Chris recorded his first album, The Swiss Army Romance, in 2000. The following year, he recorded Further Seems Forever's debut album The Moon Is Down. However, he left the band soon after the album's release, instead recording and releasing his sophomore album The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most, as well as a follow-up EP titled So Impossible.
By 2002, three other musicians had joined the band, including former Further Seems Forever band mate Jerry Castellanos and started the process of recording the band's next album. After the success of his second album, Carrabba was asked to perform on MTV Unplugged, and the subsequent release marked the first time many of the songs were recorded with a full band.
Also in 2002, the music video for "Screaming Infidelities" won the coveted MTV2 award at the MTV Video Music Awards, beating out Norah Jones, The Strokes, The Hives, Nappy Roots and Musiq. This video starred Chris in both the performance and the storyline. The video was directed by Maureen Egan and Matthew Barry.
In 2003, the band released its third album A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar. Peaking at #2 on the United States Billboard charts, the album proved to be the band's most commercially-viable album yet. In the summer of 2004, Dashboard Confessional recorded the song "Vindicated" for the film Spider-Man 2. The song was featured on the soundtrack and played over the film's end credits. Because of this, the band gained a sizable audience for their next release the following summer.
In May of 2005, Dashboard Confessional entered the studio to record their fourth album with acclaimed producer, Daniel Lanois. The album was released on June 27, 2006; its first single was "Don't Wait". Following the release of Dusk and Summer, Dashboard Confessional went on a summer tour of the U.S. with special guests Say Anything and Ben Lee, followed by a co-headlining arena tour with alternative rock band Brand New.
In 2007, the band released its follow-up to Dusk and Summer, The Shade of Poison Trees.
During an interview with Billboard posted on September 11, 2007, Carrabba stated that he is 14 tracks into what would be the band's sixth studio album. He is also unsure about when it would be recorded, but plans to have 30 tracks to draw from. It may be a concept album: "only with the last three has it become, like, 'All right, these have a continuity and there's something going on,' so I'm excited to see where that leads".
The album, titled 'Alter The Ending', was released November 10 2009 (US). A two disc version of the album is available. In this edition, the first disc consists of full band workings of the twelve tracks while the second disc features acoustic versions akin to the first two Dashboard Confessional albums.
Bend and Not Break
Dashboard Confessional Lyrics
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precise and patterned specifically to yours.
I'm talented at breathing, especially exhaling,
so that my chest will rise and fall with yours.
I'm careful not to wake you, fearing conversation.
It's better just to hold you and keep you pacified.
I'm talented with reason, I cover all the angles.
I can fail before I ever try.
Try to understand, there is an old mistake that fools will make.
And I'm the kind of them, pushing everything that's good away.
So won't you hold me now? I will not bend, I will not break.
Won't you hold me now? For you I rise for you I fall.
I am fairly agile. I can bend and not break.
Or I can break and take it with a smile.
I am so resilient. I recover quickly.
I'll convince you soon that I am fine.
The lyrics to Dashboard Confessional's song Bend and Not Break are filled with emotional significance, exploring the feelings of uncertainty and vulnerability that often accompany relationships. The lines "I catalog these steps now, decisive and intentioned, precise and patterned specifically to yours" hint at the singer's attempt to carefully navigate the relationship and please their partner. The singer reveals that they are skilled at controlling their breathing, hoping that the rise and fall of their chest can help them sync with their partner's. They are cautious not to wake their partner, fearing a conversation that might destabilize their bond.
The next lines of the song reveal the singer's belief that they are skilled at reasoning and problem-solving, able to anticipate every possible angle and outcome. However, there's a hint of self-doubt in the line "I can fail before I ever try," revealing that the singer's anxiety about the relationship might be causing them to overthink their words and actions. The chorus of the song illustrates the singer's earnest plea for their partner's support and understanding, as they confess to being the kind of person who often sabotages their own happiness.
The final lines of the song reveal the singer's resilience, describing themselves as "fairly agile" and able to "bend and not break." They suggest that they can smile through the pain and quickly recover from any setbacks. However, there's a melancholic undertone to these lines, as the singer's repeated insistence that they are "fine" seems to be a plea for their partner to see through their facade and offer genuine comfort and support.
Line by Line Meaning
I catalog these steps now, decisive and intentioned, precise and patterned specifically to yours.
I pay close attention and carefully keep track of my actions, making sure they align perfectly with yours.
I'm talented at breathing, especially exhaling, so that my chest will rise and fall with yours.
I know how to breathe at the same pace as you so that our hearts beat in sync.
I'm careful not to wake you, fearing conversation. It's better just to hold you and keep you pacified.
I don't want to risk ruining the peaceful moment we're sharing by starting a conversation. It's better to just hold you and keep you content.
I'm talented with reason, I cover all the angles. I can fail before I ever try.
I'm good at analyzing situations and considering all possibilities, but sometimes I let fear hold me back from even attempting something.
Try to understand, there is an old mistake that fools will make. And I'm the kind of them, pushing everything that's good away.
I tend to make the same mistakes as others, like ruining good things by pushing them away.
So won't you hold me now? I will not bend, I will not break. Won't you hold me now? For you I rise for you I fall.
Please hold me tight because I won't let anything break me. I'll always be there for you in good times and bad.
I am fairly agile. I can bend and not break. Or I can break and take it with a smile.
I'm able to handle tough situations and either adapt or take it in stride, even if it hurts.
I am so resilient. I recover quickly. I'll convince you soon that I am fine.
I'm good at bouncing back from hardships and I'll try to assure you that I'm okay even if I'm not.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CHRISTOPHER ANDREW CARRABBA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind