They released their first album, The Big Come Up, in 2002, followed by Thickfreakness in 2003, and Rubber Factory in 2004. October 2005 saw the release of the DVD Live, recorded live at The Metro Theatre in Sydney, Australia March 18, 2005. In 2006 they released Magic Potion, as well as the lesser-known Chulahoma and a single version of Your Touch.
One of their trademarks is their preference for simple, lo-fi recording techniques. They refuse to use big-name studios, and do most recording, producing, and mixing themselves. Most of Thickfreakness was recorded in about 14 hours in Carney's basement, using only an early 80's Tascam 388 8-track recorder. Often, their recordings still have background noises (such as an owl hooting).
The Black Keys have achieved increasing critical acclaim and recognition since their debut album, which itself received praise from Rolling Stone magazine. Time magazine named them one of the "10 Best Acts of 2003" (behind OutKast and The White Stripes). They have supported a number of bands: they toured with Sleater-Kinney in 2003, had a short stint opening for Beck, have recently opened for Radiohead on the American leg of their brief 2006 tour, and performed at Lollapalooza in 2005 and 2007. In addition to this, they were also well-liked by influential British radio DJ John Peel and appeared on both Late Night with Conan O'Brien and The Late Show with David Letterman. Famous followers of the band include Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant, Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead, and Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammet. Matt Helders, drummer for the Arctic Monkeys, can be seen in a Black Keys T-Shirt in an interview on MTV's RAW.
Their song "When the Lights Go Out" was featured in the 2007 film Black Snake Moan, and also on the soundtrack for that movie. The Black Keys were included in the soundtrack of the 2003 movie School of Rock with their song, "Set You Free". "Lies" was featured in the conclusion of the February 4, 2009 episode of Lie to Me. One of their songs, "Girl Is on My Mind", was used in a 2006 Sony Ericsson advertisement, starring the tennis players Ana Ivanović and Daniela Hantuchová, gaining the band more commercial recognition. It was also used in a 2006 Victoria's Secret commercial featuring Heidi Klum and could be heard in the movies Rest Stop and Cashback. Their song "10 am Automatic" was used in the video game MLB '06: The Show, The O.C., The Go-Getter, and was also used in a 2007 American Express commercial starring Shaun White. "Your Touch" was featured in a 2007 Lee's jeans commercial, and can be heard both in an episode of NBC's Friday Night Lights and in an episode of "Eastbound and Down". Their cover "Grown So Ugly" can be heard in the background of the going away party in the 2007 film Cloverfield. "Strange Times" is used in Grand Theft Auto IV on the in-game radio station Radio Broker. "Strange Times" can also be heard during a preview for ABC's The Mole, and the trailer for season three of the Showtime series Dexter, as well as a promo for Gossip Girl. Their song "Just Got To Be" is used on the soundtrack for the video game NHL 08, and "Hard Row" is featured in the premiere episode of the FX show Sons of Anarchy. Sons of Anarchy has gone on to use "Keep Me" in both Episodes 6 and 7, as well as "Busted" in episode 7. The song "Lies" is featured in the advertising campaign for the third season of HBO's Big Love. "The Breaks" can be heard in Guy Ritchie' film RocknRolla. "Your Touch" can also be heard in the HBO series "Entourage" in the episode "Manic Monday", during the opening scenes. The song "Psychotic Girl" is featured the episode "Messin' with the Kid" in season 6 of One Tree Hill. "I'll Be Your Man" is the opening theme song for the HBO show Hungand was also featured in an episode of the FX Network show Rescue Me. "Your Touch" can also be heard in the film Zombieland and in an episode of "Eastbound and Down" on HBO. The song "I Got Mine" has been used in HBO's sports reality series 24/7 Pacquiao-Hatton" [13] as well as background music for the 2009 American League Championship Series. The song "Next Girl" is featured in the in game radio of Saints Row the Third.
Their fourth record that Danger Mouse produced Attack & Release was out April 1st 2008. The duo's fifth album is the first one recorded in a proper studio.
