Bishop Allen is an American indie rock band which formed in Brooklyn, New Y… Read Full Bio ↴Bishop Allen is an American indie rock band which formed in Brooklyn, New York, United States in 2003. The band's core members are Justin Rice and Christian Rudder, who are supported both on stage and in the studio by a rotating cast of musicial collaborators. Currently the band consists of Justin Rice (vocals, guitar), Christian Rudder (guitar), Darbie Nowatka-Rice (keyboards, violin), Keith Poulson (bass) and Michael Tapper (drums). Tapper is a former member of the indie rock band We Are Scientists.

The band takes its name from Bishop Allen Drive in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where the two lived together after college and has released three albums, "Charm School" (2003), "The Broken String" (2007) and "Grrr..." (2009).

Charm School (2003)

Charm School was Bishop Allen's first record. Recorded in fits and starts over two years, it grew song-by-song as Rice and Rudder wrote and played in their spare time. They recorded all the instruments on the album's 13 songs themselves, using drum loops to hide the fact that neither is a drummer, and almost everything on the record was recorded one track at a time in an ordinary bedroom. Backing vocals by Bonnie Schiff-Glenn and Kate Dollenmayer and supplementary drums by Coll Anderson, all added in the album's final stages, completed the songs.

The EP Project (2006)

In 2006, Bishop Allen recorded and released an EP every month of the year. Each record was titled for the month of its release (January, February, and so on), and, with the exception of August, which was a 14-song live disc, each contained four new studio songs.

The Broken String (2007)

In November 2006, Bishop Allen signed to Dead Oceans, a new sister label to Secretly Canadian and Jagjaguwar, for a modest advance. They began recording a new record that January, at Blackwatch Studios in Norman, Oklahoma, and delivered it two months later. This is Bishop Allen's first true studio recording and was released by Dead Oceans on July 24, 2007.

Grrr.... (2009)

Released in March 2009, this doesn't stray from Bishop Allen's specific brand of lovely indie pop.

Another Wasted Night
Bishop Allen Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well, you're up all night
Praying for a little salvation
But I'm restless and my feet they want to walk
Here's something you can do
If you want to try something new:
Come along with me, and we'll wander off a wasted night

Well, the wind blows cold

And it sharpens your frustration
But the weary souls they always share a smile
Here's something you can do
If you want to try something new:
Come along with me, and we'll wander off a wasted night

5 6 7 8
Let's stay up late!

Well, there's no church bells
Gonna ring us up a salutation
But somewhere in the night we'll find our home
Here's something you can do

If you want to try something new
Come along with me, and we'll wander off a wasted night

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Bishop Allen's song "Another Wasted Night" are about two people who have different perspectives on how to spend their time. One person wants to pray for salvation and seek a higher purpose, while the other is restless and wants to wander aimlessly through the night. The latter person invites the former to join them on their wandering, suggesting that this could be a new and exciting experience for both of them.

The first verse sets up the contrast between the two characters. The person who wants to pray is presented as someone who is trying to find meaning and purpose in their life. They are up all night seeking "a little salvation." Meanwhile, the second person is eager to move and explore. Their restless feet "want to walk." They suggest that the person who wants to pray should try something new - wander off on a wasted night with them.

The second verse continues the theme of restlessness but adds a sense of frustration. The wind is blowing cold and sharpening the person's frustration. However, the weary souls they encounter along the way "always share a smile." This verse suggests that there is something liberating and joyful about wandering without a clear destination. The chorus provides a rallying cry to stay up late and enjoy the night.

Overall, the song seems to be advocating for the value of letting go of plans and expectations and simply enjoying the moment. It suggests that there is something freeing and exciting about wandering without a clear sense of purpose or direction.

Line by Line Meaning

Well, you're up all night
You are staying up all night

Praying for a little salvation
You are praying for some help or rescue

But I'm restless and my feet they want to walk
I am feeling unsettled and have an urge to go for a walk

Here's something you can do
I have a suggestion for you

If you want to try something new:
If you are interested in something different

Come along with me, and we'll wander off a wasted night
Join me on an adventure where we explore the night without any specific purpose

Well, the wind blows cold
The wind is chilly

And it sharpens your frustration
It makes your frustration more intense

But the weary souls they always share a smile
However, people who are tired still manage to find joy in the company of others

5 6 7 8
Counting down to encourage staying up late

Let's stay up late!
Let's not go to sleep yet