Singer-songwriter Ben Gibbard wrote the song, while guitarist Chris Walla produced the track. The song's music video depicts Gibbard wandering through a mysterious forest where musical notes lift out of plants. "Soul Meets Body" became the band's first hit single; it hit number one on Billboard's Adult Alternative Songs chart, and the top five of the Hot Modern Rock Tracks. It was their first to crossover to the all-genre Hot 100, where it peaked at number 60. The song has been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for shipments of over 1,000,000 copies.
The song's music video was directed by Jon Watts. In the clip, frontman Gibbard waltzes across a magical woodland as foliage transforms into music notes. Gibbard picked Watts, a relative outsider, to helm the clip as he appreciated that his treatment was not simply a literal reading of the song's prose: "It's hard to pick videos, because when I write lyrics I try to make them as descriptive as possible, and I find it hard to find a treatment that's not just mimicking what's happening in the song...plus this one was a little weird," he said. It was filmed on August 3, 2005 at a ranch-style house located in Topanga Canyon in Los Angeles. Writers for Entertainment Weekly described the clip as "odd and lovely." The band later issued a second video for the song directed by Cat Solen as part of its Directions: The Plans Video Album.
"Soul Meets Body" was written by frontman Ben Gibbard, and produced by guitarist Chris Walla. The song was recorded at Long View Farm, a farmstead in North Brookfield, Massachusetts. The song opens with the sound of an uptempo acoustic guitar, leading to a chorus where Gibbard exclaims, "You're the only song I want to hear / A melody softly soaring through my atmosphere." Gibbard wrote the song for his girlfriend at the time. Throughout the song's lyrics, Gibbard touches on transcendental themes: in the song's hook, he pleads that "if the silence takes you then I hope it takes me too." Walla summarized the song's message: "It's a declaration of desire over circumstance. It means, 'Here's where I am and here's what I want to be and how do I bridge those two things.' I think it's a beautiful articulation of love, friendships and relationships and everything you do over the course of the day."
Gibbard recalled laboring over the song and follow-up single "Crooked Teeth": "We spent all this time trying to get "Soul Meets Body" and "Crooked Teeth" just right to make sure we were putting our best foot forward," he said.
Gibbard later reimagined the song, with the help of Brett Nelson from Built to Spill, in an electronic-infused iteration for The Electronic Anthology Project. In 2019, the song was covered by New Zealand act the Beths.
Soul Meets Body
Death Cab for Cutie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And let the sun wrap its arms around me and
Bathe my skin in water cool and cleansing
And feel
Feel what it's like to be new
'Cause in my head there is a Greyhound station
Where I send my thoughts to far off destinations
Far more suited than here
Ba-da-ba-da-ba-ba, ba-da-ba-ba, ba-da-ba-ba
Ba-da-ba-ba, ba-da-ba-ba-da-ba-da-ba
I cannot guess what we'll discover
When we turn the dirt with our palms cupped like shovels
But I know our filthy hands can wash one another's
And not one speck will remain
I do believe it's true
That there are roads left in both of our shoes
But if the silence takes you
Then I hope it takes me too
So brown eyes I'll hold you near
'Cause you're the only song I want to hear
A melody softly soaring through my atmosphere
Where soul meets body
Where soul meets body
Where soul meets body
And I do believe it's true
That there are roads left in both of our shoes
But if the silence takes you
Then I hope it takes me too
So brown eyes I'll hold you near
'Cause you're the only song I want to hear
A melody softly soaring through my atmosphere
A melody softly soaring through my atmosphere
A melody softly soaring through my atmosphere
A melody softly soaring through my atmosphere
The song "Soul Meets Body" by Death Cab for Cutie is a nostalgic and contemplative piece that touches on themes of longing, escapism, and the power of human connection. The opening lines express a desire to connect with something greater than oneself, to experience the world in a new and cleansing way. The singer imagines a place where "soul meets body," where the sun can wrap them in its warmth and provide a sense of comfort and security. This desire for connection and renewal is juxtaposed with a sense of restlessness and unease, as the singer imagines their thoughts traveling to "far off destinations" in a Greyhound station, searching for a place where they belong.
The second verse of the song explores the idea of finding common ground with others, despite the limitations and imperfections of human nature. The singer imagines themselves and another person digging in the dirt with their bare hands, a gesture that suggests a shared desire to create something meaningful and lasting. The image of "filthy hands" washing one another is a powerful metaphor for the way that human connection can redeem us and make us whole, even in the face of our own shortcomings.
Ultimately, the song is a meditation on the power of love and music to transport us beyond ourselves and into a shared experience of beauty and transcendence. Brown eyes (presumably the singer's romantic partner) are described as the "only song I want to hear," a melody that soars softly through the atmosphere and brings a sense of peace and joy. The repetition of the phrase "where soul meets body" throughout the song reinforces the idea that the physical and spiritual realms are intimately connected, and that we can only experience true fulfillment by embracing both aspects of ourselves.
