Ben and Alex Moore lived in Peru until the age of 5 when their family moved to New Mexico. When they were 14, they started playing Gypsy Jazz together in the style of Django Reinhardt at restaurants, coffee shops, bars, breweries, and street corners in Albuquerque. They purchased their first car, a green Ford Explorer, with the money they received from gigs and began writing their music at the age of 16. Two years later, the brothers drove to Los Angeles in that Ford Explorer to play music.
Shortly following their move to LA, Oliver Riot took home first place in the Grammy's annual "Rock The Mic Competition", showcasing emerging California artists, and was awarded studio time with legendary producer, Mike Clink (Guns N' Roses, Metallica, Eddie Money, etc.).
Oliver Riot released their debut EP, Hallucinate, in November 2015. The album was produced in its entirety by Real Miilk[3] in the back room of a Korean Church. Alex lived in his van parked outside of the church while creating the record, and both brothers continued to do so while recording the duo's next album. Often compared to James Vincent McMorrow, James Blake, and Passenger, Indie TrendSetters says, "Oliver Riot is a dazzling point of unnoticed incandescence, an ineffable aurora devoid of deserving admirers, a true work of underground art that makes mainstream music look like a superficial sham."
Based in Los Angeles, the twins finished their second highly anticipated EP entitled Neurosis, which was released in part in December 2016. Oliver Riot is represented by Paradigm Talent Agency. After taking a musical break, the duo released a single entitled Nervous in October 2019.
Alcatraz
Oliver Riot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Trying my best, nobody showed me
Which way to go, I didn't know
Hating my past, I found the old me
Bullet proof vest, my only clothing
Hiding alone, a prison is home
Come on, someone, take off your mask
It's nice to meet
Honey what you done, come from, escaping so fast?
Were from dungeons; Alcatraz
It's nice to meet
Moving out west, things got lonely
Trying my best, nobody showed me
Which way to go, I didn't know
Hating my past, I found the old me
Bullet proof vest, my only clothing
Hiding alone, a prison is home
Just a mans make up, fake love, make βem all laugh
Come on, someone, take off your mask
It's nice to meet
Honey what you done, come from, escaping so fast?
Were from dungeons; Alcatraz
Well, It's nice to meet
Just a mans make up, fake love, make βem all laugh
Come on, someone, take off your mask
It's nice to meet
Honey what you done, come from, escaping so fast?
Were from dungeons; Alcatraz
Well, It's nice to meet
Ooo, it's nice to meet
Ooo, it's nice to meet
The lyrics of Oliver Riot's Alcatraz appear to be about a person who has moved out west and feels lonely and lost. The singer had no idea which way to go and did not have anyone to show them the way. As a result, the singer appears to have turned to their "old me" and seems to have built up an emotional barrier around themselves ("Bullet proof vest, my only clothing"). The singer feels like they are "hiding alone" and their new home appears to be a prison.
The second half of the song provides additional context. The singer refers to "just a man's make-up" and "fake love," suggesting that they are in a toxic relationship or are surrounded by people who are not genuine. They urge those around them to take off their "mask" and show their true selves. It's unclear what the singer is escaping from, but they, along with someone else, are from "dungeons; Alcatraz." Despite the difficult circumstances, the singer is still able to find some solace in meeting someone new ("It's nice to meet").
Overall, the song appears to be about someone feeling lost and alone in a new place, struggling with issues of identity and the pressure to be someone they're not. It can be interpreted as a call for authenticity and genuine connections with others.
Line by Line Meaning
Moving out west, things got lonely
After I moved to the west, I felt isolated and desolate.
Trying my best, nobody showed me
Despite my hard work, I didn't receive any support or guidance.
Which way to go, I didn't know
I felt uncertain and directionless with no clear path ahead.
Hating my past, I found the old me
I despised my history, but in solitude, I rediscovered my true identity.
Bullet proof vest, my only clothing
I wore a protection layer as my external shield from the world.
Hiding alone, a prison is home
My solitude gave me comfort, and it felt like home even though it was a constraint.
Just a mans make up, fake love, make βem all laugh
I am merely putting on a facade and entertaining people with fake love.
Come on, someone, take off your mask
I want someone to break their pretense and show their true self to me.
It's nice to meet
I extend my greetings to you.
Honey what you done, come from, escaping so fast?
What actions have you taken, what's your past, and why are you in a hurry to leave?
Were from dungeons; Alcatraz
We come from dark places just like Alcatraz.
Ooo, it's nice to meet
It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance.
