Th… Read Full Bio ↴Constantines are an indie rock band from Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
The band was formed by Steve Lambke, Bryan Webb, Doug MacGregor, and Dallas Wehrle in 1999, following in the wake of the emotional hardcore band Shoulder.
Their style has been described as "art-punk," and they have been compared to a mixture of bands like The Clash, Fugazi, Bruce Springsteen, and Nick Cave. They relocated to London, Ontario and then to Toronto, where in 2001 they released their self-titled first album, which was extremely popular on campus radio and was nominated for a Juno Award for Best Alternative Album.
In 2002, the original members were joined by keyboardist Evan Gordon, after which they released The Modern Sinner Nervous Man EP in April 2002 on Suicide Squeeze. Gordon left soon afterwards, and was replaced by Will Kidman.
Despite signing an international deal with Sub Pop, the band ensured that their original home, Three Gut, would continue to release their albums in Canada. In 2003 they released the Nighttime Anytime EP, as well as their second full-length, Shine a Light.
In 2005, The Constantines embarked upon a cross-Canada tour with The Weakerthans, called The Rolling Tundra Revue, a feat which is set to be repeated by both acts in 2009.
2005 also saw the release of the band's third full-length release, Tournament of Hearts, which was to be the final Constantines release handled by Three Gut, which folded shortly afterwards. In early 2006, Blue Fog Records released a vinyl only split-album with The Constantines performing four Neil Young covers, while The Unintended did four Gordon Lightfoot songs.
In April 2008, The Constantines released their fourth album Kensington Heights on their new label, Arts & Crafts.
The Constantines' guitarist Steve Lambke has also recorded under the name Baby Eagle, whilst Will Kidman has recorded as Woolly Leaves.
Poison
The Constantines Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
where the wild ones lead the fire-night parade
If you're looking for affection
best be careful where you lay your name
'Cause they'll pin your renegade heart to the wall
and leave you there to hang
another empty pocket took a fall
The wild ones put a kid out of business
and they shake it off like shivering dogs
No dog-tooth trigger will poison us
No sinister blade will poison us
When we dance the night belongs to us
Who gives a damn for the blue lawn
when the sun comes up on an empty lot?
A little more blood in the weekends wake
and they shake it off like shivering dogs
No dog-tooth trigger will poison us
No sinister blade will poison us
When we dance the night belongs to us
The Constantines's song "Poison" tells the story of a night out in a wild dance hall where things can quickly turn dangerous. The lyrics warn listeners to be careful where they lay their name, as the wild ones will pin their rebel hearts to the wall and leave them to hang. The song makes reference to a recent incident where "another empty pocket took a fall" at a Scarborough disco, and the wild ones put a kid out of business. Despite this violence, the song declares that no poison, whether from a dog-tooth trigger or sinister blade, will harm them as long as they dance and claim the night as their own.
Line by Line Meaning
At the out-city dance hall
where the wild ones lead the fire-night parade
The song starts by describing a wild party scene, where the people who attend these parties control it and the atmosphere. It sets the tone and lets the listener know that this scene is intense.
If you're looking for affection
best be careful where you lay your name
'Cause they'll pin your renegade heart to the wall
and leave you there to hang
This verse is a warning to anyone who tries to get involved in this wild party scene. The people there are not always kind, and they will take advantage of anyone they can. The line about pinning your 'renegade heart' to the wall sets the tone for the rest of the song, which deals with themes of rebellion and standing up for oneself.
Last night, at some Scarborough disco
another empty pocket took a fall
The wild ones put a kid out of business
and they shake it off like shivering dogs
The song takes a turn here, as it describes a specific incident at one of these wild parties. Someone was taken advantage of, and the 'wild ones' were responsible. The line about shaking it off like shivering dogs suggests that they feel no remorse for their actions, and will do it again without hesitation.
No dog-tooth trigger will poison us
No sinister blade will poison us
When we dance the night belongs to us
This refrain is repeated throughout the song, and takes on a few different meanings. At its core, it is a declaration of defiance. The 'wild ones' will not be poisoned by anyone or anything, and they will always come out on top. It is also a kind of battle cry, encouraging people to let go of their inhibitions and dance the night away.
Who gives a damn for the blue lawn
when the sun comes up on an empty lot?
A little more blood in the weekends wake
and they shake it off like shivering dogs
This verse is a metaphor for the way that the 'wild ones' live their lives. They don't care about the conventional things that other people do (like having a nice lawn), and they are willing to do whatever it takes to have a good time. The line about 'a little more blood' suggests that there is violence and danger involved in these parties, and that people are getting hurt. Despite this, the 'wild ones' continue to dance and have fun, as if nothing has happened.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Bryan Webb, Dallas Wehrle, Doug Macgregor, Steven Lambke, Will Kidman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind