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.
Keep Me
The Black Keys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Keep my soul away from harm
Keep the night, keep the day
Keep the in between away.
Hold that second, hold the time
Hold that picture in your mind
Hold the smoke, hold the fire
Show me trust, show me love
Show me heaven up above
Show your soul show your mind
Show it to me all the time
The Black Keys's song "Keep Me" is a soulful plea for protection and love. The lyrics convey a sense of vulnerability and dependency on someone else to keep the singer safe from harm. The repeated refrain, "Keep me clean, keep me warm, keep my soul away from harm," expresses the singer's desire for physical and emotional protection.
The song also emphasizes the importance of holding onto cherished memories and desires. The second verse urges the listener to "hold that picture in your mind" and "hold all that you desire," suggesting that these things can provide comfort and motivation during difficult times.
The final verse shifts the focus to a call for intimacy and connection. The singer asks the listener to "show me trust, show me love, show me heaven up above," and reveals a desire for a deeper understanding of their soul and mind.
Overall, "Keep Me" is a poignant reminder of the fundamental need for human connection and emotional support.
Line by Line Meaning
Keep me clean, keep me warm
Preserve my purity and protect me from the harsh realities of the outside world.
Keep my soul away from harm
Shield me from emotional and spiritual damage that could affect my well-being.
Keep the night, keep the day
Provide me with a sense of stability and structure in my life.
Keep the in between away.
Avoid the ambiguity and uncertainty that can create confusion and anxiety in my life.
Hold that second, hold the time
Savor each and every moment, and treasure them as if they were precious gifts.
Hold that picture in your mind
Mentally capture important memories and cherish them forever.
Hold the smoke, hold the fire
Embrace the passions and addictions in your life, and don't let them control you.
Hold all that you desire
Pursue your passions and dreams with unyielding determination.
Show me trust, show me love
Demonstrate loyalty and affection in your relationships.
Show me heaven up above
Reveal a place of peace and tranquility, where happiness and contentment reign.
Show your soul show your mind
Expose your innermost thoughts, desires, and beliefs without fear of judgment.
Show it to me all the time
Consistently reflect honesty, openness, and understanding in all aspects of your life.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DANIEL QUINE AUERBACH, PATRICK JAMES CARNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@hullett29
The blues are strong with this one
@fullwaverecked
Blues Force Baby!
@TheGraveyardDog
Even though this track has been on here for quite some time, it STILL gives me faith that the spirit of rock, blues, metal and the like will never truly die.
@martinr4549
Keep me clean
Keep me warm
Keep my soul away from harm
@yadancer
Absolutely love this!! Black keys the minute I stumbled across the brothers album years ago I have loved this band!!! 🏴❤️
@oscartheparrot8216
Unexpected great song.
@CLVMYPNHR
one of my most loved song ♥
@andrewbryant6059
Love the rock/dirty blues sound on a cheap 70s guitar nothing better
@gnarlysheen81
The 68 people that didn’t like this must have been looking for Blues Clue not REAL BLUES
@joshuabertram6332
They should play this song when they tour