Condon recorded before Beirut was established: when he was fifteen and under the name of Realpeople, he made an electronic record, fashioned after his love for The Magnetic Fields. Condon was a straight-A student until he dropped out at the age of 17 to travel Europe with his cousin in a drunken haze, cavorting and partying with the locals wherever he ended up. It was during one of these evenings that he was first exposed to Balkan music (notably including the Boban Marković Orkestar and Goran Bregović), blasting from the upstairs apartment. Condon ended up with the Serbian artists all night, going through albums country by country, note for note.
The first album under the Beirut moniker, Gulag Orkestar (2006), was the direct result of what he learned that night. While it may sound like an entire Balkan orchestra playing modern songs as mournful ballads and upbeat marches, the album was performed and recorded almost entirely by Condon alone. He did so on Pro Tools while skipping school in Albuquerque and at Sea Side Studios in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Jeremy Barnes added percussion and some violin overlays.
After recording, Condon formed a full band which at times varies in the number of members, from six to ten. Live he is accompanied by Perrin Cloutier (cello/accordion), Jason Poranski (guitar/mandolin/ukulele), Nick Petree (drums), Kristin Ferebee (violin), Paul Collins (organ/keys/tambourine/ukulele), Jon Natchez (baritone sax/mandolin/glockenspiel), and Kelly Pratt (trumpet/euphonium).
In November 2006 Condon was "briefly hospitalized for extreme exhaustion", the band's website said, and as a consequence the band cancelled the rest of the tour. They resumed performing in March 2007 and released their second album, The Flying Club Cup the same year on October 9th. Parts of the album were performed and recorded by Condon in his bedroom again, but others were recorded with the live band, which resulted in a more organic, live sound. While writing, Condon said he was inspired by French music, like Jacques Brel (whose song Le Moribond he covered on his Elephant Gun EP), and he moved to Paris for a while. During the extensive tour in support of The Flying Club Cup, Condon and the band more or less fell apart from exhaustion once again and disappeared from the radar in April 2008.
Condon took a long break and returned in 2009 with a double EP, March of the Zapotec & Realpeople: Holland. The first was partly recorded in Mexico with the Mexican Band Jimenez and had a more South-American flavour to it than Condon's previous efforts. The second EP 'Holland' was credited to Condon's old name Realpeople and consisted of five electrotracks, once more in the vein of The Magnetic Fields.
The band's album "The Rip Tide" was released in 2011.
Albums
* Gulag Orkestar (May 9, 2006)
* The Flying Club Cup (October 9, 2007)
* The Rip Tide (August 2, 2011)
* No No No (September 11, 2015)
* Gallipoli (February 1, 2019)
* Artifacts (January 28, 2022)
EPs
* Lon Gisland EP (January 30, 2007)
* Pompeii (February 28, 2007)
* Elephant Gun (June 25, 2007)
* March of the Zapotec & Realpeople: Holland (February 17, 2009)
* East Harlem (June 7, 2011)
* The Berlin-Albuquerque Sessions (November 22, 2022)
Official website: www.beirutband.com
Vagabond
Beirut Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A trail of stones
Forward to find my way home
Now as the air grows cold
The trees unfolds
And I am lost
And not found
And who knows
And who knows
Now left the vagabonds
A trail of stones
Forward to find my way home
Now as the air grows cold
The truth unfolds
And I am lost
And not found
And not found
The lyrics of "Vagabond" by Beirut speak to the feelings of restlessness and uncertainty that come with leaving behind one's previous lifestyle in search of a new path. The singer describes "left the vagabonds," suggesting that they have recently parted ways with a group of wandering individuals who perhaps do not share the same goals or values. Despite leaving behind a "trail of stones," or perhaps clues left behind to mark their journey, the singer is still "lost and not found" as they try to navigate their way towards a new home. The repetition of the phrase "who knows" highlights this sense of ambiguity and unpredictability, as the future is impossible to predict and the path forward is unclear. The description of the cold air and the unfolding trees emphasizes the change of seasons and the passage of time, further highlighting the fleeting nature of the vagabond lifestyle.
The theme of searching for home is a common one in Beirut's music, with many of their songs exploring the idea of belonging and identity. "Vagabond" in particular seems to be about the struggle to find a sense of stability and purpose when one has left behind the comforts of familiarity. The repetition of the phrase "not found" in the final lines of the song suggests a sense of disappointment, as the singer has not yet found what they are looking for. However, the fact that they are still searching suggests a sense of resilience and determination to keep moving forward, even in the face of uncertainty.
Line by Line Meaning
Left the vagabonds
I have departed from the group of wandering people
A trail of stones
I left a path for myself to follow
Forward to find my way home
I am moving ahead to discover my direction towards a familiar place
Now as the air grows cold
At present, the atmosphere is becoming chilly
The trees unfolds
The trees in my surroundings are revealing themselves
And I am lost
I am unsure of my location
And not found
I haven't yet reached my intended destination
And who knows
There is uncertainty regarding the outcome
And who knows
The result is still unknown
And who knows
It's impossible to predict the ending
Now left the vagabonds
I have finally departed from my wandering peers
A trail of stones
I have laid out a path for myself to follow
Forward to find my way home
I am determined to move ahead and find my way back home
Now as the air grows cold
At present, the temperature is falling
The truth unfolds
The reality of my situation is becoming apparent
And I am lost
I am still uncertain of my location
And not found
I still haven't reached my final destination
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ZACH CONDON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@danielnunez1587
Left the vagabonds
A trail of stones
Forward to find my way home
Now as the air grows cold
The trees unfolds
And I am lost
And not found
And who knows
And who knows
And who knows
Now left the vagabonds
A trail of stones
Forward to find my way home
Now as the air grows cold
The truth unfolds
And I am lost
And not found
And not found
@amandamiranda8127
Left a bag of bones
A trail of stones
For to find my way home
Now, as the air grows cold
The trees unfold
And I am lost and not found
And who'd know?
Left a bag of bones
A trail of stones
For to find my way home
Now, as the air grows cold
The trees unfold
And I am lost and not found
@kleenk5339
I listened to this band when I thought I'd never fall in love, live my life, grow up. Now I dance to it with my children and love it all the same.
@nit2092
This comment was beautiful to read, thank you.
@johngarbi3011
What a beautiful thought. I feel a very similar thing when listening to this bank.
@celizabeth1625
same ❤
@SolracCAP
Happy for you 🍺
@marksaunders2727
Same, my kids love it even though I found this music long before they arrived
@Chosasan992
A special girl showed me this band.. I will never forget her nor them
@fauxpaspleasedontpanic5076
oneworldonelove. u should send her a lovely text my man. she deserves it
@isuuuuuuuuuuu
Did you?
@uliseschavez1114
Me too