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.
Things Are What You Make
Bishop Allen Lyrics
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I'm spending my days
I'm spending my
I'm spending my days
I'm spending my days
My day-mons yeah
They're taking up inside of my heart
But they were tearing me apart
Well my memory she was packing yeah
And I knew that she would never come back
She handed me a letter and then
Then she vanished in the black
And the letter said
(Things are what you make of them
Things are what you make of them
Let it be
And you know what I mean
Yeah you know what I mean
Things are what you make of them
Things are what you make of them
Let it be
And you know what I mean
Yeah you know what I mean)
Well I met up with my common sense
And I knew it by the way she stared
She said if you don't make a noise
I will never know your there
Ao I purchased me a ticket yeah
For a meeting with Jesus Christ
He shook my hand and offered me
Just this thimble of advice
He was telling me
Hello he-he-hello
Hey come on
Hello he-he-hello
Hey come on
Things are what you make of them
Things are what you make of them
Let be
Things are what you make of them
Things are what you make of them
Let be
Things are what you make of them
Things are what you make of them
You know what I mean
Yeah you know what I mean
The song "Things Are What You Make of Them" by Bishop Allen is about a person who is spending their days in a somewhat aimless way. The lyrics suggest that the person is dealing with some internal struggles, such as a loss of memory, feeling torn apart, and needing to meet with Jesus Christ for advice. The song ultimately suggests that things are what you make of them, and that by letting things be and taking control of your own life, you can create your own positive outcomes.
The lyrics suggest a deeper meaning that can be interpreted in various ways, such as the importance of taking control of your life and making your own decisions. The character meets with Jesus Christ and is offered advice, essentially reinforcing the message that the power lies within yourself. "Things Are What You Make of Them" is a reminder to take ownership of our lives and to make the most of the time we have.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm spending my
I'm using my time
I'm spending my days
I'm dedicating my days to something
I'm spending my
I'm using my
I'm spending my days
I'm using my days
My day-mons yeah
My distractions
They're taking up inside of my heart
They're affecting me deeply
They were trying to keep me entertained
They were trying to keep me occupied
But they were tearing me apart
But they were actually causing harm
Well my memory she was packing yeah
The past was leaving me behind
And I knew that she would never come back
And I realized that the past cannot be relived
She handed me a letter and then
It left me with a message
Then she vanished in the black
Then the past was gone for good
And the letter said
And the message read
(Things are what you make of them
(The meaning of things is up to you)
Things are what you make of them
The value of things depends on your perspective
Let it be
Accept things as they are without trying to change them
And you know what I mean
And you understand what I'm saying
Yeah you know what I mean
You really understand what I'm trying to say
Well I met up with my common sense
I found my better judgement
And I knew it by the way she stared
And I knew it by her expression
She said if you don't make a noise
She told me that I need to speak up
I will never know your there
Or else no one will pay attention to you
Ao I purchased me a ticket yeah
So I made a decisive move
For a meeting with Jesus Christ
To gain wisdom from a divine source
He shook my hand and offered me
He greeted me politely and gave me
Just this thimble of advice
Only a small piece of guidance
He was telling me
He said
Hello he-he-hello
A greeting and an introduction
Hey come on
Come on and listen
Things are what you make of them
The meaning of things is subjective
Let be
Leave things as they are
You know what I mean
You understand my message
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Christian Rudder, Justin Rice
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind