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."
Brothers On A Hotel Bus
Death Cab for Cutie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As our December sun is setting
'Cause I'm not who I used to be
No longer easy on the eyes
But these wrinkles masterfully disguise
The youthful boy below
Something he was not looking for
Both a beginning and an end
But now he lives inside
Someone he does not recognize
When he catches his reflection on accident
On the back of a motorbike
With your arms outstretched trying to take flight
leaving everything behind
But even at our swiftest speed
We couldn't break from the concrete
In the city where we still reside
And I have learned
That even landlocked lubbers yearn
For the sea like navy men
'Cause now we say goodnight
From our own separate sides
Like brothers on a hotel bed
Like brothers on a hotel bed
Like brothers on a hotel bed
Like brothers on a hotel bed
You may tire of me
As our December sun is setting
'Cause I'm not who I used to be
The song "Brothers on a Hotel Bed" by the American indie rock band Death Cab for Cutie is a poignant and moving tune that reflects on the passage of time and the impact it has on our relationships. The singer of the song seems to be speaking to a lover or long-time friend, someone who has been with him for a while, and who has seen him change and age over time. The opening lines, "You may tire of me, as our December sun is setting" set the scene for what's to come - an acknowledgement that things are changing, and that the singer is not the same person he used to be.
As the song continues, we learn more about the singer's internal struggle with his own aging and how it affects his relationship. He describes himself as "no longer easy on the eyes," but notes that his wrinkles "masterfully disguise the youthful boy below." This is a powerful image that speaks to the idea that even as our exterior changes, there's a part of us deep inside that remains the same. The singer then talks about how he caught sight of himself in a reflection and didn't recognize who he'd become. It's a common feeling for many of us: that sense of disconnect between who we were and who we're becoming.
As the song progresses, we get the sense that the singer feels trapped in some way, unable to escape the inevitability of change. He describes a scene of riding a motorbike with his arms outstretched, trying to take flight and leave everything behind, but even at his "swiftest speed," he couldn't break free from the concrete of the city where he lives. It's a metaphor for the feeling of being constrained and unable to move forward.
The final lines of the song bring everything full circle, as the singer is reminded that even when we feel alone and adrift, we're still connected to those closest to us. The image of "brothers on a hotel bed" suggests a sense of shared history and closeness, even as they lie there in separate spaces. It's a reminder that the people we love can ground us, even when everything else feels chaotic and uncertain.
Overall, "Brothers on a Hotel Bed" is a powerful and deeply emotional song that speaks to the universality of the human experience. Death Cab for Cutie has always been known for their introspective, thoughtful lyrics, and this song is a perfect example of their artistry.
Line by Line Meaning
You may tire of me
The singer acknowledges that their partner may grow weary of them over time.
As our December sun is setting
The relationship is coming to an end, as symbolized by the setting sun of December.
'Cause I'm not who I used to be
The singer has changed over time, and is no longer the person their partner fell in love with.
No longer easy on the eyes
The artist is no longer physically attractive.
But these wrinkles masterfully disguise
The artist's wrinkles mask their true identity and age.
The youthful boy below
Despite the singer's physical changes, they still feel young at heart.
Who turned your way and saw
The singer noticed their partner and became enamored with them.
Something he was not looking for
The artist did not expect to fall in love with their partner.
Both a beginning and an end
The relationship was simultaneously the start and end of something significant.
But now he lives inside
The artist has changed since the start of the relationship, and it has affected their personality.
Someone he does not recognize
The singer feels like they don't know themselves anymore.
When he catches his reflection on accident
The artist is surprised by their own appearance when they see themselves in passing.
On the back of a motorbike
The singer and their partner were adventurous and spontaneous together.
With your arms outstretched trying to take flight
The singer and their partner were seeking something greater and beyond their current situation.
leaving everything behind
The singer and their partner were willing to abandon their previous life for something new.
But even at our swiftest speed
The relationship and its momentum couldn't escape the reality of their situation.
We couldn't break from the concrete
The artist couldn't escape the confines of their urban, grounded existence.
In the city where we still reside
The singer and their partner still live in the city where their relationship began.
And I have learned
The singer has gained wisdom from their experiences.
That even landlocked lubbers yearn
People who are stuck in one place still long for adventure and excitement.
For the sea like navy men
The open sea represents freedom and possibility to the artist.
'Cause now we say goodnight
The artist and their partner are no longer together and are saying goodbye.
From our own separate sides
The singer and their partner are now living separate lives.
Like brothers on a hotel bed
The artist and their partner have a close, familial bond despite their separation.
Like brothers on a hotel bed
The singer emphasizes the similarities between their relationship and that of siblings sharing a bed.
Like brothers on a hotel bed
The repetition of this line reinforces the idea of a close, fraternal relationship.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BENJAMIN GIBBARD, CHRISTOPHER WALLA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tyler Oh
You may tire of me as our December
sun is setting 'cause I'm not who I used to be
No longer easy on the eyes but these wrinkles
masterfully disguise the youthful boy below
Who turned your way and saw something he was not looking for
Both a beginning and an end But now he lives inside
someone he does not recognize
when he catches his reflection on accident
On the back of a motorbike
with your arms outstretched trying to take flight,
leaving everything behind
But even at our swiftest speed
we couldn't break from the concrete in the city where we still reside
And I have learned that even landlocked lovers yearn for the sea, like navy men,
'Cause now we say goodnight from our own separate sides like brothers on a hotel bed
DesandNate
Ben Gibbard is one of the most beautiful singers ive ever heard. Its like. Him and Ewan Mcreggor from Moulin Rouge. pretty much if they did a duet i would shit 9 babies
th3Aquarian
i first heard this when i was 17 and thought nothing of it. listening to it again at 26 the truth of every word hits home a thousand times. This music will last my lifetime.
RogueValley
Good question ^
Ömer Faruk Arıcı
stell there?
brenda Espinoza
@Joe Lendabarker yeah because i remember heart it like in 2007 or 2008 and the song was alredy kind of old.
Joe
@Bailey Hein this video may be from 2008, but this song came out in 2005.
Bruno Araújo
it's a lovely feeling, indeed, just don't let yourself be fooled by that "maturity" thing. maturity is NOW and what we do out of it. (:
SteventheThorn
The best DCfC song, which is saying a lot
Mitchell Brinker
Music like this is more than music. One of the things in life that I love, sitting outside relaxing with music like this on
Dylan Jones
This song is absolute perfection. My favorite song of all time by any band ever no exaggeration.