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.
Black Suburbans
Bishop Allen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One, two, and three
Here come the black Suburbans
Looking after me
And I see myself reflected in the tinted windows
And I smile
I feel so safe when they're around me
They got the secret numbers
They got the skeleton key
They got a tap on my telephone line
Finally someone who listens to me
And every night I hear 'em as they crawl around inside of my walls
I guess I must have been suspicious or I'd never tipped 'em off
And if you're feeling lonely
Like just another so-and-so
Write a letter to anyone
They're be looking through your mail, you know
Here come the black Suburbans
One, two, and three
Here come the black Suburbans
Looking after me
And I see myself reflected in the tinted windows
And I smile
I feel so safe when they're around me
I really hope they stay awhile
The song "Black Suburbans" by Bishop Allen is a satirical take on the notion of government surveillance and paranoia. The black Suburbans, referring to the black SUVs often used by government agencies like the CIA and FBI, are portrayed in the lyrics as the protectors of the singer, giving him feelings of safety and security. The tinted windows symbolize the anonymity and secrecy of the government's activities, while the skeleton key and tap on the telephone line illustrate their power to invade personal privacy. The singer appears to be grateful for the attention the government is giving him and even tips them off on his own suspicious behavior, suggesting that he has nothing to hide.
The lyrics can be interpreted as a commentary on the modern surveillance state and how people perceive it. Some might see the government's actions as necessary for safety and protection, while others might view it as an invasion of privacy and a violation of civil liberties. The ambiguity of the lyrics leave the listener to draw their own conclusion about the true intentions of the black Suburbans.
Line by Line Meaning
Here come the black Suburbans
An ominous feeling of fear covers the singer as he sees the arrival of the black Suburbans, signaling the presence of authority.
One, two, and three
The black Suburbans arrive in multiples, suggesting a well-prepared system that keeps watch over the singer.
Looking after me
The black Suburbans represent safety and security to the singer, making him feel less vulnerable.
And I see myself reflected in the tinted windows
The singer feels a sense of familiarity with the Suburbans as he sees his own reflection in their tinted windows.
And I smile
The singer expresses his relief and contentment upon seeing the Suburbans.
I feel so safe when they're around me
The Suburbans provide a sense of security and comfort to the singer in an otherwise hostile environment.
I really hope they stay awhile
The singer hopes the Suburbans would stick around for his own safety and maintenance of order.
They got the secret numbers
The Suburbans possess confidential information that helps them remain in control while monitoring the singer's activities.
They got the skeleton key
The Suburbans have access to every aspect of the singer's life, even unlocking places he thought were secure.
They got a tap on my telephone line
The Suburbans have the ability to intercept and listen in on the singer's private conversations, gaining unlimited surveillance access to his personal world.
Finally someone who listens to me
The singer, feeling helpless and unheard, finds solace in the Suburbans who listen and act upon his complaints and worries.
And every night I hear 'em as they crawl around inside of my walls
The Suburbans move around unnoticed, covertly accessing the parts of the singer's life he thought were secure and private.
I guess I must have been suspicious or I'd never tipped 'em off
The singer assumes he must have shown signs of being suspicious or a wrongdoer, leading the Suburbans to keep a closer eye on him.
And if you're feeling lonely
The singer assumes those who feel alone and abandoned can rely on the Suburbans for reassurance and comfort.
Like just another so-and-so
The singer believes that anyone who feels unimportant and insignificant in society can be looked after by the Suburbans.
Write a letter to anyone
The singer urges people to reach out to the Suburbans via written communication to air their grievances.
They're be looking through your mail, you know
The Suburbans will have access to the recipients' private letters, thereby ensuring further control over their lives.
Contributed by Madison Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.