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.
flight180
Bishop Allen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
At rockafella center and
You spread it paper thin
But you were careful not to break a bulb
And then you mirrored it a million fold
To shine
And shine
And shine along
And there's a tap on my knee
Bring up your seat back please, she says
But I know she means
If you feel like dancing
Dance with me
Some of the lights below
Shine directly on the people I know
Their lives take such strange shapes
But how together they appear from above
I guess that could be love
My friends
My friends
I'm coming home
And then the captain speaks
It's clear and 44 degrees
But I know he means
If you feel like dancing
Dance with me
But I been out past the lights
Where the jagged black begins
I let my heels sink in the sand
And the ocean sucked it's teeth
And the cold cuts through my feet
And stretched out on and on and on
How disconnected I can feel on the ground
It's like I'm shining all alone
And I don't wanna be
So
Before I go to bed tonight
I'll signal up to the passing flight
Hit the lights
The lights
The lights
The lights
And now the man in the middle seat
Recites the times tables audibly
But I know he means
If you feel like dancing
Dance with me
If you feel like dancing
Dance with me
And now the man in the middle seat
Recites the times tables audibly
But I know he means
If you feel like dancing
Dance with me
If you feel like dancing
Dance with me
The song "Flight 180" is a cinematic and contemplative track that takes the listener on a journey. The opening lines use a vivid metaphor to describe the feeling of being spread thin without breaking. It's possible that the giant Christmas tree acts as a symbol for the world or the universe and how it can be difficult to navigate through it without losing yourself. The mention of the tree being mirrored a million times expresses how the world can be so vast and infinite that it's hard to comprehend.
As the song progresses, the singer is on a plane, looking down at the lights below, and notices how lives can take strange shapes, yet they appear together from above. This observation leads him to suggest that maybe love is what makes everything look harmonious from a distance. The captain's announcement about the weather triggers a desire to dance, which perhaps echoes a desire to let loose and enjoy life.
The next few lines describe the singer's detachment on the ground and how he feels alone shining on his own. He then talks about signaling to a passing flight before he goes to bed, as though he's reaching out to someone. The final lines with the man in the middle seat reciting the times tables may be a commentary on how people can be stuck in their own routines and schedules but how it's still possible to connect and dance.
Line by Line Meaning
It's like you took the giant Christmas tree
At rockafella center and
You spread it paper thin
But you were careful not to break a bulb
And then you mirrored it a million fold
To shine
And shine
And shine along
The beauty of life and its many experiences is like a grand, sparkling Christmas tree gently stretched until it blankets our lives with wonder and light, creating a magical experience that radiates beyond what the eye can see.
And there's a tap on my knee
Bring up your seat back please, she says
But I know she means
If you feel like dancing
Dance with me
In a mundane and predictable life, there are moments of sudden excitement and spontaneity, such as being asked to dance, that can create a memorable experience to be cherished.
Some of the lights below
Shine directly on the people I know
Their lives take such strange shapes
But how together they appear from above
I guess that could be love
My friends
My friends
I'm coming home
Looking at life from a higher perspective reveals the diversity and complexity of individuals and their unique journeys. Yet, despite their differences, these individuals can still come together, like the facets of a crystal, creating a stunning visual display of friendship and love.
And then the captain speaks
It's clear and 44 degrees
But I know he means
If you feel like dancing
Dance with me
Even in mundane situations like a flight, there are moments of unexpected fun and joy, like the captain's announcement, prompting an invitation to dance and celebrate life's simple pleasures.
But I been out past the lights
Where the jagged black begins
I let my heels sink in the sand
And the ocean sucked it's teeth
And the cold cuts through my feet
And stretched out on and on and on
Moments of solitude and introspection can reveal a different, darker side of life, where the mysteries of the deep, vast ocean fascinate and threaten, leaving one feeling isolated and vulnerable.
How disconnected I can feel on the ground
It's like I'm shining all alone
And I don't wanna be
So
Before I go to bed tonight
I'll signal up to the passing flight
Hit the lights
The lights
The lights
The lights
Life on solid ground can sometimes feel solitary, even amidst the bustle of a busy city. To escape these feelings of loneliness, a signal sent out to the world serves as an invitation for others to join in and connect through shared experiences.
And now the man in the middle seat
Recites the times tables audibly
But I know he means
If you feel like dancing
Dance with me
If you feel like dancing
Dance with me
Even in the most mundane and unexpected of moments, there is always an opportunity to bring joy and excitement into life through dancing and experiencing the shared emotions of music and movement.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Christian Rudder, Justin Rice
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Electronics Workshawp
When I first heard this song I was 2 bottles into a massive DXM trip. This song took me to another world. That was 10 years ago and those times are over but I will never forget that journey.
Micah Maccabi
When I listen to this song, I just space off into a whole different, happy world.
Katleenfarine
since a friend made me discovers that song, I kept listening to it over and over again!! «...if you feel like dancing... dance with me » : )
jonny
such a cool song :)
Marie-Line Villers
my favorite song of all songs
fromMouq
<3
John Lusk
Thank you, Erika. :)
Nancy Ramos
Final Destination Flight 180?
bardo
Its gunmetal grey?
Well I suppose
Or Faded Navy
bardo
It would look nice next to an Oyster Pink Palami Meringue