The Detroit Cobras signed with Sympathy for the Record Industry and released their first full-length album, Mink Rat or Rabbit, in 1998. After a three-year gap, they released a second album, Life, Love and Leaving Their retro-garage rock formula proved popular in the UK and prompted the London-based Rough Trade Records to sign the band. They released an EP, Seven Easy Pieces, in 2003 and their third full-length album, Baby, in 2004. Baby broke with the Cobras' tradition in that it included one original song, "Hot Dog (Watch Me Eat)". Baby was picked up for release in the US by Bloodshot (who added the songs from the Seven Easy Pieces EP to the end of Baby . In April 2007, Bloodshot released the band's fourth full-length, Tied & True.
The band is known for multiple lineup changes. They generally have a touring lineup different from their recording lineup. Greg Cartwright of Reigning Sound (aka Greg Oblivian of The Oblivians) has been a constant creative force along with Nagy and Ramirez, who have been around since the group's genesis.
In the summer of 2008, The Detroit Cobras went on tour in support of X on their 13x31 tour. For the summer of 2009, The Detroit Cobras headlined a tour w/ the Dex Romweber Duo in support.
Discography
Albums and EPs
Mink Rat or Rabbit LP, CD (1998, Sympathy for the Record Industry)
Life, Love and Leaving LP, CD (2001, Sympathy for the Record Industry)
Seven Easy Pieces EP CD (2003, Rough Trade)
Baby LP, CD (2004, Rough Trade; 2005, Bloodshot including Seven Easy Pieces and Enhanced Video of Cha Cha Twist)
Tied & True LP, CD (2007, Bloodshot)
The Original Recordings CD, 7" Box Set (Singles and Unreleased 1995-1997) (2008, Munster Records)
Compilations
""Bankstock II CD (44 Caliber Records, 1995, RFD 2301)
recorded live at The Miami, Detroit, July 4th weekend, 1995 Maria Christina-Shout Bama Lama (Otis Redding)
""'Half-Assed, Will Travel' LP (PerineumRecordings/AnywayRecords,1997)
You Don't Knock
""Shreds - Volume 4, American Underground '96 CD (Shredder Records, 1997)
Village Of Love (Mayer, Brown)
""Scooch Pooch Plays: Their Original Sins CD (Scooch Pooch, 1997, P0 28)
Slum Lord (Farren, Bishop)
""Shine On, Sweet Starlet LP/CD (Sympathy For The Record Industry, 1998, SFTRI 537) soundtrack of a film by John Michael McCarthy Coming Home
""Alright, This Time, Just The Girls 2xLP/2xCD (Sympathy For The Record Industry, 1999, SFTRI 576) Ain't Hittin' On Nothing (N. Neville)
""Where The Action Is CD (1+2 Records, 2001, 1+2 CD 124) You Knows
""Sympathetic Sounds Of Detroit LP/CD (Sympathy For The Record Industry, 2001
produced and recorded by Jack White, mixed by Jack White and Jim Diamond
""Shout Bama Lama (Otis Redding)
""Hometaping - Volume 1 CD (Kerrang!, 2002, kerrang 900)Hey Sailor (M.L.Lane)
""Rough Trade Shops Rock And Roll 1 7" (Mute Records, 2002, mute 289) Hey Sailor Rough Trade Shops Rock And Roll 2 xCD (Mute,CDStumm 212) Hey Sailor
""Jackass: The Music, Vol. 1 CD (Interscope Records, 2002) Cha Cha Twist
""New Blood - The New Rock N Roll Vol 3 CD (Artrocker, 2003, RRR 33010)Bad Girl
""Stop Me If You've Think You've Heard This One Before ... CD (Rough Trade Records, 2003, rtradecd 100) Last Nite (The Strokes)
""Rave On Buddy Holly - Cd/Vinyl - (2011, Hear Music, Fantasy/Concord Music Group)- Heartbeat
Singles
"Down In Louisiana" 7" (1996, Black Mamba)
"Village of Love" 7" (1996, Human Fly)
"Ain't It a Shame" 7" (1996, Scooch Pooch)
"Cha Cha Twist CD, 7" (2004, Rough Trade)
"Ya Ya Ya 7" (2008, Stag-O-Lee)
"Feel Good" Digital Single (2015, iTunes)
Nothing but a Heartache
The Detroit Cobras Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nothin' but a teardrop all of the way
Oh god, it's such a sin, yeah
He's got me, oh why can't I get him?
Nothin' but a heartache every day
Nothin' but a teardrop all of the way
It's a situation I just can't win, yeah
I got a lotta those heartaches
I got a lotta those teardrops
Heartaches
Teardrops
All of the way
Nothin' but a heartache every day
Nothin' but a heartache every day
Nothin' but a teardrop all of the way
Chances of me and him, it's just too slim, yeah
He's got me, oh why can't I get him?
I got a lotta those heartaches
I got a lotta those teardrops
Heartaches
Teardrops
All of the way
Nothin' but a heartache every day
Nothin' but a heartache every day
Nothin' but a teardrop all of the way
Chances of me and him, it's just too slim, yeah
He's got me, oh why can't I get him?
Nothin' but a heartache every day
Nothin' but a teardrop all of the way
All these things I get 'im every day now
Tears are fallin' all down my face
Oh the man has got me so uptight now
Nothing I do seems to turn out right now
The lyrics to The Detroit Cobras' song "Nothing But A Heartache" speak to the pain of unrequited love. The singer of the song is deeply in love with someone who doesn't seem to reciprocate her feelings. The lyrics repeat the lines "Nothin' but a heartache every day" and "Nothin' but a teardrop all of the way," emphasizing just how much this unrequited love is hurting her. She acknowledges that this love is a "sin" and it's a situation she just can't win.
Throughout the song, the singer voices her frustration with not being able to have the person she loves. She sings, "Chances of me and him, it's just too slim" and "He's got me, oh why can't I get him?" Despite her heartbreak, she can't let go of her feelings for this person. The song ends with the singer feeling completely defeated, with tears falling down her face.
Overall, "Nothing But A Heartache" is a bluesy, soulful song that perfectly captures the pain and frustration of unrequited love. The repetition of key phrases emphasizes just how all-consuming this love is, and the raw emotion in the vocals makes the pain feel real and tangible.
Line by Line Meaning
Nothin' but a heartache every day
Experiencing emotional pain and distress on a daily basis
Nothin' but a teardrop all of the way
Crying constantly
Oh god, it's such a sin, yeah
Expressing feeling guilty for being in love with someone who does not reciprocate that love
He's got me, oh why can't I get him?
Feeling helpless and frustrated that the person you are in love with does not feel the same way
It's a situation I just can't win, yeah
Feeling a loss of control over the situation and unable to find a solution
Nothin' but a heartache every day
Repeating the experience of intense emotional pain on a daily basis
Chances of me and him, it's just too slim, yeah
Acknowledging that the likelihood of being with the person you love is very low
I got a lotta those heartaches
Experiencing heartache frequently
I got a lotta those teardrops
Frequently crying due to heartache
All these things I get 'im every day now
Continuously experiencing negative emotions and heartache with no end in sight
Tears are fallin' all down my face
Crying uncontrollably due to the distress caused by unreciprocated love
Oh the man has got me so uptight now
Feeling anxious and tense due to the emotional turmoil caused by loving someone who does not love you back
Nothing I do seems to turn out right now
Feeling hopeless and unsuccessful in finding a solution to the emotional pain
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANTHONY WADDINGTON, TONY WADDINGTON, WAYNE BICKERTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind