The Faint is an indie rock/dance punk band. Formed in Omaha, Nebraska in 19… Read Full Bio ↴The Faint is an indie rock/dance punk band. Formed in Omaha, Nebraska in 1995 The Faint was originally known as Norman Bailer, a reference to Norman Mailer. The band Norman Bailer also included Conor Oberst, of Bright Eyes, with whom The Faint toured in 2005. He left shortly after joining and wasn't let back into the band when he attempted to come back. They recently split from their longtime home Saddle Creek Records to record their latest album "Fasciinatiion" on their own label, "blank.wav".

The band consists of Clark Baechle, Todd Fink (formerly known as Todd Baechle), and Joel Petersen. They signed to Saddle Creek Records and released a few singles, but were unable to establish widespread sales, though they were extremely popular in the Omaha-area. After adding Matt Bowen, The Faint released Media, which established them within a small, national community of fans. While touring, Bowen left and was replaced by Jacob Thiele who helped move the next album, Blank-Wave Arcade, towards a more dance and electronica influenced sound. The album was an underground hit. Partway through the creation of the morose Danse Macabre, The Faint added Dapose, a death metal guitarist formerly of LEAD. Danse Macabre was also a critical and commercial success and has helped to establish a wider fanbase for the band. Their 4th album, released in 2004, is called Wet from Birth.

In 2002 bassist Joel Petersen released the first album from his solo project, Broken Spindles, and he has since released two subsequent albums and had a U.S. tour. Guitarist Dapose also has a side-project, Vverevvolf Grehv, releasing his first album in 2008.

On December 12th, 2005, The Faint announced that they have moved out of The Orifice (a rented out warehouse they used to record Wet from Birth) and into ENAMEL, a 100-year-old building where they recorded the tracks for their next album, Fasciinatiion.

1995 | Sine Sierra (Norman Bailer) | Lumberjack
1998 | Media | CD Saddle Creek [LBJ-21]
1999 | The Faint / Ex-Action Figures (split) | 7» Saddle Creek [LBJ-25]
1999 | Blank-Wave Arcade | LP/CD Saddle Creek [LBJ-29]
2000 | Blank-Wave Arcade Remixes | 12»PD Saddle Creek [LBJ-33]
2001 | Danse Macabre | LP/CD Saddle Creek [LBJ-37]
2001 | Mote / Dust | 12»EP Gold Standard Laboratories [GSL 47]
2001 | Agenda Suicide | CDS Fierce Panda [NING 117]
2003 | Danse Macabre Remixes | 3LP/CD Astralwerks [ASC 83269]
2003 | The Conductor | 12»EP Astralwerks [ASC 83862]
2004 | I Disappear | 12»/CDS Saddle Creek [LBJ-66]
2004 | Wet From Birth | LP/CD Saddle Creek [LBJ-67]
2004 | Desperate Guys Saddle Creek
2008 | The Geeks Were Right Blank.wav
2008 | Fasciinatiion Blank.wav

Cars Pass in Cold Blood
The Faint Lyrics

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There's a fire in the road where the flame is burnt
And all the automobiles are slowing down around the fire
There's a blacktop of people that are anxious inside
They're kinda scared to be heated and no one lied to slip by
Oh oh oh

The sidewalk cube are coming up from behind
A 1981 stereo is drunk from the sound

I see a cadillac approach and him jump to control it
He's going away 'cause what he does is more important

Cars pass in cold blood
I hold back, it's hard to
I really want to block but realize it's a bad time for that

I tried to stay calm and watch the ambulance pass
But as they call up their schedule, pull out of their lane
I had a terrible urge but I tried control it
Don't get carried away, because what he does is not important

Cars pass in cold blood
I hold back, it's hard to
I really want to block but realize it's a bad time for that

Oh oh oh

Overall Meaning

In "Cars Pass in Cold Blood" by The Faint, the lyrics describe a scene of chaos and confusion. There is a fire on the road, causing traffic to slow down, and people are anxious and scared. The singer mentions a group of people, referred to as "blacktop," who seem particularly worried. As the chaos unfolds, cars continue to pass by without regard for the situation.

The singer struggles with conflicting emotions of wanting to help and feeling powerless to do so. They mention a Cadillac approaching and the driver seeming in control, but it's not clear if this person is trying to help or simply going about their business. The singer admits that they want to block the line of traffic, but realize it would be a bad idea.

Later, an ambulance passes by, and the singer reflects on their urge to act but ultimately deciding it's not their place to do so. The lyrics seem to convey a sense of helplessness in the face of chaos and the realization that sometimes it's best to let events unfold.

Overall, "Cars Pass in Cold Blood" explores themes of powerlessness and the desire to act in the face of chaos. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a hectic scene and bring to the forefront the difficult decisions one must make when confronted with a potentially dangerous situation.

Line by Line Meaning

There's a fire in the road where the flame is burnt
There is an actual fire burning on the road, causing traffic to slow down.

And all the automobiles are slowing down around the fire
Cars are slowing down because of the fire on the road.

There's a blacktop of people that are anxious inside
Crowds of people on the street are feeling worried and uneasy.

They're kinda scared to be heated and no one lied to slip by
They are afraid of getting hurt or in trouble and nobody wants to slip past the scene unnoticed.

The sidewalk cube are coming up from behind
People on the sidewalk are taking notice of the situation behind them.

A 1981 stereo is drunk from the sound
The loud music from a car stereo is overwhelming and excessive.

I see a cadillac approach and him jump to control it
A Cadillac driver is taking control of the situation and speeding away.

He's going away 'cause what he does is more important
The Cadillac driver is prioritizing their own business over the situation on the road.

I tried to stay calm and watch the ambulance pass
The artist is trying to remain calm and watch the ambulance drive past.

But as they call up their schedule, pull out of their lane
The ambulance is pulled out of their lane while trying to stay on schedule.

I had a terrible urge but I tried control it
The singer is fighting against a strong urge to act inappropriately.

Don't get carried away, because what he does is not important
The artist reminds themselves to not act impulsively and prioritize the ongoing situation on the road.

Cars pass in cold blood
Cars are driving by the scene without any emotional attachment, indifferent to the situation.

I hold back, it's hard to
The singer is trying their best to fight against their emotional urges.

I really want to block but realize it's a bad time for that
The singer wants to block the traffic, but realizes it's an inappropriate moment to do so.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CLARK BAECHLE, TODD BEACHLE, JOEL PETERSEN, JACOB THIELE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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