Landing their first record deal with Twin/Tone in 1984, Soul Asylum recorded a total of four albums for the local label: Say What You Will... Everything Can Happen in 1984 (later reissued as Say What You Will, Clarence... Karl Sold the Truck), Made To Be Broken in 1986, While You Were Out in 1986, and the EP Clam Dip and Other Delights in 1988. The band then switched to A&M, releasing Hang Time in 1988 and And the Horse They Rode In On in 1990 under that label. Although they enjoyed some success as a live band, Soul Asylum suffered from low album sales and considered disbanding.
In 1992, they signed with Columbia Records to produce Grave Dancers Union, a record that would come to transform them from underground college rockers to international superstars. The first two singles off the album, Somebody To Shove and Black Gold, both came in at high positions at the Modern Rock and Album Rock charts, but it was the album's third track and it's video of missing teens that led them to their major breakthrough. Runaway Train peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100, raised album sales to double-platinum level, and won Soul Asylum the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song in 1994.
In 1995, Soul Asylum followed up the success of Grave Dancers Union with Let Your Dim Light Shine, which climbed to #6 on the Billboard 200 and featured the #1 Modern Rock track Misery. After releasing Candy From A Stranger in 1998, the band members took a break from recording and didn't release a new studio album for the better part of seven years. During the interim singer Dave Pirner released a solo album and Dan Murphy toured and recorded with Golden Smog.
They reunited in 2004 to record their ninth full-length album, The Silver Lining, brought together by the news of Mueller being diagnosed with throat cancer. Up until this point, Soul Asylum had always included Murphy, Mueller, and Pirner, despite several line-up changes. This changed on June 17th, 2005, when Mueller passed away after finishing his work on several tracks on the new album. The Silver Lining was released in 2006 and dedicated to Karl Mueller's life and memory, with Murphy expressing that, "For me, this record is Karl."
In late 2005, ex-Replacements bassist (and current Guns N' Roses bassist) Tommy Stinson and former Prince drummer Michael Bland joined Soul Asylum in tribute to the late Karl Mueller. They completed their American tour in support of The Silver Lining in late 2006. In November and December 2006 they opened for Cheap Trick on their American tour. On March 10th, 2007, Soul Asylum joined Cyndi Lauper, Mint Condition, and Lifehouse to hold a concert to benefit Wain McFarlane, the leader of the legendary reggae band Ipso Facto, to help pay for the expenses of a kidney transplant.
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Black and Blue
Soul Asylum Lyrics
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Gotta make sure everybody's gonna get what they deserve
Make my plea, I'm down on my knees
Street cowboy with a badge that says can do what you please
Do what you please, do what you please, do what you please
Rape me, take me, shine your lights so I can't see
Blood stained streets, he still looks neat
Somebody's cryin' for help and he's breaking up my party
Please stop breathing down my neck
Took away something that's mine, I want you to give it back
You gotta give it back, now give it back
Walk across my face with your shiny shoes
Bow down to the badge and colors black and blue
It's a blue night, he rides tonight, a show of strength, a polished fight
Take me home, cuz I'm not alone, I'm not alone
The squads breakin' down, but you misjudged power
Get your handcuffs ready, cuz we're coming in numbers
The lyrics of Soul Asylum’s song “Black and Blue” paint a vivid picture of a corrupt police officer abusing his power and causing chaos in the streets. The opening lines, “Protect and serve, slice my nerve, gotta make sure everybody's gonna get what they deserve,” suggest that this police officer is not interested in serving the community or upholding justice, but instead is fixated on punishing perceived wrongdoers. The singer feels helpless, begging on his knees to this “street cowboy with a badge” who believes he can “do what he pleases”. This tension builds as the police officer takes advantage of his authority, even going so far as to rape and blind the singer with his bright lights.
As the chaos unfolds, the singer becomes increasingly angry and frustrated at the police officer’s abuse of power. He calls out the officer’s uniform and weapons, saying they don’t impress him. The imagery of “blood stained streets” and people crying for help emphasizes the brutality of the situation. The final lines of the song depict a showdown between the corrupt police officer and a group of people standing up to him, as they “come in numbers” to take him down.
Line by Line Meaning
Protect and serve, slice my nerve
The police force is supposed to protect and serve the people, but sometimes the actions of the police on the people can have a negative impact.
Gotta make sure everybody's gonna get what they deserve
The police try to bring justice to the society and make sure that the people get what they deserve.
Make my plea, I'm down on my knees
People who have been wronged by the authorities beg for mercy but to no avail.
Street cowboy with a badge that says can do what you please
Some police officers feel they have the authority to do whatever they want, even if it means breaking the law.
Do what you please, do what you please, do what you please
This line reveals the arrogance of some police officers, who believe they can do what they want without any consequences.
Rape me, take me, shine your lights so I can't see
The harsh treatment of police makes people feel violated and helpless.
Holsters, guns, and uniforms just don't impress
People are not impressed by the weapons and uniforms of the police if they fail to bring justice.
Blood-stained streets, he still looks neat
Police officers sometimes show no empathy towards victims, even if they are bleeding on the streets.
Somebody's crying for help, and he's breaking up my party
Police officers often turn a blind eye to calls for help and instead prefer to disrupt events which they perceive as a nuisance.
Please, stop breathing down my neck
People feel uncomfortable when they are constantly under police surveillance.
Took away something that's mine, I want you to give it back
Sometimes, the police can take away a person's belongings unfairly, and the rightful owner demands its return.
You gotta give it back, now give it back
This line is the same as the previous one and emphasizes the person's demand for justice.
Walk across my face with your shiny shoes
This is a metaphor for how the police authority can be oppressive and painful to the people on the receiving end.
Bow down to the badge and colors black and blue
The police can be overzealous and expect everyone to submit to them because they represent the law-enforcement agency.
It's a blue night, he rides tonight, a show of strength, a polished fight
Sometimes, the police show of force can intimidate people and make them feel powerless.
Take me home, 'cause I'm not alone, I'm not alone
This is a statement of solidarity among people who have been subject to police brutality, and they support each other through these times.
The squads breaking down, but you misjudged power
Some police officers might underestimate the strength of the people, and that can lead to a situation where the police lose control.
Get your handcuffs ready, 'cause we're coming in numbers
This is a warning to the police that the people would stand together and resist the oppression.
Lyrics © DistroKid, Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Capitol CMG Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Harry Brooks, Andy Razaf, Fats Waller
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind