Death Cab began as a solo project of Ben Gibbard, now the band's vocalist and guitarist. Gibbard took the band name from the satirical song Death Cab for Cutie, performed by The Bonzo Dog Band in The Beatles' 1967 experimental film Magical Mystery Tour. As Death Cab for Cutie, Gibbard released a cassette titled You Can Play These Songs with Chords; the release was surprisingly successful, and Gibbard decided to expand the band into a complete project. He recruited Chris Walla (who had also worked on the cassette) as an electric guitarist, Nick Harmer as bass guitarist, and Nathan Good to play drums.
The four released the LP Something About Airplanes on August 18th 1998. The album was favorably reviewed in the independent music scene, and in 2000 the band released We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes. Nathan Good left the band at some point during this album's production. His playing on “The Employment Pages” and “Company Calls Epilogue” were kept, but Gibbard played drums on all other songs.
Michael Schorr would first appear on The Forbidden Love E.P., released on October 24, 2000. In 2001, another LP was released, entitled The Photo Album. Limited editions of this album contained three bonus tracks, which were later released separately as The Stability EP.
In 2003, there was another change of drummer, with Jason McGerr of Eureka Farm replacing Schorr. McGerr would play drums on the next release, Transatlanticism.
Transatlanticism was released in October of 2003. It received critical praise and also became the band's top-selling album, with 225,000 copies sold during its first year out.
In spring of 2004, the band recorded a live E.P. titled The John Byrd E.P., named for their sound engineer. The E.P. was released on Barsuk Records in March 2004.
In November of 2004, Death Cab for Cutie signed a “long-term worldwide deal” with Atlantic Records, leaving their long-time label Barsuk Records. Gibbard stated on the official website www.deathcabforcutie.com that nothing would change except that “Next to the picture of Barsuk holding a 7", there will be the letter "A" on both the spine and back of our upcoming albums.” This was a marked change from Gibbard's earlier views on major-label relations, which he said “are set up to fuck you and take all your money.”. After signing to Atlantic, the band was still nervous about corporate economics, and encouraged fans to download its songs from the Internet.
The first and second singles off the band's Atlantic Record release Plans were “Soul Meets Body” and “Crooked Teeth”, respectively. The full album was released in August of 2005. Plans was somewhat well-acclaimed by critics and fans, and received a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Alternative Album of 2005. It achieved Gold Status in 2006 after charting on Billboard for 47 consecutive weeks.
The band released a touring DVD titled Drive Well, Sleep Carefully in 2005. Known for their contributions to animal rights, the band is supporting the activist group PETA in giving away copies of the DVD to promote animal rights.
In early 2006, the band announced the upcoming release of Directions, eleven short films inspired by songs from the Plans album, each directed by a different person. The videos were posted one at a time at the band's website and the DVD went on sale April 11, 2006.
On May 12, 2008 their album, Narrow Stairs, was released and was well received by both critics and fans. It was their first album to reach #1 on the Billboard 200. The album contains the singles "I Will Possess Your Heart", "Cath..." and "Grapevine Fires".
The band's latest released The Open Door EP, which was released on March 31, 2009. Their main styles consist of slow progressive rock with dark lyrics.
The band's seventh album, Codes and Keys, was released on May 31, 2011. The album's first single was "You Are A Tourist".
On October 11, 2013, the band reportedly began working on their eighth studio album. This was then confirmed by the group's official Instagram profile in which an image was uploaded with the caption "DCFC LP8 begins". The new album will be produced by Rich Costey and is expected to be released in early 2015. In an interview with Stereogum, Gibbard said of the new album, "I do think from start to finish it's a much better record than Codes And Keys. If that record turned anybody off, I feel pretty strongly that this one could win them back. There are threads in this one that connect back to our earliest stuff that people love." On October 29, 2013, the band released a remastered tenth-anniversary version of their 2003 album Transatlanticism. The new album included a vinyl LP and MP3 download, with demos for all the songs from the album.
As part of the 2014 Record Store Day, the band released its first live album, a vinyl-only double LP recorded during various 2012 tour dates with Magik*Magik Orchestra. Included within the packaging was a code for a digital download of the recording.
On August 13, 2014, after 17 years as a member of Death Cab for Cutie, guitarist and songwriter Chris Walla decided to part ways with the band, with his last performance occurring on September 13, 2014 at the Rifflandia Music Festival in Victoria, British Columbia. Walla states that he plans to "...continue making music, producing records, and erring on the side of benevolence and beauty whenever possible." When asked in an interview about Walla's involvement in the eighth album, McGerr confirmed that Walla "played on everything and has been involved all the way through, even in the mixing. Even though he's played his last show with us, he's still been involved in everything involving this record."
60 & Punk
Death Cab for Cutie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's nothing funny how you're spending your days
But you're laughing like a kid at a carnival
And I watched you stumbling around this dusty town
I heard your bottle talking way too loud
As the Federales tried to hunt you down
For something you can't remember what was about
He's a superhero growing bored with no one to save anymore
I used to watch you on the late night scene
The timely rescue of a metal teen
Six strings were strumming rhythm and lead
And that hadn't occurred to me
When I met you I was twenty-two
Trying so hard to play it cool
But there was so much that I needed to say
And nothing came out the right way
The curtain falls to applause and the band plays you off, the band plays you off
He's a superhero growing bored with no one to save anymore
The curtain falls to applause and the band plays you off, the band plays you off
He's a superhero growing bored with no one to save anymore
There's nothing elegant in being a drunk
It's nothing righteous being sixty and a punk
But when you're looking in the mirror do you see
That kid that you used to be?
Broke and working in a record store
Daydreaming about the upcoming tour
Were you happier when you poor?
Were you happier when you poor?
The curtain falls to applause and the band plays you off, the band plays you off
He's a superhero growing bored with no one to save anymore
The curtain falls to applause and the band plays you off, the band plays you off
He's a superhero growing bored with no one to save anymore
The song "60 & Punk" by Death Cab for Cutie is a melancholy reflection on the passage of time and the way that we change over the course of our lives. The lyrics depict a once-famous musician who has fallen on hard times and is now struggling with addiction and a sense of purposelessness. The singer of the song is looking back on his life and wondering where it all went wrong, and whether he would have been happier if he had stayed true to his punk rock roots instead of selling out to the mainstream.
The opening lines of the song set the tone for the rest of it, as Ben Gibbard sings: "There's nothing funny about just slipping away / It's nothing funny how you're spending your days." This sense of resignation and futility is carried throughout the song, as we see the singer drinking and stumbling around a dusty town, getting chased by the police, and generally feeling lost and alone. Despite all this, there are moments of levity and hopefulness, as when the singer laughs "like a kid at a carnival," or when he daydreams about his past life as a punk rocker.
Ultimately, "60 & Punk" is a powerful reminder of the fleeting nature of youth and the importance of staying true to oneself. Whether you're a once-famous musician or just an ordinary person trying to make your way in the world, the song speaks to the universal human experience of growing older and wondering if you're living your life to the fullest.
Line by Line Meaning
There's nothing funny about just slipping away
It's not humorous when someone's life is fading away and they're struggling to make ends meet.
It's nothing funny how you're spending your days
It's not comical how one chooses to spend their days when they're down on their luck.
But you're laughing like a kid at a carnival
Still, despite everything, you're able to find moments of joy and laughter.
And I watched you stumbling around this dusty town
I saw you wandering aimlessly through this forgotten town.
I heard your bottle talking way too loud
I could hear you drinking yourself into oblivion, drowning out the world.
As the Federales tried to hunt you down
Meanwhile, law enforcement was on your tail, trying to apprehend you for something you can't even remember.
For something you can't remember what was about
You can't even recall the incident that has caused you such trouble with the law.
The curtain falls to applause and the band plays you off, the band plays you off
The show must come to an end, and the audience cheers as you leave the stage for the night.
He's a superhero growing bored with no one to save anymore
You used to feel like a hero, helping others with your music, but now you feel lost and purposeless.
I used to watch you on the late night scene
I remember watching you play late at night in the bars and clubs of this town.
The timely rescue of a metal teen
Your music saved some kid from a dark place, and that memory has stayed with you.
Six strings were strumming rhythm and lead
You soundtracked so many people's lives with the music you made on your guitar.
And that hadn't occurred to me
It's only now that I'm thinking about it, realizing how important your music was to so many people.
When I met you I was twenty-two
I remember meeting you when we were both young, just starting out in the world.
Trying so hard to play it cool
Back then, I was nervous around you, trying to keep my cool in your presence.
But there was so much that I needed to say
Looking back, I wish I had said more, expressed how much your music meant to me.
And nothing came out the right way
But I fumbled my words and couldn't find the right way to say what I was feeling.
There's nothing elegant in being a drunk
Being an alcoholic is not a dignified or glamorous way to live.
It's nothing righteous being sixty and a punk
Even though you're getting older, you've still held onto your punk ethos and attitude.
But when you're looking in the mirror do you see
But now that you're older, do you look at yourself in the mirror and feel proud of who you are?
That kid that you used to be?
Do you still see the youthful you, the one who started playing music out of passion and love above all else?
Broke and working in a record store
Back then, you were barely making enough to get by, working a humble job in a record store.
Daydreaming about the upcoming tour
But even then, you had dreams of going on tour, playing your music for the world.
Were you happier when you poor?
Sometimes, despite the struggles and hardships, you wonder if you were happier back when you had nothing.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Benjamin Gibbard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Chris Van Slyke
I must say, this is a such a sad and beautiful song, and I’ve been playing it nonstop. Best DCFC song I’ve heard in some time.
The song is likely about R.E.M. guitarist, Peter Buck. All the references seem to point to him. I know Ben wanted to keep the subject nameless, but due to countless interviews he’s done in the past and the internet, you can figure it out. There are too just many details.
60 and punk – Peter Buck is 61
“I watched you stumbling around this dusty town. I heard your bottle talking way too loud, as the Federales tried to hunt you down” – Ben played with Peter at his Todo’s Santos Music Festival in Mexico (2013, and 2016).
"I used to watch you on the late night scene. The timely rescue of a metal teen" – Ben would have been a teenager when R.E.M were in their prime
“6 strings were strumming rhythm and lead ” - guitarist
“When I met you I was 22. Trying so hard to play it cool” – Ben met Peter in 1998 at the Crocodile Café after a show in the bathroom.
"That kid that you used to be? Broke and working in a record store" - Peter worked in the Wuxtry record store in Athens (where he met Michael Stipe)
Such an amazing song.
Ali H
Lyrics
There's nothing funny about just slipping away
It's nothing funny how you're spending your days
But you're laughing like a kid at a carnival
And I watched you stumbling around this dusty town
I heard your bottle talking way too loud
As the Federales tried to hunt you down
For something you can't remember what was about
The curtain falls to applause and the band plays you off, the band plays you off
He's a superhero growing bored with no one to save anymore
I used to watch you on the late night scene
The timely rescue of a metal teen
Six strings were strumming rhythm and lead
And that hadn't occurred to me
When I met you I was twenty-two
Trying so hard to play it cool
But there was so much that I needed to say
And nothing came out the right way
The curtain falls to applause and the band plays you off, the band plays you off
He's a superhero growing bored with no one to save anymore
The curtain falls to applause and the band plays you off, the band plays you off
He's a superhero growing bored with no one to save anymore
There's nothing elegant in being a drunk
It's nothing righteous being sixty and a punk
But when you're looking in the mirror do you see
That kid that you used to be?
Broke and working in a record store
Daydreaming about the upcoming tour
Were you happier when you poor?
Were you happier when you poor?
The curtain falls to applause and the band plays you off, the band plays you off
He's a superhero growing bored with no one to save anymore
The curtain falls to applause and the band plays you off, the band plays you off
He's a superhero growing bored with no one to save anymore
Anti Lover
Found this a couple comments below:
I must say, this is a such a sad and beautiful song, and I’ve been playing it nonstop. Best DCFC song I’ve heard in some time.
The song is likely about R.E.M. guitarist, Peter Buck. All the references seem to point to him. I know Ben wanted to keep the subject nameless, but due to countless interviews he’s done in the past and the internet, you can figure it out. There are too just many details.
60 and punk – Peter Buck is 61
“I watched you stumbling around this dusty town. I heard your bottle talking way too loud, as the Federales tried to hunt you down” – Ben played with Peter at his Todo’s Santos Music Festival in Mexico (2013, and 2016).
"I used to watch you on the late night scene. The timely rescue of a metal teen" – Ben would have been a teenager when R.E.M were in their prime
“6 strings were strumming rhythm and lead ” - guitarist
“When I met you I was 22. Trying so hard to play it cool” – Ben met Peter in 1998 at the Crocodile Café after a show in the bathroom.
"That kid that you used to be? Broke and working in a record store" - Peter worked in the Wuxtry record store in Athens (where he met Michael Stipe)
Such an amazing song.
Aditya Mishra
I remember being inside something more than you...
Promises of payments were
upon your shoulders constantly,
but don't forget to entertain
'cause this is your first defense.
This is my last defense.
This tiny life is making sense
And every drop numbs the both of us,
But I alone am staggering.
And I should have given you a reason to stay,
Given you a reason to stay...
The gift of memories is
An awful curse
With age it just
Gets much worse
But I won't mind
I won't mind
The ice was getting thinner
Under me and you..
And through winter's advancing, we'll stay young, go dancing
There's something brilliant bound to happen here...
Were you happier when you were poor ?
Adrian Wave
[Lyrics]
There's nothing funny about just slipping away It's nothing funny how you're spending your days
But you're laughing like a kid at a carnival And I watched you stumbling around this dusty town
I heard your bottle talking way too loud As the Federales tried to hunt you down For something you can't remember what was about
The curtain falls to applause and the band plays you off, the band plays you off
He's a superhero growing bored with no one to save anymore
I used to watch you on the late night scene The timely rescue of a metal teen
Six strings were strumming rhythm and lead And that hadn't occurred to me
When I met you I was twenty-two Trying so hard to play it cool
But there was so much that I needed to say And nothing came out the right way
The curtain falls to applause and the band plays you off, the band plays you off He's a superhero growing bored with no one to save anymore
The curtain falls to applause and the band plays you off, the band plays you off He's a superhero growing bored with no one to save anymore
There's nothing elegant in being a drunk It's nothing righteous being sixty and a punk But when you're looking in the mirror do you see That kid that you used to be?
Broke and working in a record store Daydreaming about the upcoming tour Were you happier when you poor? Were you happier when you poor?
The curtain falls to applause and the band plays you off, the band plays you off He's a superhero growing bored with no one to save anymore The curtain falls to applause and the band plays you off, the band plays you off He's a superhero growing bored with no one to save anymore.
Chris Van Slyke
I must say, this is a such a sad and beautiful song, and I’ve been playing it nonstop. Best DCFC song I’ve heard in some time.
The song is likely about R.E.M. guitarist, Peter Buck. All the references seem to point to him. I know Ben wanted to keep the subject nameless, but due to countless interviews he’s done in the past and the internet, you can figure it out. There are too just many details.
60 and punk – Peter Buck is 61
“I watched you stumbling around this dusty town. I heard your bottle talking way too loud, as the Federales tried to hunt you down” – Ben played with Peter at his Todo’s Santos Music Festival in Mexico (2013, and 2016).
"I used to watch you on the late night scene. The timely rescue of a metal teen" – Ben would have been a teenager when R.E.M were in their prime
“6 strings were strumming rhythm and lead ” - guitarist
“When I met you I was 22. Trying so hard to play it cool” – Ben met Peter in 1998 at the Crocodile Café after a show in the bathroom.
"That kid that you used to be? Broke and working in a record store" - Peter worked in the Wuxtry record store in Athens (where he met Michael Stipe)
Such an amazing song.
Ruben Swart
Incredible! I already loved this song, and now infinitely even more so. Many thanks for making this connection for me! When beautiful worlds collide. And I was also 'saved' by R.E.M. as a teen, ten years after Ben (in the nineties). Seeing them live in 2005 in Cape Town remains one of the highlights of my gig-watching career so far..
erad67
@stephanie gonzalez Guessing you are pretty young. As he says in his comment, Peter was the guitarist for R.E.M. In case you don't know, R.E.M. used to be one of the biggest bands in the world.
stephanie gonzalez
Chris Van Slyke who is peter?
Melanie Groff
This song is why I love Ben Gibbard. His lyrics are the essence of pure human moments brought to life
Todd Marshall
Well said
Siouxsie X
He could slap my grandma and Id thank him. Such a beautiful soul
Wendy Potter
Right! It almost brings tears to my eyes even if I don't releate personally but I feel the pain another human can feel through Ben's lyrics. I swear Ben Gibbard is a lyrics master if there ever was one! I love him!
Todd Marshall
I like this song a lot now but I feel like this is one of those songs that'll just keep getting better as time goes by. That seems to be the case with a lot of Death Cab for Cutie songs.
Eric Hughes
this is one of those songs that I'll listen to in 4 years and start crying. remembering when it came out. thinking about where life has brought be in such a short yet long feeling amount of time.