Their debut album, The Airing of Grievances, was released on the Troubleman Unlimited record label on April 14, 2008 to many positive reviews. The album's loud, heavily distorted guitars are influenced by shoegaze, while the lyrics and song titles are references to various books and other forms of entertainment (such as the album title, from the Seinfeld episode, "The Strike", about Festivus). The Airing of Grievances was reissued on January 20, 2009 on XL Recordings.
The band's second album, The Monitor, was released on March 9, 2010 through XL Recordings to wide critical acclaim, and was cited as one of the best indie albums of the year.
The band has a sizable list of former members, the latest of which, Amy Klein, left the band on October 24, 2011.
Albert Camus
Titus Andronicus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This run-down, one-horse town
One of these days they're gonna crucify me
How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable
It is to be young, dumb, and have lots of money
We will sit upon this grassy knoll
Holding hands and stroking handguns
With pristine souls
I am an asshole, but underneath it all
There is an apathetic heart of gold
So who will be saved,
From the least to the greatest men?
Because even Honest Abe
Sold poison milk to schoolchildren
The blood drive came to Glen Rock High
In a white bus with red letters on the side
And a long shiny needle
They brought to suck me dry
Like missionary mosquitoes in the sky
Now you're doing time for stealing candy from a babe
Because all the kids in Ridgewood have got cell phones these days
And if you wear a mask
They can still read your license plate
And a wireless line
Is a terrible thing to waste
Because the more we think
The less it all makes sense
Tonight we will drink
To our general indifference
Lamb of God
We think nothing of ourselves at all
So, Death, be not proud
Because we don't give a fuck about nothing
And we only want what we are not allowed
The lyrics of "Albert Camus" by Titus Andronicus are complex and provoke critical thinking. The song's opening lines indicate the singer's feeling of persecution and a sense of helplessness to escape the circumstances of their environment. The imagery of being crucified in a one-horse town creates a feeling of isolation despite being surrounded by people. The phrase, "weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable," echoes Hamlet's famous soliloquy about life's meaningless of life. Being young with money can lead to a profound sense of disillusion with the world. The symbolism of holding hands while stroking handguns suggests that while the intentions might seem pure, there is underlying violent intent. The mention of the singer's mother and an "apathetic heart of gold" highlights the complexity of human behavior, especially when it comes to guilt, love, and forgiveness.
The song then transitions into societal commentary, highlighting issues of corruption, power, and morality. The question of who will be saved is a nod toward the concept of salvation and morality, and how they play into the social hierarchy. The reference to Honest Abe, who is often seen as a symbol of moral fortitude, has sold "poison milk to schoolchildren," speaks to the fallacy of hero worship, and the reality that even the most famous figures have their faults. The second half of the song highlights the idea of being swallowed up by the apathy of ignorance, leading to a lack of awareness and a sense of disconnection from things that are important. The mention of death and the sentiment of being indestructible is poignant and paradoxical.
Line by Line Meaning
Running around
Being restless and aimless
This run-down, one-horse town
A boring and poor place where nothing much happens
One of these days they're gonna crucify me
Expecting to be punished unfairly
How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable
Being young, stupid, and rich is not fulfilling
It is to be young, dumb, and have lots of money
Being young, stupid, and rich is not fulfilling
We will sit upon this grassy knoll
Having a romantic moment with guns nearby
Holding hands and stroking handguns
Having a romantic moment with guns nearby
With pristine souls
Being pure and innocent
And even my own mother will tell you
Admitting to being a bad person
I am an asshole, but underneath it all
Admitting to being a bad person
There is an apathetic heart of gold
Being indifferent but still good inside
So who will be saved,
Questioning who will be spared
From the least to the greatest men?
Wondering who will be spared regardless of their status
Because even Honest Abe
Even good people are capable of wrongdoings
Sold poison milk to schoolchildren
Doing something harmful to innocent kids
The blood drive came to Glen Rock High
A donation event happening at a school
In a white bus with red letters on the side
The bus was easy to spot and recognize
And a long shiny needle
The tool used for taking blood
They brought to suck me dry
Taking too much from the singer
Like missionary mosquitoes in the sky
Annoyingly persistent and parasitic like mosquitoes
Now you're doing time for stealing candy from a babe
Being put in jail for petty theft
Because all the kids in Ridgewood have got cell phones these days
The advancement of technology affecting crime and punishment
And if you wear a mask
Trying to hide identity but failing to do so
They can still read your license plate
Technology makes evading punishment difficult
And a wireless line
The internet technology
Is a terrible thing to waste
Not taking advantage of internet technology is foolish
Because the more we think
Overthinking leads to confusion
The less it all makes sense
Overthinking leads to confusion
Tonight we will drink
Drinking to ignore life's problems
To our general indifference
Drinking to ignore life's problems
Lamb of God
Addressing God as being innocent
We think nothing of ourselves at all
Having low self-esteem
So, Death, be not proud
Not fearing death
Because we don't give a fuck about nothing
Being indifferent
And we only want what we are not allowed
Being rebellious
Contributed by Tyler O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@joant.m2099
Corriendo por este pueblo decaído y de un solo caballo
Uno de estos días, me van a crucificar
Qué cansado, rancio, plano e inútil es ser joven, tonto y tener mucho dinero
Nos sentaremos en este montículo cubierto de hierba,
tomados de la mano y acariciando las pistolas, con almas prístinas,
e incluso mi propia madre te dirá que soy un imbécil,
pero debajo de todo, hay un corazón apático de oro
Entonces, ¿quién será salvo, desde el más pequeño hasta el más grande de los hombres? Porque incluso Honest Abe vendió leche de posion a los escolares.
El impulso de sangre llegó a Glen Rock High en un autobús blanco con letras rojas en el costado y una aguja larga y brillante que trajeron para aspirarme como misóginos misioneros en el cielo. Ahora estás haciendo tiempo para robar dulces de un bebé porque todos los niños en Ridgewood tienen teléfonos celulares en estos días y si usas una máscara, todavía pueden leer tu matrícula y una línea inalámbrica es algo terrible que perder. Porque cuanto más pensamos, cuanto menos tenga sentido, esta noche vamos a beber para nuestra indiferencia general.
Cordero de Dios, no pensamos nada de nosotros mismos en absoluto
Entonces, Muerte, no te enorgullezcas porque no nos importa nada y solo queremos lo que no se nos permite
@joant.m2099
Corriendo por este pueblo decaído y de un solo caballo
Uno de estos días, me van a crucificar
Qué cansado, rancio, plano e inútil es ser joven, tonto y tener mucho dinero
Nos sentaremos en este montículo cubierto de hierba,
tomados de la mano y acariciando las pistolas, con almas prístinas,
e incluso mi propia madre te dirá que soy un imbécil,
pero debajo de todo, hay un corazón apático de oro
Entonces, ¿quién será salvo, desde el más pequeño hasta el más grande de los hombres? Porque incluso Honest Abe vendió leche de posion a los escolares.
El impulso de sangre llegó a Glen Rock High en un autobús blanco con letras rojas en el costado y una aguja larga y brillante que trajeron para aspirarme como misóginos misioneros en el cielo. Ahora estás haciendo tiempo para robar dulces de un bebé porque todos los niños en Ridgewood tienen teléfonos celulares en estos días y si usas una máscara, todavía pueden leer tu matrícula y una línea inalámbrica es algo terrible que perder. Porque cuanto más pensamos, cuanto menos tenga sentido, esta noche vamos a beber para nuestra indiferencia general.
Cordero de Dios, no pensamos nada de nosotros mismos en absoluto
Entonces, Muerte, no te enorgullezcas porque no nos importa nada y solo queremos lo que no se nos permite
@5033kamakazi
perhaps some of the best lyrics to end an album ever - "so Death be not proud, we don't give a f*ck about nothing, and we only want what we are not allowed"
@Fluppezot
I am amazed by the greatness of this song, it's epic! Are the lyrics from the work of Camus?
@SweetCousinCocaine
Love that Simpsons reference. Such an incredible song.
@susanallison1598
I do love that somewhere there is someone more verbose and pretentious than I. Saves me the trouble. Plus so much better than i might.
@iSatyajeet
This is absurd. I need a cigarette right now!
@Clashchileno
oh, man.. this really made me cry.. it really did
@davidfrancis5514
Very often, you don't realize things at the time, but rather much later... clarity... only when time has passed...
@5033kamakazi
beautiful
@cubyman23
Does anyone know the chords?