Bazan began his musical career by playing drums in the band The Guilty (later named Coolidge) with fellow songwriter Damien Jurado in 1995. Bazan had attended Shorewood High School with Jurado. In 2002, he played drums and sang backup vocals for Seldom; in 2004, he played with Starflyer 59. Bazan has made various studio appearances with Seattle-based bands; for instance, he played drums in 1998 on Unwed Sailor's Firecracker EP, and contributed to the Rosie Thomas album These Friends of Mine.
Bazan was part of The Undertow Orchestra with Mark Eitzel (American Music Club), Will Johnson (Centro-matic, South San Gabriel), Vic Chesnutt, and Scott Danbom (Centro-matic, South San Gabriel). They toured the USA and Europe in 2006.Bazan is a personal friend of comedian Horatio Sanz, and performed at Sanz's 2006 Christmas show, The Ho-Ho-Horatio Christmas Special, at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York City. In 2007 he did a Take-Away Show acoustic video session.
Bazan recorded his first solo project, the EP Fewer Moving Parts, in between touring as a member of The Undertow Orchestra. The EP was released on 13 June 2006. Bazan recently finished a nationwide solo tour featuring Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie and Johnathan Rice and also contributed a cover of the song "Let Down" to Stereogum's "OK X" project, a tribute to the Radiohead album OK Computer. A full length debut album with his new band "David Bazan's Black Cloud" is in the works for early 2009; it will be released by Barsuk Records.
On September 5, during an interview with Minnesota Public Radio, Bazan mentioned his next album will be played entirely by him and he will recruit friends to play live when he tours. The album, 'Curse Your Branches,' will be released in the spring and may include, "Please, Baby, Please," a song he debuted during the interview. During his solo tour in September, Bazan has been playing seven new songs that will appear on his new album: "Please, Baby, Please", "Weeds in the Wheat", "Curse Your Branches", "American Flags", "Broken Arm", "The Stitches" and "Harmless Sparks."
A hidden page on Bazan's website was found by fans detailing an upcoming DVD release. The DVD is said to be interviews, intimate live performances filmed in his home studio, on his front porch, and while driving around in his Ford Bronco, Shot during two weekends in June and July in Seattle, WA.
On October 28th, 2008 Bazan released the album version of "American Flags" on his Facebook and Myspace pages in celebration of the 2008 election. It was made available for purchase on iTunes and other online vendors on November 4th, along with the version of "Please, Baby, Please" recorded for the DVD.
In 2017 Bazan reformed his band Pedro the Lion.
People
David Bazan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I saw people helping people all the time
Because you were people helping people in your prime
I thought that people loving people were the norm
Because you were people loving people before the long dark storm
But now you're selfish and mean, your eyes glued to a screen
And what titillates you is depraved and obscene
But man you gotta find the truth
And when you find that truth don't budge
Until the truth you found begins to change
And it does, I know, I know
And when you love the truth enough you start to tell it all the time
And when it gets you into trouble you discover you don't mind
'Cause if good is finally gonna trump
Then man you gotta take stock and you gotta take your lumps
Or else they trickle down into someone else's cup below
You know
I wanna know who are these people blaming their sins on the fall
And who are these people
Well if I'm honest with myself at all these are my people
Man what else can I say
You are my people
We're the same in so many ways
But then your eyes turned green and you broke the machine
That when handed to you was still kinda functioning
And I know that it's dangerous to judge
But man you gotta find the truth
And when you find that truth don't budge
Until the truth you found begins to change
And it does, I know, I know
When you love the truth enough you start to tell it all the time
When it gets you into trouble you discover you don't mind
'Cause if good is finally gonna trump
Then man you gotta take stock and you gotta take your lumps
Or else they trickle down into someone else's cup below
You know
The lyrics of David Bazan's "People" reflect on the changing nature of society over time. The opening lines, "When I was young, I saw people helping people all the time," suggest a nostalgic view of the past when people were kinder and more empathetic to one another. However, the lyrics go on to describe how that perception has changed, "But now you're selfish and mean, your eyes glued to a screen / And what titillates you is depraved and obscene." Bazan's lament for humanity is clear, and he urges listeners to find the truth and not just blindly accept what is presented to them.
Bazan highlights the importance of loving the truth enough to speak it even if it gets you into trouble. He sings, "When you love the truth enough you start to tell it all the time / When it gets you into trouble, you discover you don't mind." The truth is what will ultimately lead to the triumph of good, but to get there, you must be willing to take your lumps and face the consequences of speaking out. Bazan concludes by asking who the people blaming their sins on the fall are and then admits that these are his people. This acknowledgment suggests that there is hope for change, and that we are all in this together.
Overall, "People" is a powerful reflection on the current state of society and an impassioned plea for people to seek the truth, speak out, and work towards a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was young
At an early age
I saw people helping people all the time
People used to help others quite often
Because you were people helping people in your prime
You used to help people in your best years
I thought that people loving people were the norm
I believed love among people was standard
Because you were people loving people before the long dark storm
You used to love people before times got tough
But now you're selfish and mean, your eyes glued to a screen
Presently, you are self-absorbed and unkind; you spend most of your time engrossed in a device
And what titillates you is depraved and obscene
You are attracted to things that are unpleasant and inappropriate
And I know that it's dangerous to judge
It is risky to make assumptions
But man you gotta find the truth
However, you need to seek the facts
And when you find that truth don't budge
Once you discover the truth, stick to it
Until the truth you found begins to change
However, be open to the fact that the truth can evolve
And it does, I know, I know
The truth is susceptible to change constantly; I understand
And when you love the truth enough you start to tell it all the time
If you have enough passion for what's true, you will express it repeatedly
And when it gets you into trouble you discover you don't mind
Even if spreading the truth brings conflict, you won't mind
'Cause if good is finally gonna trump
Because eventually, good will prevail
Then man you gotta take stock and you gotta take your lumps
Therefore, you have to own up to your mistakes
Or else they trickle down into someone else's cup below
Otherwise, your mistakes affect others in a negative way
You know
You see what I mean
I wanna know who are these people blaming their sins on the fall
I am curious about those who blame their mistakes on something vague
And who are these people
I would like to identify them
Well if I'm honest with myself at all these are my people
If I am truthful, these people are those close to me
Man what else can I say
There's not much else I can add
You are my people
You are part of my group
We're the same in so many ways
We share many similarities
But then your eyes turned green and you broke the machine
However, you became envious and damaged something that was functioning
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DAVID SHANNON BAZAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MrIanzander
This might be my new favorite song....I don't know why it brings me to tears but it does.
@aarontawad
I watch this performance regularly. I thought I might ruin it for myself by listening so much but no. It still kills me every time. Maybe my favourite song ever.
@ryangaylord3592
I feel like I watch this and Eating Paper every week and they never get old. Such amazing jams, nobody disguises technically complex tracks and lyrics as simple song alongs like DB, dudes a genius.
@joshuacavaness5047
Nailed, it's poetry and it rocks at the same time
@Paintsnaked
I do believe this is my favorite David Bazan song. And this is a really precise take!!
@carmenbondra657
Killin' tune,as are most of his work,my top dog...........;-)
@MrControlo
i can't get over how perfect that tele sounds!
@4Dcruz
sommatone amps!
@4Dcruz
duzer and p90s to boot
@alphatyrone
Magazine is fucking unbelievable, but these songs on his latest album will blend in beautifully to Bazan's future setlists. Like dark gems left behind by the slowcore glaciers of decades past.