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.
Song For Daniel
Bishop Allen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I heard they found found you wondering down the railroad track
I know it was the devil that made you do it
'Cause him and all his demons
They're always out to ruin you
Yeah, they've always had it in for you
Now you're painting pictures of your hospital bed
Try to make me out but I'm too far away
But still I come to visit almost every day
For you yeah i've always had it in for you
I'm looking after you 'cause you can't look after yourself
I'm looking after you cause you can't look after yourself
I'm looking after you cause you can't look after yourself
If i catch you and you're taken by a wicked moon
I'll look into your eyes and can't recognize you
Crazed or half asleep it isn't much of a choice
you start to hoard your pills so you can hear the voice for you
yeah its always singing out for you
It's looking after you cause you cant look after yourself
It's looking after you cause you cant look after yourself
The song Song For Daniel by Bishop Allen describes the struggles of a person who is constantly being targeted and chased by the devil and his demons, who are always trying to ruin their life. The song suggests that the person may have had a breakdown or mental health issues that caused them to wander down a railroad track, and they were lucky to have been found and brought back. The lyrics describe the person's current state of mind, being in the hospital, painting pictures of their bed, and having to rely on others to look after them because they can't look after themselves.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the idea that the person is unable to take care of themselves and needs someone else to do it for them. The singer in the song is looking after the person because they know they can't do it alone. However, there is a sense of uncertainty and fear that the person may be taken over by the devil again and become unrecognizable. The song highlights the idea that mental health and the influence of evil forces can greatly affect a person's life and require the help of others to overcome.
Overall, the lyrics of Song For Daniel by Bishop Allen convey a message of empathy and understanding towards those who struggle with mental health issues and the battle against inner demons.
Line by Line Meaning
I guess that we were lucky just to get you back
We were fortunate to have you back with us after you went through a difficult time.
I heard they found found you wondering down the railroad track
I was told that you were found wandering along a railway line.
I know it was the devil that made you do it
I believe that an evil force compelled you to behave in a particular manner.
'Cause him and all his demons
I think that all of the Satan's minions were involved in your troubles with him.
They're always out to ruin you
These minions of Satan are always out to destroy you.
Yeah, they've always had it in for you
These minions have always had a grudge against you.
Now you're painting pictures of your hospital bed
You're drawing images of your hospital room since it's the only thing your fuzzy mind can see clearly.
That's all that you can see with your groggy head
Due to your groggy state of mind, you can only picture one thing--your hospital bed.
Try to make me out but I'm too far away
You're attempting to visualize me, but I'm too distant for your groggy mind to grasp fully.
But still I come to visit almost every day
Nevertheless, I visit you almost every day to show my support and care.
For you yeah i've always had it in for you
I will always be there for you because I care for you immensely.
I'm looking after you 'cause you can't look after yourself
I am taking care of you since you are unable to take care of yourself properly.
If i catch you and you're taken by a wicked moon
In case I find you under the influence of an evil force,
I'll look into your eyes and can't recognize you
I may not be able to recognize you if I look into your eyes.
Crazed or half asleep it isn't much of a choice
Whether you're insane or half asleep isn't exactly a decision that you have made.
you start to hoard your pills so you can hear the voice for you
You're hoarding your pills so you can listen to the voice that speaks to you.
It's looking after you cause you cant look after yourself
I'm taking care of you since you're unable to take care of yourself on your own.
It's looking after you cause you cant look after yourself
I'm taking care of you since you're unable to take care of yourself without assistance.
Contributed by Adrian K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.