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 Rabbit
Bishop Allen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Says "kid your no good in a fight"
You can swing just as hard as you can
But the odds are against you alright
I can see how they're drawing you in
I can see how the argument goes
But it's time to plan out your Houdini escape
You can walk or you can cab it
Or run just like a rabbit
You're sticking to your habits through thick and thin
You can sway, you can swagger
There's poison on the dagger
A nick'll make you stagger
The fix is in
Two black eyes later I'm down
But I find myself standing again
And I get him to stay on the ground
Saying kid there's no chance you can win
I've heard this whole story before
Some fool tries to challenge the thrown
And I think I recall that it didn't end well
But I've got to find out on my own
You can walk or you can cab it
Or run just like a rabbit
You're sticking to your habits through thick and thin
You can sway, you can swagger
There's poison on the dagger
A nick'll make you stagger
The fix is in
Honey I heard that you drowned
Or at least that you gave it shot
And maybe I came in here seeking revenge
But what it was for, I forgot
The lyrics of Bishop Allen's song The Rabbit seem to be about a fight or confrontation of some sort. The singer seems to be someone who is not skilled in fighting and is being discouraged from engaging in a physical altercation. They are being warned that despite the desire to retaliate, the odds are against them if they were to engage in a fight. The singer is able to see the situation clearly and understands the arguments that are being made but recognize that it is time to make an escape plan. They urge themselves to make such a plan because the "windows and doors are all closed" and they are trapped.
The chorus suggests a way out, which is to "walk or cab it" or to "run just like a rabbit". They suggest that a person should stick to their habits through "thick and thin" even though there is "poison on the dagger". This line suggests that there is danger around and that people should be careful even in their habits. The last verse seems to change the direction of the song, introducing Honey who had drowned or given it a shot. Then the singer seemingly tries to seek revenge but couldn't remember what it was for.
Overall, the song touches upon themes like standing up for oneself, the dangers of retaliation, recognizing the right time to escape from a dangerous situation, and the unpredictability of life.
Line by Line Meaning
It takes just one look at my hands
A person who looks at my hands can conclude that I am not good in a fight.
Says "kid your no good in a fight"
Upon seeing my hands, someone says that I cannot fight effectively.
You can swing just as hard as you can
I can exert all my effort in swinging punches.
But the odds are against you alright
However, I still have a low probability of winning the fight.
I can see how they're drawing you in
I can observe how they are enticing you.
I can see how the argument goes
I can see how the argument is flowing.
But it's time to plan out your Houdini escape
It's time for you to plan your escape, similar to Houdini the magician.
Cause the windows and doors are all closed
Since all the doors and windows are close, escaping requires careful and strategic planning.
You can walk or you can cab it
You can either walk or take a cab.
Or run just like a rabbit
Alternatively, you can flee like a rabbit.
You're sticking to your habits through thick and thin
You are sticking to your routine, regardless of circumstances.
You can sway, you can swagger
You can act confidently and impressively.
There's poison on the dagger
However, there is a sense of danger or deception in the situation.
A nick'll make you stagger
Even a tiny injury can make a significant impact.
The fix is in
The situation has been arranged, and the outcome is predetermined.
Two black eyes later I'm down
After two punches, I fall down.
But I find myself standing again
Nonetheless, I manage to rise back up.
And I get him to stay on the ground
Then, I get my opponent to stay down.
Saying kid there's no chance you can win
I tell my opponent that there's no way he can win.
I've heard this whole story before
I have already heard a similar story before.
Some fool tries to challenge the thrown
It's like a foolish person trying to challenge the ruler's authority.
And I think I recall that it didn't end well
I recall that it did not end well for the person who challenged the authority.
But I've got to find out on my own
Despite knowing the previous outcome, I still want to find out for myself.
Honey I heard that you drowned
Sweetheart, I heard that you drowned.
Or at least that you gave it shot
Or, at least, you attempted to swim.
And maybe I came in here seeking revenge
Perhaps, I came here with the intent of seeking retribution.
But what it was for, I forgot
However, I cannot recall what it was for.
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Christian Rudder, Justin Rice
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@FriedrichWilliamII
Bishop Allen's EP albums are amazing. Then again, all of their stuff is.
@elpproductions
they rock!