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.
Winter Coat
Bishop Allen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For every year the calendar turns
I think that I will be okay
Without you
So I stuff you in a crowded box
And I set out on a morning walk
I think that I will be okay
Yeah, I guess I need you after all
And oh, I know you're tired of me too
And after all I want you, it's true
You never even once complained
You kept to me so close through ... days
Yeah, what can I say?
Oh, winter coats
Winter coats
And I, I twisted is what you thought
And all the good you did off guys
I'm sorry to treat you that way
And you, how grudgingly you must return
Your loyalty, I did not earn
I'm sorry to treat you that way
You always took the worst of it for me
Yeah, I owe you an apology
The lyrics in Bishop Allen's Winter Coat describe a relationship in which one person wrongfully assumed they didn't need the other. The singer describes packing the object of their affection away in a box and going for a walk, convinced that they will be okay without it. However, once they leave, they realize that they do, in fact, need it after all. The object is never explicitly identified, but the repeated refrain of "winter coats" suggests that it might be a cherished piece of clothing that provides comfort and warmth during the cold winter months.
As the singer reflects on their relationship with the object, they come to recognize how poorly they treated it. They apologize for taking it for granted and admitting that they owe it an apology for the way they mistreated it. Throughout the song, there is a sense of regret and loss for what was once taken for granted. The song is ultimately a reminder to cherish what we have while we have it, before it's too late.
Overall, Winter Coat is a poignant reflection on the fragility of relationships and the importance of appreciating what we have. The lyrics are beautifully written and convey a powerful message that is sure to resonate with anyone who has ever taken something - or someone - for granted.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I, I guess I got a lot to learn
The singer acknowledges that they still have a lot to learn.
For every year the calendar turns
The singer acknowledges the passage of time.
I think that I will be okay
The singer tries to convince themselves that they will be okay without someone who is important to them.
Without you
The artist is referring to someone who is no longer in their life.
So I stuff you in a crowded box
The artist tries to put away their feelings for the person in a box, but it is crowded suggests that there are other feelings and emotions present.
And I set out on a morning walk
The singer is trying to move on and distract themselves with a walk.
But oh, the trip back home becomes a lie
On the way back home, the singer realizes they were lying to themselves and they do need the person in their life.
Yeah, I guess I need you after all
The artist realizes they still need the person who they thought they could do without.
And oh, I know you're tired of me too
The artist acknowledges that the other person is probably tired of their behavior and is ready to move on.
And after all I want you, it's true
The artist admits that they still want the other person despite their behavior and previous attempt to move on.
You never even once complained
The other person never complained or expressed their frustration with the singer's behavior.
You kept to me so close through ... days
The other person stayed close to the artist for a long time despite their behavior.
Yeah, what can I say?
The singer seems to be at a loss for words when it comes to expressing their regret and feelings.
Oh, winter coats
The winter coats symbolize the comfort and protection that the singer wants from the other person's presence.
Winter coats
The repetition of the phrase emphasizes the importance of the winter coats as a symbol of comfort and protection.
And I, I twisted is what you thought
The artist acknowledges that the other person may have seen their behavior as a twisted version of what should have been a healthy relationship.
And all the good you did off guys
The other person did good things for the artist despite their bad behavior.
I'm sorry to treat you that way
The singer apologizes for their behavior.
And you, how grudgingly you must return
The singer acknowledges that the other person may come back reluctantly or with hesitation.
Your loyalty, I did not earn
The artist admits that they did not earn the other person's loyalty or trust.
I'm sorry to treat you that way
The artist apologizes again for their behavior.
You always took the worst of it for me
The other person always took on the worst aspects of the relationship or the artist's behavior for the sake of the relationship.
Yeah, I owe you an apology
The singer acknowledges that they owe the other person an apology for their behavior and treatment.
Contributed by William S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.