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.
Teardrops
David Bazan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Streaming through smeared windshield
Not quite home
Feeling low and unreal
Breathe in deep
Open your eyes
Slam into brake lights
You are not alone
Teardrops fall from your eyes
Flesh and blood and bone
Oh
Sitting up
In a daze, uneasy
Flashing lights
Plastic cuffs
Still breathing
Having to admit you made
Another mistake
That's when you realize
You are not alone
Teardrops fall from your eyes
Flesh and blood and bone
Teardrops fall from your eyes
That's when you realize
David Bazan’s “Teardrops” is a haunting anthem about isolation and the consequences of making bad decisions. The first verse describes feeling lost and disconnected, traveling alone at sunset, stuck in traffic on an unfamiliar route. The setting sun and dirty windshield function as metaphors for the individual’s hazy mind and unclear sense of direction. Despite the beautiful scenery, the individual's sense of not being fully grounded makes everything feel unreal. The second line emphasizes the point-- even if they are not far from home. The person is suffused in emotions that cause them not to enjoy it.
The second verse jumps ahead to describe the consequences of this detachment—landing in jail. Evoking a classic police show, flashing lights and plastic cuffs are familiar images of being arrested. The first line is particularly relatable; it shows how quickly we become alert and aware in a difficult situation despite being tired or out of it before. The feeling of being caught and having to admit fault is heavy to bear. However, the chorus, "That's when you realize you are not alone" reminds us that everyone has made mistakes and that we are all human despite outward differences. Tears become a sign of kinship and community, as well as pain and self-disgust.
Overall, “Teardrops” is a vivid song that paints a picture of an individual in despair. It reminds listeners how easy it is to get lost in our thoughts and actions, but we can always find solace despite difficult circumstances through the acknowledgment that we are not alone, and that our shared vulnerability is a source of strength.
Line by Line Meaning
The setting sun
The day is ending and darkness is approaching.
Streaming through smeared windshield
The rays of the sun are pouring in through a dirty windshield.
Not quite home
The person is not yet at their final destination.
Feeling low and unreal
The person is experiencing negative emotions and feeling disconnected from reality.
Breathe in deep
The person takes a deep breath to calm themselves down.
Open your eyes
The person needs to be alert and aware of their surroundings.
Slam into brake lights
The person suddenly and forcefully hits the brakes of their vehicle because of traffic ahead of them.
That's when you realize
The moment of realization that something significant has occurred.
You are not alone
Other people are going through similar struggles and emotions.
Teardrops fall from your eyes
The person begins to cry due to the overwhelming emotions they are feeling.
Flesh and blood and bone
The person is a physical being, vulnerable to the struggles of the world.
Sitting up
The person is no longer slouched, but is now sitting straight up.
In a daze, uneasy
The person is disoriented and uncomfortable.
Flashing lights
Police lights are flashing in the person's face.
Plastic cuffs
The person has been placed under arrest and is restrained with plastic handcuffs.
Still breathing
The person is still alive and able to breathe, despite the difficult situation they find themselves in.
Having to admit you made another mistake
The person acknowledges that they've made yet another error in judgement.
Writer(s): David Shannon Bazan
Contributed by Scarlett B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.