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.
People That You Meet
Bishop Allen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He had liquor on his breath and he had fire in his eyes
He staggered at me and stumbled and I helped him to his feet
I led him up the stairs and sat upon his balcony
He wielded up his glass and waved it around just like a sword
But one more sword of whiskey left me feeling pretty bored
He said, "I'd rather take dead aim than shoot my pistol in the air
I'd rather be a traitor than a man who doesn't care."
Oh oh oh
A man who doesn't care
Oh oh
I met a girl here in Ithaca
She took to me at once
I look just like her brother who had died when she was young
She whispered me her secrets and she whispered me her fear
And said so many things that I would never want to hear
She tried to draw me in just like a sickness in the soul
And said, "my little confidant together we must go
If they ask you for your papers, just respectfully decline
It's true I was born here but this country isn't mine."
Oh oh oh
This country isn't mine
Oh oh
So listen well son
To conversation
And always take from the words of the people that you meet
If you do this
Better witness
You might help a little still
And out in California
With an old dear friend
We drank expensive bourbon
And we tried to talk again
He looked out at his watch
And ran a hand across his head
Said, "I'm working in the morning
Man I've got to get to bed."
I nodded yes of course
And I was happy to oblige
And we both took one more sip
Before the gray light over skies
He said one thing I remember every evening in these hills
"The sun may set on friendship
But never on your bills."
Oh oh oh
Never on your bills
Oh oh
So listen well son
To conversation
And always take from the words of the people that you meet
If you do this
Better witness
You might help a little still
The song "People You Meet" by Bishop Allen is a heartwarming and thought-provoking track that carries a message about the importance of listening to people's stories and learning from them. The track is an ode to the interesting and inspiring people we come across in our lives and how each one of them can teach us something about ourselves and the world around us.
The song features three different stories, each highlighting a particular lesson. The first verse is about a drunken kid in Brooklyn who points to the sky and claims he'd rather be a traitor than a man who doesn't care. The second verse tells the story of a girl from Ithaca who whispers her secrets and fears to the singer and reveals that she doesn't feel like she belongs in her own country. The third verse is about an old friend from California who talks about the importance of paying bills and responsibilities.
The song's chorus is a simple yet meaningful message: "So listen well son to conversation, and always take from the words of the people that you meet. If you do this better witness, you might help a little still." This chorus ties all the stories together, emphasizing how each conversation carries a lesson to be learned.
Overall, "People You Meet" is a touching tribute to the human experience and the value of talking to people and learning from their stories. It is a reminder to keep an open mind and heart towards the people we come across in our lives and to always look for the lessons that can be learned from them.
Line by Line Meaning
I met a kid in Brooklyn and he pointed at the skies
Encountered a young man in Brooklyn who directed my attention towards the heavens
He had liquor on his breath and he had fire in his eyes
The young man had consumed alcohol and had an intense passion in his gaze
He staggered at me and stumbled and I helped him to his feet
The young man was unsteady on his feet and I assisted him in standing upright
I led him up the stairs and sat upon his balcony
Guided him up the steps and sat with him on his outdoor platform
He wielded up his glass and waved it around just like a sword
He raised his drink and brandished it like a weapon
But one more sword of whiskey left me feeling pretty bored
However, one additional serving of alcohol was uninteresting to me
He said, "I'd rather take dead aim than shoot my pistol in the air
He shared his preference to aim and hit a target rather than waste a shot without a clear objective
I'd rather be a traitor than a man who doesn't care."
He would prefer to oppose or rebel against something than to apathetically stand by
I met a girl here in Ithaca
I encountered a young woman in Ithaca
She took to me at once
She immediately connected with me
I look just like her brother who had died when she was young
I had a similar appearance to her deceased brother, who passed away when she was a child
She whispered me her secrets and she whispered me her fear
She confided in me with her deepest secrets and fears in a hushed tone
And said so many things that I would never want to hear
She shared a multitude of things that I would rather not hear
She tried to draw me in just like a sickness in the soul
She attempted to involve me in her personal struggles, like a disease affecting her spirit
And said, "my little confidant together we must go
She referred to me as her trusted confidant and suggested we stick together
If they ask you for your papers, just respectfully decline
If someone requests identification documents, decline politely
It's true I was born here but this country isn't mine."
Even though she was born in this location, she did not consider it to be her rightful country
Out in California with an old dear friend
In California, spending time with a valued companion from the past
We drank expensive bourbon and we tried to talk again
We consumed high-end bourbon and attempted to have a conversation once more
He looked out at his watch and ran a hand across his head
He glanced at his watch and wiped his hand across his forehead
Said, "I'm working in the morning man, I've got to get to bed."
He spoke about his early work the next morning and the need for sleep
I nodded yes of course and I was happy to oblige
I agreed and was willing to assist in any way possible
And we both took one more sip before the gray light over skies
Together, we drank one more sip before the dawn approached
He said one thing I remember every evening in these hills
He shared one statement that remains with me each night spent in this location
"The sun may set on friendship but never on your bills."
Friendships may end, but financial obligations continue to exist
So listen well son to conversation
Pay close attention to conversations and verbal exchanges, my child
And always take from the words of the people that you meet
Extract the valuable meaning from dialogues with individuals you come across
If you do this better witness
If you implement this practice, you will be a more informed observer
You might help a little still
You may still have the capacity to provide some assistance
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Rice, Justin / Rudder, Christian
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind