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."
Debate Exposes Doubt
Death Cab for Cutie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Corner-booth thinking (pretending to read) about the impossibility of one to love
Unconditionally and the words that we drive into the ground, their repetition
Starts to thin their meaning.
Then everything got frighteningly still as they entered and intersected the
Floor and I tried to choke my stare at the perfection that others would kill for.
But all of the parts are the same on every face (few variables change).
Finally there is clarity and there is purpose after all, but every night ends
The same as I'm collapsing once more by your side.
Finally there is clarity, this tiny life is making sense.
And every drop numbs the both of us, but I alone am staggering.
“Debate Exposes Doubt” by Death Cab for Cutie is a song that delves into the concept of unconditional love and the reality of the limitations that human nature places on it. The lyrics depict the lead singer sitting in a corner-booth, contemplating the impossibility of one being able to love unconditionally. The repetition of words used to express love only serve to dilute the meaning of the words over time.
The song takes a turn as the singer suddenly stops his thoughts when a group of people enter the bar. He becomes transfixed on their perfect appearances and the things that people are willing to do to achieve them. He realizes that despite everyone's outward appearance and differences, they are all the same at their core.
In the last verse, the singer expresses the idea of finally having clarity and purpose in life but ends each night collapsing by someone's side who is also numb from the uncertainties of life. Although the singer feels everything, he is the only one stumbling, unable to fully comprehend love and its limitations.
Overall, the song is about the complexities of love and how it is often unattainable. Despite this, we continue to strive for it and seek meaning in our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
The workdays were propping the bar quietly erasing the week and I was in a
Corner-booth thinking (pretending to read) about the impossibility of one to love
Unconditionally and the words that we drive into the ground, their repetition
Starts to thin their meaning.
The singer was at a bar after a long workweek, contemplating the idea of unconditional love and how often people use language carelessly, causing the meaning of words to lose their impact.
Then everything got frighteningly still as they entered and intersected the
Floor and I tried to choke my stare at the perfection that others would kill for.
But all of the parts are the same on every face (few variables change).
The differences pale when compared to the similarity they share
The singer noticed a group of attractive people entering the bar, but ultimately realized they all look similar and aren't inherently more special than anyone else. Physical differences among people are insignificant compared to what unites them.
Finally there is clarity and there is purpose after all, but every night ends
The same as I'm collapsing once more by your side.
Finally there is clarity, this tiny life is making sense.
And every drop numbs the both of us, but I alone am staggering.
The singer experiences moments of clarity and purpose in life, but ultimately falls back into a familiar routine where they feel numb and unfulfilled. Despite being with someone, they feel alone in their struggle to find meaning.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BENJAMIN GIBBARD, CHRISTOPHER WALLA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Maryam Chaudhary
LYRICS
The workdays were propping the bar quietly erasing the week and I was in a
Corner-booth thinking (pretending to read) about the impossibility of one to love
Unconditionally and the words that we drive into the ground, their repetition
Starts to thin their meaning.
Then everything got frighteningly still as they entered and intersected the
Floor and I tried to choke my stare at the perfection that others would kill for.
But all of the parts are the same on every face (few variables change).
The differences pale when compared to the similarity they share
Finally there is clarity and there is purpose after all, but every night ends
The same as I'm collapsing once more by your side.
Finally there is clarity, this tiny life is making sense.
And every drop numbs the both of us, but I alone am staggering
pixy-sticks
Death Cab for Cutie will always be one of my favorites. This album always takes me back.
Terminally Chill
I think their best work was from Something About Airplanes through Transatlanticism. They've grown as every good and great band does but this was their golden era... But that's just me lol
Terminally Chill
@pixy-sticks greetings, after you check out Pedro the Lion, check out "Headphones" which was a side project of the Pedro the Lions lead.
pixy-sticks
@Err Moc I have not but I’ll check it out :o I’m sure it’s good
Err Moc
Right on, have u listened to David Bazan(aka Pedro the Lion)before?
pixy-sticks
@Err Moc Valid observation. Im in my late 20’s but listened to their discography in my early teenager years. This one was a repeat album for me so I look at it very fondly.
mastershakeme
I love this song because it's kind of weird. I love how he kinda sings off key in a few parts. I love the piano music at the end... The whole theme is depressing, but it just sounds so bittersweet. This is one of my favorites.
Rocky Evans
The ending is heavy af, what a great song. Ben's a bit of a beast
Wesley Barton
I agree with you.
Maryam Chaudhary
LYRICS
The workdays were propping the bar quietly erasing the week and I was in a
Corner-booth thinking (pretending to read) about the impossibility of one to love
Unconditionally and the words that we drive into the ground, their repetition
Starts to thin their meaning.
Then everything got frighteningly still as they entered and intersected the
Floor and I tried to choke my stare at the perfection that others would kill for.
But all of the parts are the same on every face (few variables change).
The differences pale when compared to the similarity they share
Finally there is clarity and there is purpose after all, but every night ends
The same as I'm collapsing once more by your side.
Finally there is clarity, this tiny life is making sense.
And every drop numbs the both of us, but I alone am staggering