From their inception in late 2003, the band's energetic live performances earned them a hardcore fanbase after playing for only a few months on the Manchester music scene. In 2004 the band were signed to Island records and spent the year touring the UK and recording their first studio album with producer Rob Schnapf in Los Angeles. In 2005 Nine Black Alps toured the UK extensively, promoting the release of their debut album, Everything Is on 13th June 2005. Their first U.S. single was Cosmopolitan; their album Everything Is was released in America on February 28, 2006.
The band's second album, again recorded in LA with producer Dave Sardy Love/Hate, was released on 29 October 2007 and heralded a split with Island Records shortly thereafter. However, Nine Black Alps went on to self-finance and record their third full-length album with producer Dave Eringa, entitled 'Locked Out from the Inside'. Only available as a download from the band's own website - http://www.nineblackalps.com, the album was a return to the louder, heavier sounds of the first record.
Nine Black Alps, after a hiatus of almost 2 years, have been back in the studio as a 3-piece recording tracks for a fourth album, with a possible release in 2012.
Painless
Nine Black Alps Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I took your picture off the wall
Now there's nothing.
There's not anything at all
And if you think that you've below me, you don't know me anymore.
Yeah you've seen what I've been doing; yeah you've seen it all before
And if you say I've got a sickness and there isn't any cure
Well that's to bad,
It's such a drag because it could be painless
I no you're out there
I know you're dancing in the sun
If you could see me, if you could see what I've become
Because I know it can't be health, hanging on your every word
But I can't escape the feeling that you get what you deserve.
I can't handle being lonely
I can't handle being burned
It's just too bad
It's such a drag because it could be painless
The lyrics of Nine Black Alps's song Painless are about a person who is anguished due to a break-up. The first verse starts with the singer admitting that they have taken the picture of their ex-partner off the wall and that there is nothing left, highlighting the emptiness and pain of the situation. Then, they argue against their ex-partner's opinions about them, considering that they have changed and the ex can't know them anymore. They believe that their ex is judging them based on the past and the things they have done before. The singer goes on to suggest that even if their ex believes they have a "sickness" that is incurable, it would be less of a struggle if it could be "painless."
In the second verse, the singer reveals that they realize their ex is out there being carefree, dancing in the sun, while they are struggling with a feeling of illness that they can't shake off. The singer is unsure if they're healthy, but they feel like they're holding onto their ex's every word. There is a sense of resentment here, as the singer admits that their ex deserves whatever pain they're currently experiencing. The singer admits that they can't handle being lonely or burned, highlighting how hard it is to cope with the end of a relationship. The singer concludes that it's unfortunate that the situation couldn't be "painless" because it would make the process so much easier to go through.
Line by Line Meaning
I took your picture
I removed your picture from the wall
I took your picture off the wall
I physically took down the picture of you that was hanging on the wall
Now there's nothing.
There is now an absence of the picture that was previously hanging on the wall
There's not anything at all
The removal of the picture has left an emptiness in the space where it used to be
And if you think that you've below me, you don't know me anymore.
If you believe that you are superior to me, then you do not understand who I am as a person
Yeah you've seen what I've been doing; yeah you've seen it all before
You have witnessed my actions and behavior before, so you should not be surprised now
And if you say I've got a sickness and there isn't any cure
If you accuse me of having a problem that cannot be solved, treated or cured
Well that's too bad,
I disagree with your accusation, but unfortunately there's not much I can do about it
It's such a drag because it could be painless
This situation could be so much easier if there was not this conflict or tension between us
I know you're out there
I believe that you are somewhere out there, existing in the world
I know you're dancing in the sun
I believe that you are currenting happy and enjoying your life
If you could see me, if you could see what I've become
If you were able to observe me now, you would see how I have changed or developed
Because I know it can't be health, hanging on your every word
I understand that it is not healthy for me to be so focused on everything you say or do
But I can't escape the feeling that you get what you deserve.
Despite this, I still believe that the consequences or outcomes you face are appropriate for your actions and behavior
I can't handle being lonely
I have trouble dealing with being alone or without company
I can't handle being burned
I am unable to cope with feeling hurt or betrayed by someone I trusted
It's just too bad
Unfortunately, this is a regrettable situation that is not ideal
It's such a drag because it could be painless
This situation could be resolved or handled more easily if there was not this conflict or tension between us
Contributed by Katherine H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.