The Band's fifth album, "Brothers" was released in spring 2010 and has seen increasing amounts of exposure to the "Dancing T-Rex" video for the song "Tighten Up" that went viral...until the band asked it to be removed because they felt it made light of their music. A proper video was released later in 2010, featuring Dan Auerbach and Pat Carney at a playground and was pushed on the band's official YouTube channel, as well as through the iTunes and Zune marketplaces. The track "Tighten Up" was also used as the background music for a Subaru Legacy commercial and on the FIFA 2011 Soundtrack.
The Black Keys' seventh studio album, "El Camino," was released on the 6th of December 2011. Co-produced by Danger Mouse, the album was released to critical acclaim, receiving positive reviews from The Rolling Stones, NME and more. Melissa Maerz of Entertainment Weekly commented on "El Camino", saying that "El Camino trades the soulful stylings of Brothers for harder-driving, faster-riffing rock & roll". At the 55th Annual Grammy Awards, El Camino won the award for Best Rock Album, while "Lonely Boy" received multiple honors, taking 'Best Rock Performance' and 'Best Rock Song'. The album has sold 1.4 million copies in the United States to date.
The Black Keys' eighth studio album, Turn Blue, was released on May 12, 2014 to generally favorable reviews.
Hard Row
The Black Keys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Go on, I'll understand
But then the night gets dark, all is still
Pray for me, I know you will
Hard row to hoe all by yourself
You hit the city, it swallow you whole
Why'got no friends darlin', t'satisfy your soul
And then the sidewalk ends, lights all red, why'say t'yourself, why'better off dead
Walk out on me, walk out on him
You need no man to do you in
But if the night gets dark, all is still
I'll pray for you, you know I will
Hard row to hoe all by yourself
All by yourself x3
The lyrics to The Black Keys's song Hard Row tell the story of a woman who wants to leave her man and possibly pursue a new life in the city. The song begins with the singer acknowledging and accepting the woman's decision to leave, but as the night gets dark and still, he asks for her prayers. The woman is facing a difficult path ahead, as she tries to make it on her own without any friends to satisfy her soul. She finds herself in a hopeless situation as she reaches the end of the sidewalk and the lights turn red, leading her to question if she is better off dead. Yet, the singer remains faithful to her and promises to pray for her through her struggles.
The song conveys a sense of loneliness and the challenges of being all by oneself. It highlights the importance of having a support system and the difficulties that arise when one tries to navigate life without any friends or family. The lyrics also touch on themes of love, forgiveness, and hope.
Overall, Hard Row is a powerful song that speaks to the human condition and the struggles that we all face at some point in our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
If you wanna go and leave your man
In case you choose to leave your partner
Go on, I'll understand
It is alright, I will not hold it against you
But then the night gets dark, all is still
Once the night falls and everything is quiet
Pray for me, I know you will
I trust that you will spiritually support me
Hard row to hoe all by yourself
It is challenging to manage everything alone
You hit the city, it swallow you whole
The city consumes you entirely
Why'got no friends darlin', t'satisfy your soul
You do not have any friends to fulfill your emotional needs
And then the sidewalk ends, lights all red, why'say t'yourself, why'better off dead
The street and traffic signal ends, and you question if you are better off dead
Hard row to hoe all by yourself
It is difficult to handle everything alone
Walk out on me, walk out on him
You could leave me or your partner anytime
You need no man to do you in
You do not need any man to harm you emotionally or physically
But if the night gets dark, all is still
However, if the night turns dark and quiet
I'll pray for you, you know I will
I would pray for you in that case
Hard row to hoe all by yourself
It is arduous to handle everything alone
All by yourself x3
Entirely on your own
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DANIEL AUERBACH, PATRICK CARNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@JamesJoseph1000
Great song to ride a motorcycle to. Almost makes you feel like you're in Sons Of Anarchy.
@goby7696
Sons of anarchy
@Zee_Kay_Jay
One of the best songs in the world hands down
@Sasuke45905
It’s fucking amazing song
@unknownbrother273
yes sir
@Sasuke45905
What do you mean?
@LightsaberGoBrrrrrr
He’s exclaiming
@FisherHunter-ny9dp
Forth comment
@LightsaberGoBrrrrrr
Go forth young comment
@Icarusfell007
May the forth be with you