Line by Line Meaning
I want to live where soul meets body
I want to live in a place where the physical and emotional aspects of life intersect, where I can be in touch with my true self.
And let the sun wrap its arms around me and
I want to bask in the warmth and comfort of the sun, which represents positivity and happiness.
Bathe my skin in water cool and cleansing
I want to cleanse myself physically and emotionally, to be pure and free of impurities in every sense.
And feel
I want to experience all the joys and emotions that come with living and existing in the world.
'Cause in my head there is a Greyhound station
The mind is a hub that sends my thoughts to different places, much like a transit station for Greyhound buses.
Where I send my thoughts to far off destinations
My mind is always wandering and exploring new ideas and possibilities, potentially finding something greater that's out there.
So they may have a chance of finding a place where they're
By sending thoughts to different places, they may find a place where they belong, where they fit in and are more at ease.
Far more suited than here
A place where they're accepted and relevant, as opposed to here where they may not be understood or appreciated.
I cannot guess what we'll discover
I am unsure of what the future holds in store for us, what we'll find and what we won't.
When we turn the dirt with our palms cupped like shovels
We are digging, searching, and trying to find meaning in the world around us, using our hands as the tools.
But I know our filthy hands can wash one another's
Despite being dirty from digging and exploring, we can help each other, cleansing each other from the mental or physical dirt we may accumulate.
And not one speck will remain
If we help each other, we can make sure the dirt and impurities are fully washed away.
I do believe it's true
I have faith that something exists and that what I believe in is accurate and true.
That there are roads left in both of our shoes
Even though we have walked different paths, there are still many paths left to explore, many which we can walk together.
But if the silence takes you
If you become silent or quiet, consumed by something beyond either of us, I will be there to support and hold you, to alleviate your burden.
Then I hope it takes me too
If something happens to you, I want to share the same fate so that you don't have to go through it alone.
So brown eyes I'll hold you near
I will hold you close and dear, offering you comfort, reassurance, and warmth.
'Cause you're the only song I want to hear
I want to listen to and be around you because you are the most appealing and enjoyable part of my life.
A melody softly soaring through my atmosphere
You are a beautiful melody that enhances my life, making it more peaceful, comfortable and joyful.
Where soul meets body
Life is lived to its fullest where the physical and emotional components come into equilibrium, where soul meets body.
A melody softly soaring through my atmosphere
You are a beautiful melody that enhances my life, making it more peaceful, comfortable and joyful.
A melody softly soaring through my atmosphere
You are a beautiful melody that enhances my life, making it more peaceful, comfortable and joyful.
A melody softly soaring through my atmosphere
You are a beautiful melody that enhances my life, making it more peaceful, comfortable and joyful.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Benjamin Gibbard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bt2155
"And I do believe it's true,
That there are roads left in both of our shoes,
But if the silence takes you,
Then I hope it takes me too.
So brown eyes, I hold you near,
Cause you're the only song I want to hear,
A melody softly soaring through my atmosphere..."
Perfection ❤️
@sety4252
Lyrics:
I want to live where soul meets body
And let the sun wrap its arms around me,
And bathe my skin in water cool and cleansing
And feel... feel what it's like to be new.
'Cause in my head
There's a Greyhound station
Where I send my thoughts
To far-off destinations
So they may have a chance
Of finding a place where they're
Far more suited than here.
I cannot guess what we'll discover
When we turn the dirt with our palms cupped like shovels,
But I know our filthy hands can wash one another's
And not one speck will remain.
I do believe it's true
That there are roads left in both of our shoes,
But if the silence takes you
Then I hope it takes me too.
So brown eyes, I'll hold you near,
'Cause you're the only song I want to hear.
A melody softly soaring through my atmosphere.
Where soul meets body.
Where soul meets body.
Where soul meets body.
And I do believe it's true
That there are roads left in both of our shoes,
But if the silence takes you
Then I hope it takes me too.
So brown eyes, I'll hold you near,
'Cause you're the only song I want to hear.
A melody softly soaring through my atmosphere.
A melody softly soaring through my atmosphere.
A melody softly soaring through my atmosphere.
A melody softly soaring through my atmosphere.
@steadyphil4367
It's rare to find a song that seems to take you completely into another world. This is one of those songs.
@UnlimitedFandom
What about this https://youtu.be/dQw4w9WgXcQ
@uyiowobee7196
So soothing and soul calming
@dimman77
@@UnlimitedFandom Goddamn. Got me. LoL
@d112cons
A place named.... The Pacific Northwest. It's a lot like this song - cold, gray, lovely.
@nadiaahmar7988
You should check out Sufjan Stevens :) My favorite album of his is Carrie and Lowell
@cristallopez3133
I love this song so much. Makes me feel whole. Makes me cry and feel a lot. I love living. I love being alive and present. The instrumental, lyrics, and music video are everything. Such a perfect wholesome song.
@user-hx9th3gu1h
I cry too and I'm not a sissy la la.
@jonathancook6557
Indeed! It brought tears to my eyes just the other day
@pablorocky6064
This song is a part of my childhood and I cry hard when I watch the video