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.
Never Gonna Give You Up
The Black Keys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No matter how you treat me
Never gonna give you up
So don't you think of leavin'
Girl, you treat me bad and I know why
I've seen you runnin' around with another guy
And you think if you hurt me, that I'll go away
You know I'm, I'm here to stay
Never gonna give you up
No matter how you treat me
Never gonna give you up
So don't you think of leavin'
Baby, don't you understand
What you're doing to the man?
Do you see these tears in my eyes?
I'm no use in me lyin', 'cause I really cried
You think you are gonna take me
And put me on the shelf
I'd rather die
Than see you with somebody else
Never gonna give you up
No matter how you treat me
Never gonna give you up
So don't you think of leavin'
Baby, don't you understand
What you're doing to the man?
My friends all say that I'm your fool
And you're using me like a carpenter uses a tool
I know their intentions they're are all very good
Some of them would help me
If they could
But I never gonna give you up
No matter how you treat me
Never gonna give you up
So don't you think of leavin'
Baby, don't you understand
What you're doing to the man?
Never gonna give you up
No matter how you treat me
Never gonna give you up
So don't you think of leavin'
Never gonna give you up
No matter how you treat me
Never gonna give you up
So don't you think of leavin'
The Black Keys' song "Never Gonna Give You Up" is a passionate declaration of love and loyalty from the singer to the woman he loves, who has been treating him poorly and cheating on him. Despite her actions, he remains steadfast in his commitment to her, singing "Never gonna give you up, no matter how you treat me, never gonna give you up, so don't you think of leaving." He acknowledges that he knows she's been seeing someone else and that she may be hurting him in an attempt to push him away, but he is resolute in his decision to stay with her: "But, I've made up my mind, you know I'm, I'm here to stay."
The singer asks the woman to recognize the harm she's causing him and to understand his pain: "Baby, don't you understand what you're doing to the man? Do you see these tears in my eyes?" He tells her that he'd rather die than see her with someone else, declaring "I'd rather die than see you with somebody else."
The song also touches on the singer's friendships, with his friends warning him that he's being used by the woman he loves: "My friends all say that I'm your fool, and you're using me like a carpenter uses a tool. I know their intentions they're all very good, some of them would help me if they could."
Overall, "Never Gonna Give You Up" is a powerful and emotional song about love, loyalty, and the pain of heartbreak, with a rock and roll edge that The Black Keys are known for.
Line by Line Meaning
Never gonna give you up
I will always love and stay with you no matter what happens
No matter how you treat me
Regardless of how you behave towards me, my feelings remain unchanged
So don't you think of leavin'
Do not even consider leaving me, as I will not let you go
Girl, you treat me bad and I know why
I am aware of the mistreatment I receive from you, and I understand the reason behind it
I've seen you runnin' around with another guy
I watched you cheating on me with another man
And you think if you hurt me, that I'll go away
You believe that by hurting me, I will leave you
But, I've made up my mind
I have decided to stay with you, regardless of the difficulties we face
You know I'm, I'm here to stay
I want to show you that my love for you is unwavering, and I am committed to being with you
Baby, don't you understand what you're doing to the man?
Do you realize the emotional pain you are causing me with your actions?
Do you see these tears in my eyes?
I am openly expressing my pain to you through my tears
I'm no use in me lyin', 'cause I really cried
I cannot hide my true emotions; I am genuinely hurt and upset
You think you are gonna take me And put me on the shelf
You think you can control our relationship and treat me like a commodity
I'd rather die Than see you with somebody else
I cannot bear the thought of you being with another person; it is too painful for me
My friends all say that I'm your fool
My friends perceive me as being foolish in my devotion to you
And you're using me like a carpenter uses a tool
You are taking advantage of me and treating me as an object rather than a person
I know their intentions they're are all very good
I understand that my friends have my best interests at heart
Some of them would help me If they could
My friends are willing to support me in any way they can
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jerry Butler, Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
s4ltyKiD
Never gonna give you up
No matter how you treat me
Never gonna give you up
So don't you think of leavin'
Girl, you treat me bad and I know why
I've seen you runnin' around with another guy
And you think if you hurt me, that I'll go away
But, I've made up my mind
You know I'm, I'm here to stay
Never gonna give you up
No matter how you treat me
Never gonna give you up
So don't you think of leavin'
Baby, don't you understand
What you're doing to the man?
