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.
Luck Of Mine
Bishop Allen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I will still remember when you loved me in July
I hope you know it happens all the time
I just can't seem to shake this luck of mine
So, go, my little firecracker, brighten up the sky
And on our independence day, I promise not to cry
I just can't seem to shake this luck of mine
Darlin', little conflict diamond, confident and cold
Why do I feel guilty if you're given or you're sold?
When we both know it happens all the time
I just can't seem to shake this luck of mine
Now I must drive fast away and far into the black
And if I live a million years, I'll never once look back
I hope you know it happens all the time
I just can't seem to shake this luck of mine
The Bishop Allen's song "Luck of Mine" talks about the end of a relationship and the struggle to let go of the past. The lyrics are bittersweet, with a sense of nostalgia and regret for what could have been. When it is November, and the weather is cold and bleak, they can say their goodbyes, but the memories of their time together, particularly in July when everything was sunny and bright, will stay with them. The singer acknowledges that their situation is not unique, and everyone experiences heartbreak and loss, but they can't seem to shake the "luck of mine."
The second verse compares the singer's former partner to a "conflict diamond," a valuable and beautiful object that comes at a cost. The singer wrestles with feelings of guilt about the relationship, questioning whether their partner was truly happy or if their love was bought or sold. Despite the doubts and difficulties, the singer is still struggling to move on and break the cycle of their bad luck in love.
The song ends with the singer driving away and promising not to look back, no matter how long they live. The lyrics suggest that this is not the first time they have had to walk away from something familiar and beloved, but the singer still laments their bad luck in love. The song is a poignant reflection on heartbreak, the passage of time, and the struggle to let go.
Line by Line Meaning
When it is November, we can say our last goodbye
In November, we can end our relationship and say goodbye.
But I will still remember when you loved me in July
However, I will not forget the time you loved me in July.
I hope you know it happens all the time
I hope you realize this is a common occurrence.
I just can't seem to shake this luck of mine
But unfortunately, I cannot escape this pattern in my life.
So, go, my little firecracker, brighten up the sky
Go and make an impact on the world, my love.
And on our independence day, I promise not to cry
And on our country's independence day, I promise not to let my emotions get the best of me.
Darlin', little conflict diamond, confident and cold
My dear, you are like a diamond in the midst of conflict, confident and aloof.
Why do I feel guilty if you're given or you're sold?
But why do I feel a sense of guilt if someone gives you away or sells you?
When we both know it happens all the time
We both know this is not an uncommon event.
Now I must drive fast away and far into the black
Now I must drive away quickly and disappear into the darkness.
And if I live a million years, I'll never once look back
Even if I live for an eternity, I will never look back at what we had.
I hope you know it happens all the time
I hope you comprehend the fact that this is a common occurrence.
I just can't seem to shake this luck of mine
Regardless of what I do, I can't escape this pattern in my life.
Contributed by Alexis F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.