Hospitality released its first self-titled EP in 2008. It came about after the band met Karl Blau at a show they both played at the Cake Shop. Blau heard Hospitality's soundcheck and asked if he could record them in exchange for Hospitality acting as his backing band sometime in the future. The EP garnered a few favorable reviews and earned Hospitality the title of band to watch from Stereogum.com.
Hospitality remained quiet for the next few years as they worked on side projects and Papini tended to a death in the family. They eventually recorded their first full length album and signed to Merge Records in September 2011.
They released their second album, Trouble, in 2014.
Betty Wang
Hospitality Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cut your hair and clean your sleeves
I don’t care where you live
Or how far uptown it is
Across the street we could meet at the Edison Hotel
Bought you lunch
Bought you sleep
Took you up my stairs to meet
Su Chia
Su Chia
Su Chia
Su Chia
If you have to be back by 9
Telephone the report
Take a taxi ten before
You're the only girl on the team
You don't golf
You don't smoke
You don't understand their jokes
Su Chia
Su Chia
Su Chia
Su Chia
If you leave New York
I don't care, I don't care
If you leave New York
I don't care
I'll follow you back to Tokyo
Betty Wang, you don't lie
When you give career advice
Off the clock, at a bar
Singing Hammerstein and George
You're the only friend on the team
You don't laugh when you joke
I appreciate your time
Su Chia
Su Chia
Su Chia
Su Chia
The song "Betty Wang" by Hospitality is a tale of friendship and admiration between the singer and Betty Wang. The lyrics suggest that the singer is willing to go to great lengths to spend time with Betty, regardless of her background, social class, or location. The mention of the Edison Hotel and taking Betty up the stairs to meet Su Chia suggests the possibility of romantic feelings between the two, but it is not explicitly stated in the lyrics.
The song also highlights the contrasts between Betty and the other women on the singer's team. Betty is portrayed as a bit of an outsider, not participating in their activities, and not understanding their jokes. However, the singer seems to appreciate Betty's unique qualities and values their friendship in a way that is different from their other coworkers. The lyrics suggest that Betty offers career advice and is a great listener, as the singer appreciates the time she spends with them off the clock at a bar singing show tunes.
Line by Line Meaning
Betty Wang wear your jeans
I want you to feel comfortable and be yourself while spending time with me.
Cut your hair and clean your sleeves
I don't want you to feel pressured to impress me with your appearance.
I don’t care where you live
Your living situation doesn't determine your worth in my eyes.
Or how far uptown it is
I'm willing to go out of my way to spend time with you.
Across the street we could meet at the Edison Hotel
I'll suggest convenient meeting spots for us to hang out.
Bought you lunch
I'm happy to treat you to a meal.
Bought you sleep
I'm willing to provide you with a place to stay if you need it.
Took you up my stairs to meet
I want to introduce you to my friends and make you feel welcome.
Su Chia
This may be a personal reference or have no specific meaning.
If you have to be back by 9
I respect your commitments and schedule.
Telephone the report
Please let me know if you need to leave early so I can plan accordingly.
Take a taxi ten before
I want you to have a safe and reliable method of transportation.
You're the only girl on the team
I acknowledge the challenges and isolation you may face as a woman in a male-dominated environment.
You don't golf
Your interests don't have to align with traditional expectations for women to be valid.
You don't smoke
I don't want you to feel pressured to conform to social norms or be someone you're not.
You don't understand their jokes
Your difficulty comprehending their humor doesn't reflect negatively on you, but rather highlights their exclusionary behavior.
If you leave New York
Your physical location doesn't alter the fondness and respect I hold for you.
I'll follow you back to Tokyo
I'm willing to go to great lengths to maintain a connection with you.
Betty Wang, you don't lie
I appreciate your honesty and transparency in our interactions.
When you give career advice
Your expertise in your field is admirable, and I value your input and guidance.
Off the clock, at a bar
I want to spend time with you in a non-professional setting and get to know you better.
Singing Hammerstein and George
I appreciate your shared interests and willingness to engage in cultural activities with me.
You're the only friend on the team
I consider you a friend and not just a coworker, and I wish to foster that relationship.
You don't laugh when you joke
You don't need to feign amusement at others' jokes to fit in or be accepted, and I respect your authenticity.
I appreciate your time
I recognize and value the effort and commitment you put into spending time with me.
Contributed by Isabella N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.