Recording mostly live, the band released its debut, Almost Killed Me, on French Kiss Records in March 2004 and Separation Sunday a year later. In April 2006 the band signed to Vagrant Records and entered the studio on the 1st of May to begin work on their third record, Boys and Girls in America. Released in October, it was one of the most critically acclaimed records of 2006 and reached a much larger audience than its predecessors.
The band released their fourth album, Stay Positive, recorded again with Boys and Girls in America producer John Agnello. Nicolay left the group and on May 4, 2010 the band released their fifth studio album, Heaven Is Whenever, recorded with producer Dean Baltulonis.
On July 15, 2008, Stay Positive was released. It debuted at #30 on the Billboard 200. It debuted on the UK Album Chart at #15 on July 20, the third-highest new entry. It ranked #1 on the UK Indie Chart. The album was named the best of 2008 by Entertainment Weekly. The song "Constructive Summer" was number 56 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Best Songs of 2008.
Their seventh album, Thrashing Thru the Passion, was released in 2019. Among its songs, "Entitlement Crew" and "Confusion in the Marketplace," were considered standouts.
Barfruit Blues
The Hold Steady Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kids with kidney stones giving birth to bloody stereos
Systems are all dripping wet with the gristle piss and the swizzlesticks
Mary got a bloody nose from sniffing margarita mix
She licked her lower lip and then she kissed that Hallelujah chick
She came off kind of spicy but she tasted like those pickle chips
Thought she was a dancer but her steps they made the records skip
Dripping wet with the special sauce
She had a confident smile and a nervous cough
And we got off
She said "It's good to see you back in a bar band, baby"
I said "It's great to see you're still in the bars"
She said "It's good to see you back in a bar band, baby"
I said "It's great to see you're still in the bars"
Went down with a tallboy can and he woke up in a cargo van
Went down with the Girls Gone Wild and he woke up with a middle man
Went down with like fourteen bucks and woke up with like sixteen grand
Went down with some crust punk junk and woke up with a straight edge band
That's not how he planned it
Holly can't speak, she don't feel all that sweet
About the places she sometimes has to go to get some sleep
She said "I'm sorry, people think I'm pretty"
These clever kids are killing me
For one they ain't that clever
Number two, it really sucks when you get stuck here with these Trevors
This was supposed to be a party
Half the crowd is calling out for "Born To Run"
The other half is calling out for "Born To Lose"
Baby, we were born to choose
We got the last call bar band really, really, really big decision blues
We were born to bruise
We were born to bruise
The song Barfruit Blues by The Hold Steady is a narrative about the gritty, seemingly hopeless world of bar culture. The lyrics describe a cast of characters who struggle with addiction, brokenness, and disillusionment. The line "Kids with broken hearts, kids with broken bones" sets the tone for the song and tells us that the people in this world are suffering from both emotional and physical pain. The following lines paint a vivid picture of this world where even the sound systems are "dripping wet with gristle piss and swizzle sticks."
The song goes on to describe Mary, who has a bloody nose from sniffing margarita mix, and Holly, who can't speak and doesn't feel all that sweet. The lyrics suggest that these women have to go to dark places to find some semblance of rest in a world that's killing them. The chorus, "We were born to bruise," implies that these characters are resigned to their fate and that they are unable to break free from this cycle of pain and misery.
The song's lyrics emphasize the futility of the bar culture, where people go to find solace in the bottom of a bottle, only to wake up with regrets, lost memories, and broken dreams. The song's narrative provides a stark glimpse into the bleakness of bar culture, where hope is elusive, and pain is the only constant.
Line by Line Meaning
Kids with broken hearts, kids with broken bones.
There are people in this world who are emotionally and physically hurt.
Kids with kidney stones giving birth to bloody stereos.
People who are already in pain are creating more pain by creating loud music.
Systems are all dripping wet with gristle piss and swizzle sticks.
The world is in a state of decay and filth.
Mary's got a bloody nose from sniffing margarita mix.
Mary has been using drugs and has caused damage to herself.