Contributed by Annabelle V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@vrindarastogi9529
Alcatraz (lyrics)
Oliver Riot
Moving out west, things got lonely
Trying my best, nobody showed me
Which way to go
I didn't know
Hating my past, I found the old me
Bullet proof vest, my only clothing
Hiding alone
Prison is home
Just a man's make up, fake love, make 'em all laugh
Come on, someone, take off your mask
It's nice to meet
Honey, what you done, come from, escaping so fast?
We're from dungeons; Alcatraz
It's nice to meet
Moving out west, things got lonely
Trying my best, nobody showed me
Which way to go
I didn't know
Hating my past, I found the old me
Bullet proof vest, my only clothing
Hiding alone
Prison is home
Just a man's make up, fake love, make 'em all laugh
Come on, someone, take off your mask
It's nice to meet
Honey, what you done, come from, escaping so fast?
We're from dungeons; Alcatraz
It's nice to meet
Ooooh, ooooh, ooooh
Ooooh, ooooh, ooooh
Just a man's make up, fake love, make 'em all laugh
Come on, someone, take off your mask
It's nice to meet
Honey, what you done, come from, escaping so fast?
We're from dungeons; Alcatraz
Well, It's nice to meet
Oooh, it's nice to meet
Oooh, it's nice to meet
@aeliananopoulou2632
Moving out west, things got lonely
Trying my best, nobody showed me
Which way to go, I didnβt know
Hating my past, I found the old me
Bullet proof vest, my only clothing
Hiding alone, a prison is home
Just a mans make up, fake love, make βem all laugh
Come on, someone, take off your mask
Itβs nice to meet
Honey what you done, come from, escaping so fast?
Were from dungeons; Alcatraz
Itβs nice to meet
Moving out west, things got lonely
Trying my best, nobody showed me
Which way to go, I didnβt know
Hating my past, I found the old me
Bullet proof vest, my only clothing
Hiding alone, a prison is home
Just a mans make up, fake love, make βem all laugh
Come on, someone, take off your mask
Itβs nice to meet
Honey what you done, come from, escaping so fast?
Were from dungeons; Alcatraz
Well, Itβs nice to meet
Just a mans make up, fake love, make βem all laugh
Come on, someone, take off your mask
Itβs nice to meet
Honey what you done, come from, escaping so fast?
Were from dungeons; Alcatraz
Well, Itβs nice to meet
Ooo, itβs nice to meet
Ooo, itβs nice to meet
@ModzHome
Song was recommended to me on Spotify. This song is insanity.
@K0WAL
Same here. One year later. It's my new discovery π§
@juliettemoschetti
s a m e
@kojifrahm5022
Count me in
@milkop8620
same somehow I found it on my recommended as well lmao
@JohnnyTsunamiGG
this song played for me on spotify after one of my playlists finished and its so damn good lol
@JeanPierreLihoreau
I hear this song, I close my eyes, and I picture myself in a dark room, a candle, a mirror, and in the mirror, my reflection, singing to myself ....Dual personality... Wonderful music... Thank you. Most of the so called music these days have no soul.
@vrindarastogi9529
Alcatraz (lyrics)
Oliver Riot
Moving out west, things got lonely
Trying my best, nobody showed me
Which way to go
I didn't know
Hating my past, I found the old me
Bullet proof vest, my only clothing
Hiding alone
Prison is home
Just a man's make up, fake love, make 'em all laugh
Come on, someone, take off your mask
It's nice to meet
Honey, what you done, come from, escaping so fast?
We're from dungeons; Alcatraz
It's nice to meet
Moving out west, things got lonely
Trying my best, nobody showed me
Which way to go
I didn't know
Hating my past, I found the old me
Bullet proof vest, my only clothing
Hiding alone
Prison is home
Just a man's make up, fake love, make 'em all laugh
Come on, someone, take off your mask
It's nice to meet
Honey, what you done, come from, escaping so fast?
We're from dungeons; Alcatraz
It's nice to meet
Ooooh, ooooh, ooooh
Ooooh, ooooh, ooooh
Just a man's make up, fake love, make 'em all laugh
Come on, someone, take off your mask
It's nice to meet
Honey, what you done, come from, escaping so fast?
We're from dungeons; Alcatraz
Well, It's nice to meet
Oooh, it's nice to meet
Oooh, it's nice to meet
@pamelaparkinson6527
Ty
@cjward286
I was just trying to read a book and my brother was playing this song way too loud and couldn't help but get distracted I am now addicted thank you budder