Influences of the band cover a wide genre of music; however some of their main influences include Radiohead, Joy Division, Pink Floyd, Jeff Buckley, Sonic Youth, The Pixies, Mogwai, My Bloody Valentine, Galaxie 500, Movietone, Muse, The Cure and much more.
Formed in the summer of 2004, they found their current line-up early in 2005. Within recent months they have been writing and performing increasingly better and more forward thinking music, and the band has been going from strength to strength.
Throughout 2006 the band spent time gigging relentlessly at venues all over the Midlands area, and during that time provided the band with the chance to support Howling Bells twice, the 1990s and the Tiny Dancers and play at ‘Oxjam Festival’ in London.
The band have also been featured three times on BBC Hereford and Worcester’s ‘The Friday Session’, several times on online radio stations in the ‘Monochrome Museum Global Network’, and on MTV ‘Ones to Watch’ (which was shown repeatedly throughout April and May on MTV2).
In recent months the band have been recording their debut album ‘Complications’) with their humble and very portable home studio equipment; the band finally released the album on Friday 13th April.
Dead Letter Office are currently working on writing and recording their second album. This is due to be finished Autumn 2009.
Dead Letter Office Are:
Benjamin Hiorns (Benj) - Lead vocals/ guitarist
Jevon Davies - Bass/ Backing vocals
James Atkins - Guitar
Harry Bourne - Drums/Backing vocals
Ben Allen (Beef) - Keyboards
Unfortunately, after many years loyal service, Ben Foxall left the band. James Atkins stepped in to guitar duties.
In the late part of 2009 Dead Letter Office decided to disband.
The Autumn Years
Dead Letter Office Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can smell it on his breath.
Still kiss with tongues
But sleep in separate beds
Wouldn't you say it's over by now?
Wouldn't you say it's all over?
But we're still alive.
And we will carry on
Until we fall asleep
To sleep for a chance to dream
We're still alive
We're worlds apart staring into space
We ate our young but didn't like the taste
Wouldn't you say it's over by now?
Wouldn't you say it's all over?
Tomorrow will make us deader...
But we're still alive.
And it takes us over.
Until we fall asleep.
To sleep for chance to dream
The lyrics to Dead Letter Office's song "The Autumn Years" paint a picture of a relationship that has lost its passion and connection, but the two people in it are still clinging on to it. The first verse describes a man who is drunk on whisky, and while they still kiss passionately, they sleep in separate beds. This indicates a lack of intimacy and emotional connection in their relationship, despite their physical attraction to each other. The chorus poses a rhetorical question, asking whether it is over yet, and whether it is all over. It is a question that the couple appears to be grappling with, as they are still alive but living separate lives within the same relationship.
In the second verse, the lyrics describe a sense of disillusionment and regret. The couple may have had children together, but they "ate their young" - destroying opportunities or hope for the future, although they didn't even enjoy the experience. The repetition of the question in the chorus indicates that it's not clear to the couple whether the relationship is truly over or not, but they know that each day brings them closer to death. The bridge acknowledges that the relationship takes over their lives, and they continue on with the status quo until they fall asleep, wishing for a chance to dream of a happier and more fulfilling life.
Overall, "The Autumn Years" is a poignant song that touches on themes of love, loss, and a sense of disillusionment. It speaks to the painful reality that some relationships are beyond repair, but it can be difficult to let go of the past and move on.
Line by Line Meaning
He's whisky drunk
He has consumed a lot of whiskey and is currently inebriated
You can smell it on his breath.
His breath smells of whiskey, indicating that he has been drinking
Still kiss with tongues
Despite their differences, they still share physical intimacy
But sleep in separate beds
Their emotional distance is reflected by the fact that they sleep in separate beds
Wouldn't you say it's over by now?
Asking if it isn't time to let go of a relationship that seems to have run its course
Wouldn't you say it's all over?
Asking if it truly is the end of their relationship
Tomorrow will make us deader...
Time keeps moving and they are growing older every day
But we're still alive.
Despite the passage of time, they are both still breathing and alive
And we will carry on
They will keep going and continue with their lives
Until we fall asleep
They will keep going until they can no longer stay awake
To sleep for a chance to dream
They will sleep in hopes of having a dream, a temporary escape from reality
We're worlds apart staring into space
Despite being physically close, they are emotionally distant and preoccupied with their own thoughts
We ate our young but didn't like the taste
They made mistakes in their past that they regret and cannot undo
And it takes us over.
Their emotions and problems consume them and have a significant impact on their lives
Contributed by Joseph D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.