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."
Near/Far
Death Cab for Cutie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
An intermittent strobe in a lonely night
As I am standing by your side
Trying to breach this dark and deep divide
You're here
So far away
So near
I hear you talking to yourself
Cursing every card you wanted dealt
I can't help you play your hand
If you mistake every word for a command
You're here
So far away
So near
So far away
You're here
So far away
So near
So far away
Far away
You flicker like a fluorescent light
An intermittent strobe in a lonely night
But I won't watch you burning out
I won't let you be the one I live without
You're here
So far away
So near
So far away
You're here
So far away
So near
So far away
Far away
Far away
The lyrics to Death Cab for Cutie's song Near/Far explore the theme of distance and longing within a relationship. The opening line compares the subject to a flickering fluorescent light, emphasizing their inconsistency and unreliability. The singer is standing by their side, trying to bridge the gap between them, but is struggling to do so. The repetition of the phrase "so far away, so near" highlights the contradiction and complexity of the relationship. The subject is physically present but emotionally distant, making it difficult for the singer to connect with them.
The second verse delves deeper into the subject's struggles, with the singer hearing them talking to themselves and cursing their lot in life. The singer wants to help but feels unable to do so as every word they say is mistaken for a command. The repetition of the chorus reinforces the idea that the singer is caught in a contradictory relationship where their partner is both near and far.
In the final verse, the subject is once again compared to a flickering light, but this time the singer is determined not to let them burn out. They refuse to let the relationship end and acknowledge the importance of their partner in their life.
Overall, the song is a poignant exploration of the complexities of a relationship and the difficulties of bridging the gap between two people.
Line by Line Meaning
You flicker like a fluorescent light
You are unstable, unpredictable and prone to sudden changes, like the flickering of fluorescent lights.
An intermittent strobe in a lonely night
You periodically emit lights that illuminate the darkness, providing hope, but in the end, you remain distant and isolated.
As I am standing by your side
Despite your impermanence, I am still steadfastly devoted to you and choose to stand by your side.
Trying to breach this dark and deep divide
I am making an effort to overcome the emotional barriers that separate us.
You're here
You are close by and present in my life.
So far away
Yet, you remain out of reach, both physically and emotionally.
So near
Although you are geographically close, there is still a great emotional distance between us.
I hear you talking to yourself
I listen and feel sympathy as you struggle and confront inner turmoil.
Cursing every card you wanted dealt
You express resentment towards life as you blame fate for granting you an unfavorable hand.
I can't help you play your hand
Although I empathize with you, I can not alter your reality, as you alone determine your life's outcome.
If you mistake every word for a command
When you interpret other's words with malice, you respond impulsively and without reflection, damaging interpersonal relationships in the process.
But I won't watch you burning out
I refuse to bear witness to your slow decline and eventual demise.
I won't let you be the one I live without
I cannot imagine living my life without you, and I will do all that I can to keep you close by me.
Far away
Distant and removed from not just me, but also the person you ultimately desire to be.
Far away
Separated and inaccessible, beyond the grasp of any connection or communication.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Benjamin Gibbard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@fucker2574
Lyrics
You flicker like a fluorescent light
An intermittent strobe in a lonely night
As I am standing by your side
Trying to breach this dark and deep divide
You're here
So far away
So near
So far
I hear you talking to yourself
Cursing every card you wanted dealt
I can't help you play your hand
If you mistake every word for a command
You're here
So far away
So near
So far away
You're here
So far away
So near
So far away
Far away
You flicker like a fluorescent light
An intermittent strobe in a lonely night
But I won't watch you burning out
I won't let you be the one I live without
You're here
So far away
So near
So far away
You're here
So far away
So near
So far away
Far away
Far away
@raptor8970
You flicker like a fluorescent light
An intermittent strobe in a lonely night
As I am standing by your side
Trying to breach this dark and deep divide
You're here
So far away
So near
So far
I hear you talking to yourself
Cursing every card you wanted dealt
I can't help you play your hand
If you mistake every word for a command
You're here
So far away
So near
So far away
You're here
So far away
So near
So far away
Far away
You flicker like a fluorescent light
An intermittent strobe in a lonely night
But I won't watch you burning out
I won't let you be the one I live without
You're here
So far away
So near
So far away
You're here
So far away
So near
So far away
Far away
Far away
@gregoryvierra6114
Today is a great day. I finished graduate school and a new Death Cab album is released. Double win.
@willowvillalobos6800
Congratulations that is an amazing accomplishment!!
@gregoryvierra6114
Wow, thank you! The album isn't half bad either. :)
@lofijunky
Gregory Vierra congrats on both the graduate school and your good taste in music!
@robgucci2038
Congrats I can’t wait for that day for myself
@gregoryvierra6114
@Jon: Ha, thanks! Digging the new album.
@NESADDICT
This is the sleeper hit to me. It's grown on me a lot! So good!
@fucker2574
Lyrics
You flicker like a fluorescent light
An intermittent strobe in a lonely night
As I am standing by your side
Trying to breach this dark and deep divide
You're here
So far away
So near
So far
I hear you talking to yourself
Cursing every card you wanted dealt
I can't help you play your hand
If you mistake every word for a command
You're here
So far away
So near
So far away
You're here
So far away
So near
So far away
Far away
You flicker like a fluorescent light
An intermittent strobe in a lonely night
But I won't watch you burning out
I won't let you be the one I live without
You're here
So far away
So near
So far away
You're here
So far away
So near
So far away
Far away
Far away
@zzzcocopepe
i prefer "an intermittent strobin' lonely light" because it makes me think it's a single light in a dark night
@thelastshoegazer4491
Another bittersweet jam from Death Cab - haunting and beautiful as usual.