentalism to the uncaring greed of the modern American dream, fallen poets to falling bombs. In fact, it is their substance over style attitude that has earned them such a fiercely loyal fanbase; one that stretches from their home at the edge of Californias San Andreas fault to the far reaches of the country, and increasingly, the world. It is a fanbase that resonates with their DIY ethic and their intelligent and powerful brand of punk rock. --When we play live, we are constantly rewarded by our fans responses, both on a visceral and cerebral level. I mean, here you have a kid moshing, pogoing, completely lost in the energy and passion of the music, and somehow he still looks us in the eyes and sings the words back to us at his favorite parts; its really something special,-- says lead singer and lyricist Ryan Murphy. --The lack of sincerity in popular music today disgusts us, and were hell-bent on providing songs and shows that are completely honest and engaging-- IAEF is currently preparing plans for extensive touring. The band loves to meet new people who passionately love music and ideas, sound and sense.

Black & Blue
If All Else Fails Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Black, consume yourself in night.
Twinkling like the starlight fights the day.
Stick your fingers in your ears. Shut your eyes and hum a tune.
You're gonna need an alibi.
The addiction's not your flaw, it's your unhearing feeble mind that seems to persecute what frightens you. And you thought what you forgot forgot you.
No longer was true.
Blissful ignorance you have.
Moderation you have not.

Killing yourself can be such fun.
Pull the noose around your neck, cock the gun and prep the pill.
Jump, pull. and swallow yourself through.
Could you be so pretentious to think life not precious?
A fucking ingrate to the world.

Are you content spewing lies that further ostracize the individual you were?
Blue, blanketed in earth. That while you eluded captures you.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Black & Blue" by If All Else Fails are intense and a bit unsettling. The song seems to be about someone who is struggling with addiction and mental health issues. The first lines, "Black, consume yourself in night / Twinkling like the starlight fights the day" suggest a sense of darkness and isolation. The person is trying to block out the world, "Stick your fingers in your ears. Shut your eyes and hum a tune." The next lines, "You're gonna need an alibi / The addiction's not your flaw, it's your unhearing feeble mind that seems to persecute what frightens you," point to the person's inner struggles. They're trying to escape their own mind, but it's not working. They feel persecuted and trapped, and the addiction is a symptom of this.

The chorus is chilling: "Killing yourself can be such fun / Pull the noose around your neck, cock the gun and prep the pill / Jump, pull. and swallow yourself through." This suggests suicidal ideation and a sense of hopelessness. The person can't escape their own mind, and they feel like they're better off dead. The ending lines, "Blue, blanketed in earth. That while you eluded captures you," are a reference to depression and the sense of being buried alive. Despite the darkness of these lyrics, there's also a sense of anger and frustration at the person's situation. The lyrics ask, "Could you be so pretentious to think life not precious? / A fucking ingrate to the world / Are you content spewing lies that further ostracize the individual you were?" This suggests that there's a part of the person that wants to fight back against their addiction and mental health struggles, but it's difficult.

Line by Line Meaning

Black, consume yourself in night.
Immerse yourself in the darkness of your own thoughts and feelings.

Twinkling like the starlight fights the day.
The glimmers of hope and positivity are in constant conflict with the negativity that surrounds you.

Stick your fingers in your ears. Shut your eyes and hum a tune.
You choose to avoid confronting the harsh realities of life and instead escape through distraction.

You're gonna need an alibi.
Your actions may lead to negative consequences and you'll need a justification or explanation for them.

The addiction's not your flaw, it's your unhearing feeble mind that seems to persecute what frightens you. And you thought what you forgot forgot you.
Your addiction is not solely your fault, but rather a result of your fear and inability to confront your problems. Additionally, the things you have chosen to ignore or forget about are still affecting you.

No longer was true.
The reality you once knew or believed in is no longer valid or applicable to your current situation.

Blissful ignorance you have.
You are content in your ignorance and lack of self-awareness.

Moderation you have not.
You lack self-control and are prone to excessive behavior or indulgence.

Killing yourself can be such fun.
Your destructive behavior has a certain appeal or attraction to you.

Pull the noose around your neck, cock the gun and prep the pill.
You are considering, or have already planned, multiple ways to end your life.

Jump, pull. and swallow yourself through.
You have taken action to harm yourself and potentially end your life.

Could you be so pretentious to think life not precious?
You are being arrogant or self-important to believe that life is not valuable or important.

A fucking ingrate to the world.
You feel ungrateful and resentful towards the world and those around you.

Are you content spewing lies that further ostracize the individual you were?
You are comfortable perpetuating falsehoods and pushing away the person you used to be.

Blue, blanketed in earth. That while you eluded captures you.
You thought you could avoid or escape the consequences of your actions, but ultimately they have caught up to you and caused you pain.

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: HARRY BROOKS, ANDY RAZAF, FATS WALLER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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