Gibbard has been actively writing, recording and releasing music since 1994, when he graduated from Olypmic High School. He appeared as a guest on Jimmy Tamborello's (his Postal Service collaborator) Dntel album entitled Life is Full of Possibilities (2001) - Specifically, he contributed vocals to the song "(This Is) The Dream of Evan and Chan.". In addition, played bass for the band Pedro the Lion on their 2000 tour, and he played drums on the song 'Carparts' for The Long Winters' 2002 album, "The Worst You Can Do Is Harm." He has also released a split EP with Andrew Kenny (of American Analog Set) in the Home Series on the Post-Parlo record label on March 30, 2004. Styrofoam's 2004 album Nothing's Lost features Gibbard's vocals on the track "Couches in Alleys." Additionally, Ben contributed vocals to a song (Handle With Care) on Rilo Kiley frontwoman Jenny Lewis's side project Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins's album, Rabbit Fur Coat.
Gibbard will make his acting debut in the film "Brief Interviews with Hideous Men," an adaptation of David Foster Wallace's collection of short stories. Actor John Krasinski (NBC's "The Office") wrote the screenplay and directed the film.
Lady Adelaide
Ben Gibbard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Colder than a wave in the Arctic Ocean.
She waited all her years for those three words
That never reached her ears, they just went unheard.
Porcelain and frail, slender shoulders,
A breeze or gusty gail could knock her over.
She knew a handsome man, she gave her body,
Now she's a bird with a broken wing,
She likes the ideas of things
More than what they are bound to bring,
Lady Adelaide.
And with her beauty in slow fade,
She is so fearful they will say
That she is a bed that's been unmade,
Lady Adelaide.
Now she's a bird with a broken wing,
She likes the ideas of things
More than what they are bound to bring,
Lady Adelaide.
And with her beauty in slow fade,
She is so fearful they will say
That she is a bed that's been unmade,
Lady Adelaide.
Lady Adelaide shows no emotion,
Colder than a wave in the Arctic Ocean.
She waited all her years for those three words
That never reached her ears, they just went unheard.
The song Lady Adelaide by Ben Gibbard tells a heartbreaking story of a woman who is cold, fragile, and emotionally detached. She has been waiting for ‘those three words’ for her entire life, but they never arrived, leaving her emotionally distant and unable to handle love. The song uses vivid imagery to paint a picture of a woman who is like a porcelain doll, beautiful but fragile. She meets a man who uses her body but doesn’t take her hand, leading to a softly broken heart. Lady Adelaide is left feeling hopeless and stuck in her past because her unrequited love has shattered her self-esteem and confidence.
The song highlights the theme of unrequited love and the emotional turmoil that it can leave behind. The character of Lady Adelaide is a tragic depiction of someone who has given up on love and has only been hurt by it. She is unable to trust and emotionally connect with others. The song also touches upon the idea of beauty fading away, leaving nothing but regret behind. It portrays Adelaide as a bed that has been unmade, a metaphor that conveys a sense of sadness and hopelessness.
Line by Line Meaning
Lady Adelaide shows no emotion,
Lady Adelaide is always emotionless and unresponsive.
Colder than a wave in the Arctic Ocean.
Her coldness is beyond compare, as cold as the Arctic Ocean’s waves.
She waited all her years for those three words
Lady Adelaide hoped for many years to hear three little words from someone she loved.
That never reached her ears, they just went unheard.
Unfortunately, her hopes were dashed as she never got to hear those three words she had waited so long for.
Porcelain and frail, slender shoulders,
Lady Adelaide is delicate and fragile, with thin, weak shoulders.
A breeze or gusty gail could knock her over.
She is so weak and fragile that even the slightest wind could easily knock her down.
She knew a handsome man, she gave her body,
Lady Adelaide loved a handsome man deeply, and she even gave him her heart and soul.
But he did not take her hand, and her heart broke softly.
Sadly, the man she loved did not reciprocate her love, and she was left heartbroken.
Now she's a bird with a broken wing,
Lady Adelaide is now like a bird with a broken wing, wounded and unable to fly.
She likes the ideas of things
She loves the concept of things and ideas more than the reality.
More than what they are bound to bring,
She prefers the potential of something to the actual outcome it brings.
And with her beauty in slow fade,
As Lady Adelaide is aging, her beauty is slowly diminishing.
She is so fearful they will say
She is scared of what people may say.
That she is a bed that's been unmade,
She fears that people will label her as a used and undesirable lover.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Colleen Ross
I love how his voice just sounds perfect from beginning to end!
Mary Sittig
Got this song stuck in my head, from Parenthood.
m l
Mary Sittig what scene in parenthood??
Brandon Heath Shaw
Same 😊
collieflower922
Love this song!!!!!
Sierra G
I just love indie music. I can't even describe why.
Reinster321
Best tune of the albom IMO. The chorus is sweeeeet.
Alex Bennett
Ben gibbard so amazing !
Savannah C. P.
Oh my gosh. That was beautiful.
Taylah Robinson
I heard it from Parenthood as well, and after that, I was hooked!