People say things get better with age. The Cardinal Sin is no exception to this rule. Formerly of Cadillac Blindside (Fueled By Ramen), Song of Zarathustra (Troubleman Unlimited), and The Crush (Adeline Records), the members of The Cardinal Sin are experienced band members. After forming in 2003, The Cardinal Sin took off where their former bands left off: touring. Within months of the new band, The Cardinal Sin followed Motion City Soundtrack and Limbeck around the Midwest, then The Lawrence Arms out East, with only a demo in hand.
Later that year, The Lawrence Arms asked the band to accompany them again, this time out to the West coast. It was at the Los Angeles show that The Cardinal Sin got acquainted with Grey Flight Records and plans were set in motion for The Cardinal Sin's debut release. In December of 2004, The Cardinal Sin went into The Hideaway studio to work with Grant Cutler for the Grey Flight release. The following March, Grey Flight released the "Oil and Water" EP featuring five originals and a brilliant cover of The Replacements' "Bastards of Young."
The Cardinal Sin have a sharp, catchy sensibility accompanied by an energized live show that enables them to share bills and tours with a variety of bands. They have played with the likes of Against Me!, Motion City Soundtrack, Dillinger Four, The Lawrence Arms, Limbeck, The Supersuckers, A Wilhelm Scream, Hot Hot Heat, Pretty Girls Make Graves, The Reputation, and Small Towns Burn A Little Slower.
Since the release of "Oil and Water," The Cardinal Sin has been busy. In support of "Oil and Water", they toured the West, the South, and have frequented the Midwestern cities surrounding them. The band also found themselves busy writing songs at a prolific speed. Meanwhile, "Oil and Water" was received well and left critics wanting more. In August of the same year, the band released a split 7"/CD EP with local friends, Small Towns Burn A Little Slower. This release features one original and one cover track from each band.
In January 2006, only a year after recording their debut EP, The Cardinal Sin found themselves armed with enough new material to record a full-length record. They entered Chicago's Atlas Studios with producer Matt Allison (Alkaline Trio, The Lawrence Arms) and Neil Hennessy (The Lawrence Arms, Colossal). Twelve tracks were recorded over a 3-week period as well as 3 acoustic tracks with Chris Carr at Blackbox Studios. The new recordings show how much the band has grown with a mix of arena-rock jabs offset by ballads that will make anyone contemplate their next birthday. "Hurry Up and Wait" was released on April 25, 2006.
The Cardinal Sin played their last show in Minneapolis on October 6, 2006.
Under Your Skin
The Cardinal Sin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Did I get under you skin? / More than once, where would you begin? / I can tell when you smile / The thoughts you're concealing and what you won't say / I say we're both afraid / As far as I can tell we're both in this hell / It's in both of our eyes / Kicking and screaming, yelling to get out / I got a sick feeling / You do too my dear / I think we know that something's wrong / And I'm sick of being the one to cause you fear / Should I be moving along? / Did I get under your skin? / Once thick, ice appears to be thin / Why can't you crack a smile? / The ice breaking, pass it off a style
In the song Under Your Skin by The Cardinal Sin, the lyrics seem to be addressing the complexities of a relationship that has gone wrong. The singer acknowledges their own role in causing the other person pain and wonders if they have perhaps gotten "under their skin" in a way that is difficult to shake. The lyrics suggest that both individuals are afraid of what is happening between them and are trapped in a kind of unhappy, uncertain limbo.
The line "I can tell when you smile, the thoughts you're concealing and what you won't say" hints at the fact that there is likely a lot of unexpressed emotion and hidden truths lurking beneath the surface of their interactions. The mention of "kicking and screaming, yelling to get out" suggests that both individuals are feeling trapped and frustrated with the situation, but are struggling to find a way to communicate effectively.
Overall, the song seems to be grappling with the idea that deeply intimate connections can also be deeply complicated and even painful at times. Despite these difficulties, however, the lyrics suggest that there is still an underlying sense of care and concern between the two individuals, with the singer ultimately questioning whether they should move on or try to work through their difficulties.
Line by Line Meaning
Close
The song starts with the word 'Close' to indicate that the singer and the person they are singing to have a close relationship.
Did I get under you skin?
The singer is asking if they have had a deep emotional impact on the person they are singing to.
More than once, where would you begin?
The singer is acknowledging that they have had a repeated impact on the person and wonders where it all began.
I can tell when you smile
The artist is observant of the person's emotions and can tell when they are hiding something.
The thoughts you're concealing and what you won't say
The artist knows that the person they are singing to is hiding their true thoughts and feelings.
I say we're both afraid
The singer admits that both they and the person they are singing to are afraid of the situation.
As far as I can tell we're both in this hell
The singer believes that they and the person they are singing to are trapped in a difficult situation.
It's in both of our eyes
The artist can see the shared pain and discomfort in both their own and the other person's eyes.
Kicking and screaming, yelling to get out
The artist and the person they are singing to are struggling to escape the difficult situation.
I got a sick feeling
The artist has a bad feeling about the situation.
You do too my dear
The singer believes that the other person also has a negative feeling about the situation.
I think we know that something's wrong
The artist believes that something is obviously not right in their situation.
And I'm sick of being the one to cause you fear
The singer feels responsible for the other person's fear and is tired of it.
Should I be moving along?
The singer is questioning whether or not they should leave the situation.
Did I get under your skin?
The singer repeats their previous question, emphasizing the impact they have had on the other person.
Once thick, ice appears to be thin
The relationship that once seemed strong and unbreakable now appears fragile.
Why can't you crack a smile?
The artist is trying to get the other person to open up and show their true emotions.
The ice breaking, pass it off as style
The relationship is beginning to change, and the other person is trying to ignore it or pretend it's not happening.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JILL CUNNIFF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind