That Handsome Devil is a Brooklyn, NY, USA band which includes Christian Op… Read Full Bio ↴That Handsome Devil is a Brooklyn, NY, USA band which includes Christian Oppel (aka Godforbid), Jeremy Page, Naoko Takamoto, Jeremy Siegel, Sam Merrick and Deflon Sallahr. They debuted with EP Dating Tips / How To Get Money (2004, Art & Craft) and their latest album is Your Parents Are Sellouts (Jan 2021).

Take a ride with That Handsome Devil to the other side of town: a neighborhood where Charles Bukowski hung his hat at a juke joint; where the bartender knew Hunter Thompson’s single malt of choice and kept plenty in stock. This is the place where That Handsome Devil’s front man Godforbid calls home, where producer Jeremy Page bangs on a bullet-riddled piano, its beaten keys howling from a smoky corner. A place with enough Molotov cocktails, skag, booze, and sleazy women to horrify the most hardened of old timers. A City Dressed in Dynamite is the soundtrack to this bizarre scene, and it’s pointless to fight it -just throw caution to the wind and take the ride. Put your life in the hands of your sharply dressed tour guide Godforbid, and just pray that you'll live to tell the story... or at least what you can remember.

The album starts off like a jolt of lighting with Damn Door, a dense lounge track declaring the album’s intent before tumbling into the dark, piercingly intense Wintergreen. Keeping the tempo up is the distinctive Rob the Prez-O-Dent, employing unique arrangements and an over-the-top subject matter to guarantee a lasting impression. At this point A City Dressed in Dynamite slows to a strut while limping past the hustlers and junkies in Pills for Everything. Before you can catch your breath, the upbeat stomper Cry dances carelessly towards an eerie dive into the deep end with Kiss the Cook, a disparaging tale set to Jeremy Page’s amazing arrangements.

The B-Side begins with Viva Discordia- a whimsical vaudevillian track showcasing Godforbid’s catchy rhythms and word play- then turns without skipping a beat slamming into Squares-a quirky pop song poking fun at the modern hipster. The next stop, Mexico, is a bright stumble through the foreign alleyways and dirt roads complimented perfectly by Jeremy Page’s engaging string arrangements. All the pieces of the puzzle start to expose themselves with the unveiling of Reagan’s Kids, a moody piece that opens the doors for the amazing grand finale, the bohemian ballad Treefood. This emotional conclusion is a perfect selection to be played while the curtains are closing at the opera house and the epic finale to the booze-ridden joy ride that is A City Dressed in Dynamite.

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One More Try
That Handsome Devil Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The black around our eyes
Is back around our lives,
And everybody's happy,
But I feel black inside.
Well I think it's time
We stopped getting high.

These kids proposing mischieve

But they'll be the first to squeal,
Screaming anarchy til someone
Shows you how it feels
To point the gun and make you disappear (poof)

Far across the bridge
To where your mom's apartment is.
The starry-eyed astrologist,
Sorry for my promises.
Sometimes it gets hard to walk and
Everything just gets farther off.

They found me in an alley
And I got what I deserve.
I couldn't pay it back
With my money or my word
La Révolution is a slogan on a shirt (Hya!)

Far across the bridge
To where your mom's apartment is.
The starry-eyed astrologist,
Sorry for my promises.
Sometimes it gets hard to walk and
Everything just gets farther off.

The black around our eyes
Is back around our lives,
And everybody's happy,
But I feel black inside.

Well I think it's time
We give it one more try.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to That Handsome Devil's song "One More Try" explore themes of rebellion, regret, and the desire for redemption. The singer begins by noting that everyone around them seems content and happy, but they feel a sense of darkness and emptiness inside. The black around their eyes symbolizes this internal darkness, which they believe is creeping back into their life. The singer suggests that it may be time to stop getting high and try to deal with their emotions in a more productive way.

The song's next verse delves into the topic of rebellion and anarchy. The singer notes that many young people embrace these ideas and espouse them loudly, but they may not truly understand the implications of violence and revolution. The line "To point the gun and make you disappear (poof)" suggests that talk is cheap, but when it comes down to it, taking action can have deadly consequences.

The chorus repeats the opening lines, emphasizing the singer's internal struggle and desire to try again. The final verse mentions regret and the consequences of poor choices; the singer has received some sort of punishment for a past mistake, but they are unable to make amends with money or words. The mention of "La Révolution" on a shirt seems to suggest that the singer regrets their association with a rebellious or radical movement.

Overall, "One More Try" is a thought-provoking song that raises questions about the nature of rebellion, the importance of personal responsibility and accountability, and the desire for redemption.

Line by Line Meaning

The black around our eyes
We are tired and worn out

Is back around our lives,
Our struggles have returned

And everybody's happy,
Those around us seem content

But I feel black inside.
Despite appearances, I am still struggling

Well I think it's time
I have come to the realization that

We stopped getting high.
I need to steer clear of self-medication

These kids proposing mischieve
Young people are advocating for rebellion

But they'll be the first to squeal,
But they will quickly abandon their cause when things get tough

Screaming anarchy til someone
They loudly proclaim their desire for chaos until

Shows you how it feels
Someone demonstrates the true consequences of such actions

To point the gun and make you disappear (poof)
To use force and make you vanish