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.
Little Black Ache
Bishop Allen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tried to make a friend, but it ended with a fight
I don't know why, and I don't know when
But my keys have found a way to lock me out again
Sleeping on the subway in my interview tie
Wander through the rain, sit and wonder why
I haven't got a plan, I haven't got a clue
I got my little black ache (What you got?)
I got my little black ache (What you got?)
I got my little black ache (What you got?)
My little black ache won't fade
Lovely little girl, crowded little place
I swear on this old Bible that I've never seen her face
She talks like I know what she's talking about
Somewhere there's a door that's got to let me out
Hello, sleepless soul I'm a'passing on the street
Know that like me you only rest on your feet
I know I had some friends, I can almost hear their names
Now I got one lonely thing and no one left to blame
I got my little black ache...
The lyrics of Bishop Allen's song Little Black Ache describe the struggles of feeling lost and alone in a big city. The singer of the song is searching for a sense of purpose and direction in life but seems to keep getting lost in the mundane and frustrating aspects of daily life. He tries to make connections with others but often ends up feeling isolated and misunderstood. The "little black ache" that he refers to might be a metaphor for his sense of loneliness and longing, a constant but almost imperceptible pain that he carries with him at all times. Despite his struggles, however, the singer seems determined to keep moving forward and finding a way to make meaning out of his experiences.
The song speaks to the challenges of modern life and the sense of disconnection that many people feel even in the midst of bustling urban environments. The lyrics capture an acute sense of alienation and the feeling that one is adrift in a sea of faces, struggling to find a meaningful connection with anyone. The repeated refrain of the "little black ache" reinforces the idea that this sense of isolation is a chronic condition, something that the singer carries with him wherever he goes.
Overall, Bishop Allen's Little Black Ache is a poignant and moving meditation on the difficulties of finding one's way in the modern world. It is a song that speaks to the experiences of many people who feel adrift in a society that values productivity and material success above all else.
Line by Line Meaning
Chasing my excuses to the end of the night
I'm running away from my own faults and failures until darkness fades, trying to ignore everything that's unsettling.
Tried to make a friend, but it ended with a fight
I attempted to bond with someone, but it backfired and led to a physical confrontation.
I don't know why, and I don't know when
I'm clueless about the reasons and timing of most things that happen to me.
But my keys have found a way to lock me out again
Despite my efforts to keep things organized, my forgetfulness or careless attitude clogs up my routine.
Sleeping on the subway in my interview tie
I'm too tired to have energy for the momentous things like a job interview, disappointingly letting myself and opportunity down.
Wander through the rain, sit and wonder why
My walk through the wet outdoors makes me contemplative and doubtful of my present circumstances.
I haven't got a plan, I haven't got a clue
I have no clear vision or idea of what my future could be like or how to reach it.
I've only got one lonely thing that's gonna see me through
The only thing that indirectly gives me comfort lies inside me - my pain that connects me to others silently feeling the same way.
I got my little black ache (What you got?)
I possess an emotional pain - a feeling of loneliness and failure that plagues me all the time.
My little black ache won't fade
The ache and the hurt of the past events persist, and I cannot seem to get past all of it.
Lovely little girl, crowded little place
In a chaotic and bustling setting, I spot a woman who sweeps me off my feet, though I've never spoken to her.
I swear on this old Bible that I've never seen her face
I'm convinced that the girl is new to the area, given how I haven't seen her before in this familiar enclave.
She talks like I know what she's talking about
Although we haven't met or hitherto spoken, her words have a familiarity that bridges the gap between strangers.
Somewhere there's a door that's got to let me out
I trust that there is an opening, an escape route that can reboot my life and give me a new beginning.
Hello, sleepless soul I'm a'passing on the street
I'm signaling to a stranger who's sleep-deprived like me that we share the same restless thoughts and insomniac dreams.
Know that like me you only rest on your feet
I acknowledge that I am avowed to the tyranny of my expectations and must walk endlessly until I can achieve peace.
I know I had some friends, I can almost hear their names
I remember that I was once surrounded by friends, but now their voices and memories are starting to fade.
Now I got one lonely thing and no one left to blame
The only thing left for me is to accept the pain and its everlasting effect on me without anyone to hold responsible.
I got my little black ache...
The emotional burden of disappointment and failure weighs heavily on me, and it's a part of me that won't go away any time soon.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Christian Rudder, Justin Rice
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind