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.
How Long
The Black Keys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How long? How long?
Will you give yourself to another guy
And never give our love another try?
Why?
Keep runnin' that dream all over town
While you keep on kicking me to the ground
How long? How long?
How long? How long?
Will you keep on pushing me down the road
Thinking I'ma do what just what I'm told?
No
Pat me by just one more time
You're never gonna get this heart of mine
Mine
We've been on this dead-end road
Believe we're ready to explode
And even in our final hours
See the beauty in the dying flowers
How long? How long?
How long? How long?
How long? How long?
How long? How long?
How long? How long?
How long? How long?
The lyrics of The Black Keys' song "How Long" seem to express a deep sense of frustration and disappointment in a failing relationship. The singer is pleading with their partner, questioning how long they will continue to give themselves to someone else while neglecting the love they once shared. The repetitive questioning of "How long?" emphasizes the uncertainty and desperation in their voice.
The lyrics suggest that their partner is constantly chasing an elusive dream, while simultaneously disregarding and mistreating the singer. The line "Keep runnin' that dream all over town, while you keep on kicking me to the ground" implies a sense of betrayal and emotional abuse. It seems that the singer is questioning how long they will be pushed aside, forced to follow someone else's rules.
The lyrics also touch upon the idea of missed opportunities and regrets. The line "Pat me by just one more time, you're never gonna get this heart of mine" suggests that the singer has reached a breaking point and will no longer allow themselves to be mistreated. They have finally realized their worth and refuse to let their heart be taken for granted.
Overall, "How Long" captures the pain and frustration of a failing relationship, emphasizing the need for change and self-respect.
Line by Line Meaning
How long? How long?
Asking with urgency and desperation, wondering for how much longer the situation will persist
Will you give yourself to another guy
Questioning if the person will choose someone else over their love, abandoning their relationship
And never give our love another try?
Expressing disappointment and hoping for another chance to revive their love
Why?
Seeking an explanation for the actions and choices made
Keep runnin' that dream all over town
Continuously pursuing a dream, oblivious to the harm caused to the relationship
While you keep on kicking me to the ground
Enduring constant mistreatment and being pushed down by the person
How long? How long?
Repeating the initial question, emphasizing the urgency and hoping for change
Will you keep on pushing me down the road
Questioning if the person will continue rejecting and disregarding their feelings
Thinking I'ma do just what I'm told?
Reflecting on being expected to comply with expectations without questioning or resisting
No
Expressing refusal and defiance against playing the expected role
Pat me by just one more time
Requesting one last chance to receive affection or acknowledgement
You're never gonna get this heart of mine
Asserting that the person will never win their love and devotion
We've been on this dead-end road
Acknowledging that their relationship has reached a hopeless and unproductive state
Believe we're ready to explode
Feeling that emotions and frustrations are building up to a breaking point
And even in our final hours
Describing the intense and critical moments of their relationship
See the beauty in the dying flowers
Finding a silver lining or beauty in the inevitable decline of their love
How long? How long?
Continuing to desperately and anxiously question the duration of their struggle
How long? How long?
Repeating the inquiry, hoping for a resolution or change
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Dan Auerbach, Patrick Carney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@RichardRitenour0522
How Long
How long? How long?
How long? How long?
Will you give yourself to another guy
And never give our love another try?
Why?
Keep runnin' that dream all over town
While you keep on kicking me to the ground
Ground
How long? How long?
How long? How long?
Will you keep on pushing me down the road
Thinking I'ma do what just what I'm told?
No
Pat me by just one more time
You're never gonna get this heart of mine
Mine
We've been on this dead-end road
Believe we're ready to explode
And even in our final hours
See the beauty in the dying flowers
How long? How long?
How long? How long?
How long? How long?
How long? How long?
How long? How long?
How long? How long?
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Dan Auerbach / Patrick Carney
@SS-gx7tg
I'm not necessarily the biggest Black Keys fan but I've been listening to this new record and gotta say this song in particular ("How Long") is probably one of the best songs I've ever heard in my life. I cannot stop listening to it. The way the song builds, those first two verses, that amazing guitar solo, the way the song unfolds ... this is the most perfect zone-out aimless-drive songs I've ever heard. They should've made this the first single as I think its the type of song that can connect with anyone. It's 100% perfect, been on repeat for over half an hour now, just a flawless piece of perfection.
@unknownbrother273
Yeah! It's great! I also like Baby I'm Coming Home
@unknownbrother273
I hope they play it on tour
@SeeNickView
Yeah, I think with the actual Chorus in chorus 2, it would make much less sense to have 2 actual choruses in the song.
Having 1 climax right in the middle of the song sets a really nice build-up and taper-off which I'm sure a lot of people appreciate. It's smooth, comfortable, groovy
@clevelandjack27
Great assessment. I passed this track over listening to it the first time but it's become my favorite on the album. This would be a great track live too.
@kristencallahan5567
This is definitely an amazing record
@terrestro3501
Always stoked for a new Black Keys album 🏆
@a19ist
Man, I really enjoyed the album, but I wish there were more songs like this one in it, a bit more chill, but still with that Black Keys groove and a killer solo.
@benarcher3531
Gotta say this is my favorite song off this new album
@northuniverse
One more album is never enough from this awesome group