Paul Dempsey formed Something For Kate just after leaving high school in 1994 with school friend, drummer Clint Hyndman. They then found bass player, Julian Carroll from an advertisement in a record store. The three played only a couple of shows and released a demo tape before they were approached by Chris Dunn, then A&R representative for Sony subsidiary label Murmur records who signed them instantly. All members were 17 years old. Dempsey wrote all songs and lyrics and after releasing 2 EP's, the band went to New Zealand to record their first album, Elsewhere for Eight Minutes. In 1998, he then released a solo album under the name Scared of Horses for which he wrote and played all the music whilst inviting guest vocalists to record the vocals. After this came album number 2, Beautiful Sharks for which Paul and the band won a Music Critics Award for Best Australian Album and Best Australian Live band and 2 ARIA nominations. This album gained much critical acclaim in particular for Paul's insightful lyrics and unique and understated observations on science, physics, astronomy and a general questioning nature. It was album no. 3 Echolalia, that really propelled Paul into being recognized as one of Australia's most gifted songwriters. He was voted Best Male Vocalist in Rolling Stone and the album was nominated for 5 ARIA Awards. It debuted at No.2 and has gone on to sell double platinum. Paul experienced writers block and depression (see below) at around this time. He and the band toured the U.S and Europe while he tried to write lyrics for the band's fourth album. No doubt feeling the pressure from the band's success, it wasn't until 2003 that The Official Fiction was released. Debuting at Number 1, this album displayed Paul's lyrical talent and maturity and a sense of anger at the political events of the time.
In 2003 Paul also produced and played drums, bass, guitar and keyboards on the Givegoods' 2003 album I Want to Kill a Rich Man , the side project for Tom Morgan and Evan Dando.
In 2005 after another bout of writer's block and debilitating depression, Paul and the band went to Los Angeles to make album number 5, Desert Lights which again displayed another leap in Paul's songwriting abilities and unique observations on the world around him. The album was released in 2006 and again debuted at Number 1 pointing to the longevity of the band and Paul's uniqueness in an ever changing musical climate.
In 2007 Paul began writing his first official solo album and produced the debut album for Melbourne singer-songwriter Brendan Welch titled The Gleaner.
Paul has also appeared on several of Melbourne Dance Artist T-Rek albums, playing a variety of instruments on the albums as well as playing keyopards on Melbourne band, The Nation Blue's album, 'Protest Songs'.
Recording was completed for Paul's debut solo album in April 2009 in Los Angeles with Mix engineer/ producer, Doug Boehm. The first song to be released from the album is titled Out the Airlock and was initially given away as a very limited free download on http://www.pauldempseymusic.com. The single was released through "itunes" May 15 2009.
The Daily Telegraph revealed on May 29 that the title of Dempsey's album is Everything Is True and is to be release on August 14 2009
Bats
Paul Dempsey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And a swinging wire door that slams shut like a guillotine
Strum a note up in the wires
To send bats down the river, seagulls around spires
And shred all the twilight, scatter it city-wide
Those average angels
The drunken saints with heavy heads
They can keep dreaming,
Dreaming of sleep down the end of the bed
But nobody's ever gonna break your heart again...
And the high-pitched, crooked thoughts
That ricocheted off the walls
She just set them down quiet, safe in her dresser drawer
She laid me out on the laundromat floor
And said you'll be not nearly who you were anymore
And i'll always be here to remind you what time is for
And those average angels
The drunken saints with heavy heads
You see their spirits are cowering under the table
And they're still counting,
Counting the breaths under their breath
But nobody's ever...
Nobody's ever gonna break your heart again...
The lyrics of Paul Dempsey's song "Bats" are layered with imagery and allusions that reveal an emotional journey of healing and growth. The first stanza paints a picture of a person trying to rebuild their memory by burning leaves and using a swinging wire door to create an atmosphere that will send bats down the river and gulls around the spires. The singer then talks of shredding all the twilight, indicating an intention to move beyond the past, into a new reality.
In the second stanza, the idea of those average angels and drunken saints is introduced. The singer is suggesting that those who seem to have it all together on the outside are grappling with their own demons. The singer is telling the listener that they need not worry about ending up like them, that nobody is ever going to break their heart again. This could be seen as a promise of protection or an acknowledgment of a personal strength the singer sees in the listener.
The third and final stanza refers to the high-pitched, crooked thoughts that ricocheted off the walls. The listener has put these thoughts aside, safe in her dresser drawer. Then, she lays the singer out on the laundromat floor, indicating an act of care or tenderness. She reminds him that he will not be who he once was, but she is there to remind him of what time is for. This could be interpreted as the singer finding comfort in someone he trusts and who cares for him, knowing that he is not alone and has someone who will help him navigate his journey.
Overall, "Bats" is a song about the process of healing and growth after experiencing heartbreak or trauma. It acknowledges the pain and darkness that can come with those experiences but offers the listener hope and the promise of a brighter future.
Line by Line Meaning
Come rebuild your memory with a small mountain of burning leaves
Recall forgotten moments by watching a stack of leaves burning.
And a swinging wire door that slams shut like a guillotine
Observe a door that crashes like an executioner's device.
Strum a note up in the wires
Play a tune on the wires above.
To send bats down the river, seagulls around spires
Create notes to attract bats to the water and seagulls to building tops.
And shred all the twilight, scatter it city-wide
Break down the evening and scatter it throughout the city.
Those average angels
Average or unremarkable saints or good beings.
The drunken saints with heavy heads
Saints that drink excessively and have burdensome thoughts.
They can keep dreaming,
They can maintain their dreams,
Dreaming of sleep down the end of the bed
Dream of sleeping at the bed's edge.
But nobody's ever gonna break your heart again...
But nobody will break your heart again...
And the high-pitched, crooked thoughts
The strange, high-pitched thoughts that are difficult to comprehend.
That ricocheted off the walls
That bounced around the walls.
She just set them down quiet, safe in her dresser drawer
She safely set them aside in a dresser drawer.
She laid me out on the laundromat floor
She left me on the laundromat floor.
And said you'll be not nearly who you were anymore
And mentioned that you will not be who you were before.
And i'll always be here to remind you what time is for
And I will be here always to remind you why time exists.
You see their spirits are cowering under the table
You notice their spirits hiding under the table.
And they're still counting,
And they are still counting,
Counting the breaths under their breath
Counting their breaths quietly.
But nobody's ever...
But nobody will ever...
Nobody's ever gonna break your heart again...
Nobody will ever break your heart again...
Contributed by Caden K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.