Born in Brooklyn, New York, as a youth, Bianco studied piano and played bass guitar in local bands. After graduation, Bianco spent time in Europe. Upon returning to the United States, a friend from Berklee invited Bianco to Los Angeles, California to play in his band. Bianco moved to Los Angeles in the spring of 2000. He played bass and wrote songs with the group until they disbanded. Bianco decided to learn to play the guitar, refine his singing skills and set about assembling a band of his own.
Bianco was among the top 100 hottest unsigned acts in Southern California by music trade industry journal Music Connection in 2002, 2004 and 2007.
Bianco has officially released three studio albums: Handsome Devil (2004, Sing (2008), Loudmouth (2011).
Painkiller
Jim Bianco Lyrics
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It appeared as though I was owed a favor from the wind
You took the room with sweet perfume, I fell to my knees
An innocent bystander, a victim of the breeze
Would you be my painkiller?
Would you be my painkiller?
You think you do but they choose you and then they hold on tight
With all your charm, you touched my arm when I made you laugh
A gesture that seemed innocent, a moment that would last
Would you be my painkiller?
Would you be my painkiller?
Would you make all those voices whispering in my ear
Disappear?
I wonder what you look like in the morning, when it comes
Knowing me, I'd probably be jealous of the sun
How dare it touch and warm your body while I'm lying there?
When a man finds what he wants, he's not inclined the share
Would you be my painkiller?
Would you be my painkiller?
Would you make all those voices whispering in my ear
Disappear?
In Jim Bianco's song "Painkiller," the singer reflects on a past encounter with a woman, in which he was struck by her beauty and charm. The lyrics describe a moment when the woman's skirt blows up, giving the singer a glimpse of her skin, and she enters a room wearing sweet perfume. The singer refers to himself as an "innocent bystander" who has become a "victim of the breeze," suggesting that he has been swept away by the woman's allure. He then asks the woman if she would be his "painkiller," someone who can make the voices in his head disappear.
The song also delves into the theme of memory and how we often don't choose the memories that stay with us. The singer reflects on a moment when the woman touched his arm, a seemingly innocent gesture that has stayed with him, much like the memories we cannot control. He wonders what the woman looks like in the morning and admits to being jealous of the sun for touching and warming the woman's body instead of him. The final plea of the song is for the woman to ultimately be his painkiller, to erase the voices and thoughts that plague him and to be the one he can rely on to make him feel better.
Overall, "Painkiller" is a bittersweet ode to a past love, with the singer acknowledging the power the woman held over him and his desire for her to fill the void left in his life.
Line by Line Meaning
Your skirt blew up high enough that I could see your skin
I caught a glimpse of your skin due to the wind lifting up your skirt
It appeared as though I was owed a favor from the wind
The wind seemed to have done me a favor by lifting your skirt
You took the room with sweet perfume, I fell to my knees
Your presence filled the room with a lovely fragrance, leaving me in awe
An innocent bystander, a victim of the breeze
I was an innocent onlooker, caught up by the influence of the wind
Would you be my painkiller?
Can I consider you as a cure for my pain?
You don't choose the memories that stay with you all your life
Memories are not always chosen by us, some stick with us forever
You think you do but they choose you and then they hold on tight
We may think we are in control of our memories, but they tend to have a strong grip on us
With all your charm, you touched my arm when I made you laugh
Your charming personality led you to touch my arm while I was trying to make you laugh
A gesture that seemed innocent, a moment that would last
Your seemingly innocent gesture stayed with me as a lasting moment
Would you be my painkiller?
Can you help me forget my pain?
Would you make all those voices whispering in my ear disappear?
Can you make all the thoughts in my head stop reminding me of my pain?
I wonder what you look like in the morning, when it comes
I am curious about how you look when you wake up in the morning
Knowing me, I'd probably be jealous of the sun
I have a tendency to be envious of things, so I might even be jealous of the sun touching you in the morning
How dare it touch and warm your body while I'm lying there?
I can't stand the thought of the sun touching and warming you while I am just lying there alone
When a man finds what he wants, he's not inclined the share
When a man gets what he desires, he is reluctant to share it with others
Contributed by Grayson O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.