She licked her lower lip and then she kissed that hallelujah chick.
Mary is sexually attracted to another woman.
She came off kind of spicy but she tasted like those pickle chips.
Mary seemed exciting at first, but ended up being disappointing.
We thought she was a dancer but her steps they made the records skip.
Mary wasn't a very good dancer.
She came off kind of crunchy but she went down like a chicken strip.
Mary seemed tough and unapproachable, but ended up being easy to get with.
Dripping wet with the special sauce. she had a confidence smile and a nervous cough.
Mary was aroused and confident, but also nervous.
We got off.
We had sex with Mary.
She said it's good to see you back in a bar band, baby.
Mary is happy to see the singer still playing music.
I said it's great to see you're still in the bars.
The artist is happy to see Mary still going out to bars.
Went down on the tallboy cans and he woke up in a cargo van.
Someone drank a lot of beer and ended up in an unexpected situation.
Went down with the girls gone wild and he woke up with the middle man.
Someone partied with wild women and ended up with a mediocre man.
Went down with like fourteen bucks and woke up with like sixteen grand.
Someone went gambling and ended up winning a lot of money.
Went down with some crust punk junk and woke up with a straight edge band.
Someone went to a punk show and ended up liking a straight edge band.
That's not how he planned it.
The outcome was unexpected or undesired.
Holly can't speak. she don't feel all that sweet.
Holly is unable to communicate and doesn't feel well.
About the places that she sometimes has to go to get some sleep.
Holly has to go to undesirable places in order to sleep.
She said I'm sorry people think I'm pretty. these clever kids are killing me.
Holly is unhappy with the attention she receives and feels oppressed.
For one they ain't that clever.
The people oppressing Holly are not actually intelligent or clever.
Number two, it really sucks when you get stuck here with these Trevors.
It's frustrating to be stuck with unpleasant or unenjoyable people.
This was supposed to be a party.
The situation was supposed to be enjoyable.
Half the crowd is calling out for born to run and the other half is calling out for born to lose.
The crowd is divided and wants different things.
Baby we were born to choose.
We have the power to make our own decisions.
We got the last call bar band really big decision blues.
We are feeling the weight of a big decision and are playing music to cope.
We were born to bruise.
Life is painful and leaves us with emotional bruises.
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Craig Finn, Tad Jason Kubler
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Adam Flores
First song I ever heard from these guys about 15 years ago
Krista K
New cd coming! Can't wait. #theunifiedscene.
Diego Mata
This song sounds like the stooges and that's awesome
Andy Smith
Seen them at the Granada back in Lawrence KS for my 21st bday back in 2011 I think , them rocky Erickson , and another band I can't recall
Brianna Bush
Kids with broken hearts, kids with broken bones.
Kids with kidney stones giving birth to bloody stereos.
Systems are all dripping wet with gristle piss and swizzle sticks.
Mary's got a bloody nose from sniffing margarita mix.
She licked her lower lip and then she kissed that hallelujah chick.
She came off kind of spicy but she tasted like those pickle chips.
We thought she was a dancer but her steps they made the records skip.
She came off kind of crunchy but she went down like a chicken strip.
Dripping wet with the special sauce. she had a confidence smile and a nervous cough.
We got off.
She said it's good to see you back in a bar band, baby.
I said it's great to see you're still in the bars.
Went down on the tallboy cans and he woke up in a cargo van.
Went down with the girls gone wild and he woke up with the middle man.
Went down with like fourteen bucks and woke up with like sixteen grand.
Went down with some crust punk junk and woke up with a straight edge band.
That's not how he planned it.
Holly can't speak. she don't feel all that sweet.
About the places that she sometimes has to go to get some sleep.
She said I'm sorry people think I'm pretty. these clever kids are killing me.
For one they ain't that clever.
Number two, it really sucks when you get stuck here with these Trevors.
This was supposed to be a party.
Half the crowd is calling out for born to run and the other half is calling out for born to lose.
Baby we were born to choose.
We got the last call bar band really big decision blues.
We were born to bruise.