Do you see these tears in my eyes?
I'm no use in me lyin', 'cause I really cried
You think you are gonna take me
And put me on the shelf
I'd rather die
Than see you with somebody else
Never gonna give you up
No matter how you treat me
Never gonna give you up
So don't you think of leavin'
Baby, don't you understand
What you're doing to the man?
My friends all say that I'm your fool
And you're using me like a carpenter uses a tool
I know their intentions they're are all very good
Some of them would help me
If they could
But I never gonna give you up
No matter how you treat me
Never gonna give you up
So don't you think of leavin'
Baby, don't you understand
What you're doing to the man?
Never gonna give you up
No matter how you treat me
Never gonna give you up
So don't you think of leavin'
Never gonna give you up
No matter how you treat me
Never gonna give you up
So don't you think of leavin'
OverloadedDragon
We're no strangers to love
You know the rules and so do I
A full commitment's what I'm thinking of
You wouldn't get this from any other guy
I just wanna tell you how I'm feeling
Gotta make you understand
Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you
We've known each other for so long
Your heart's been aching, but
You're too shy to say it
Inside, we both know what's been going on
We know the game and we're gonna play it
And if you ask me how I'm feeling
Don't tell me you're too blind to see
Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you
Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you
(Ooh, give you up)
(Ooh, give you up)
Never gonna give, never gonna give
(Give you up)
Never gonna give, never gonna give
(Give you up)
We've known each other for so long
Your heart's been aching, but
You're too shy to say it
Inside, we both know what's been going on
We know the game and we're gonna play it
I just wanna tell you how I'm feeling
Gotta make you understand
Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you
Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you
Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you
barrys
I've loved this song by Jerry Butler for more than 50 years, but recently heard this version at the end of "Luther." It is excellent.
Jennifer Robinson
... discovered this great song through Luther.... the ending..... so atmospheric.... just adore it.... and Idris Elba!!!! 😂 ❤️
TweedTone
A simply great song that’s underrated in the album.
Anthony Perez
Check out Jerry butlers version
¤The Meandering Mystic¤
I concur!
spc gsptu
I can listen to this band all day. Their music is awesome
Tess Keegan
Love this song so so much 💓 Always makes me feel lovesick in the best way.
Bluestogreen !
Same! Also help me get a few lol
s4ltyKiD
Never gonna give you up
No matter how you treat me
Never gonna give you up
So don't you think of leavin'
Girl, you treat me bad and I know why
I've seen you runnin' around with another guy
And you think if you hurt me, that I'll go away
But, I've made up my mind
You know I'm, I'm here to stay
Never gonna give you up
No matter how you treat me
Never gonna give you up
So don't you think of leavin'
Baby, don't you understand
What you're doing to the man?
Do you see these tears in my eyes?
I'm no use in me lyin', 'cause I really cried
You think you are gonna take me
And put me on the shelf
I'd rather die
Than see you with somebody else
Never gonna give you up
No matter how you treat me
Never gonna give you up
So don't you think of leavin'
Baby, don't you understand
What you're doing to the man?
My friends all say that I'm your fool
And you're using me like a carpenter uses a tool
I know their intentions they're are all very good
Some of them would help me
If they could
But I never gonna give you up
No matter how you treat me
Never gonna give you up
So don't you think of leavin'
Baby, don't you understand
What you're doing to the man?
Never gonna give you up
No matter how you treat me
Never gonna give you up
So don't you think of leavin'
Never gonna give you up
No matter how you treat me
Never gonna give you up
So don't you think of leavin'
OverloadedDragon
We're no strangers to love
You know the rules and so do I
A full commitment's what I'm thinking of
You wouldn't get this from any other guy
I just wanna tell you how I'm feeling
Gotta make you understand
Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you
We've known each other for so long
Your heart's been aching, but
You're too shy to say it
Inside, we both know what's been going on
We know the game and we're gonna play it
And if you ask me how I'm feeling
Don't tell me you're too blind to see
Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you
Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you
(Ooh, give you up)
(Ooh, give you up)
Never gonna give, never gonna give
(Give you up)
Never gonna give, never gonna give
(Give you up)
We've known each other for so long
Your heart's been aching, but
You're too shy to say it
Inside, we both know what's been going on
We know the game and we're gonna play it
I just wanna tell you how I'm feeling
Gotta make you understand
Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you
Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you
Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you