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.
The Costume Ball
Bishop Allen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You put on all your Sunday best
Since Nam wore it all
I'll just head to a costume ball
Megan, don't you cry for me no more
Just hang your hopes from chandeliers
And let them dangle free and clear
Let not a drop remain
Megan, don't you cry for me
White light
White light is all I see
White light
White light is all I see
White light
White light is all I see
White light
White light is all I see
I'll click my flashlight when I'm lost
Or when I'm torn and tempest tossed
You always could find me then
I know you'll find me again
Megan, don't you cry for me now more
White light
White light is all I see
White light
White light is all I see
White light
White light is all I see
White light
White light is all I see
And I'll bring back a souvenir
From every place I go the coming year
Though it be dark, I shall not fear
For I will always keep your picture near
White light
White light is all I see
White light
White light is all I see
White light
White light is all I see
White light
White light is all I see
White light
White light is all I see
White light
White light is all I see
White light
White light
White light
White light
White light
The Costume Ball by Bishop Allen is a song about a soldier who is leaving his loved ones behind to go to war. The lyrics convey the feelings of the singer and his girlfriend Megan. The first verse says that the singer is heading to a costume ball, perhaps to distract himself from the impending danger of war. Megan is in her best clothes, possibly trying to look her best for the last time before he goes to battle. The phrase "Since Nam wore it all" refers to the Vietnam War, indicating that the singer may be heading to war in Vietnam.
The second verse talks about hanging hopes from chandeliers or drinking the last champagne. This might indicate that the singer is trying to have a good time and enjoy life to the fullest before he goes to war. The chorus, repeated multiple times, talks about seeing "white light" - this could be interpreted as either the flash of guns or explosions during the war or the hope and light that the singer sees in his lover, Megan's eyes.
In the final verse, the singer promises to bring back a souvenir from every place he visits during the war, and no matter how dark it gets, he will not fear. He also promises to keep Megan's picture with him. Overall, the lyrics of The Costume Ball reflect the bittersweet feelings that come with the separation of loved ones through war.
Line by Line Meaning
I pin my medals to my chest
I am proud of my achievements and wear them as a badge of honor.
You put on all your Sunday best
You dress up in your finest clothes to look your best.
Since Nam wore it all
All styles have been used before - nothing is truly original.
I'll just head to a costume ball
I will embrace this truth and go dress up in a costume.
Megan, don't you cry for me no more
Don't worry about me - I am confident in my decision.
Just hang your hopes from chandeliers
Keep your aspirations high and don't let them be weighed down by anything else.
And let them dangle free and clear
Let your dreams be unencumbered and unrestrained.
Or drink the last champagne
Celebrate life and enjoy its pleasures to the fullest extent.
Let not a drop remain
Leave nothing left to waste - make the most of everything.
White light is all I see
Everything is clear and bright, and there are no obstacles blocking my view.
I'll click my flashlight when I'm lost
When I am unsure or confused, I will use my knowledge and intuition to guide me.
Or when I'm torn and tempest tossed
When I am emotionally conflicted, I will trust my instincts to guide me through the storm.
You always could find me then
You have always been there to help me navigate difficult situations.
I know you'll find me again
I trust that you will continue to be a guiding force in my life.
And I'll bring back a souvenir
I will return from my adventures with a physical reminder of the places I have been and the experiences I have had.
From every place I go the coming year
I plan to travel far and wide and explore all that life has to offer in the near future.
Though it be dark, I shall not fear
Even in difficult times, I will remain resolute and unafraid.
For I will always keep your picture near
I will be comforted and guided by the memories and love of those who are important to me.
Contributed by Sadie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.