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."
Underneath the Sycamore
Death Cab for Cutie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Underneath the overpass
Mangled in the shards of a mental frame
Woken from a dream by my own name
Well I was such a wretched man
Searching everywhere for a homeland
Now we are under the same sun
Feel it through the leaves, let it heal us
We are the same
We are both sane
Underneath the sycamore
We are the same
We are both sane
Underneath the sycamore
We were both broken in our own ways
Sifting through the rubble for the wrong things
I know you've got a vengeful heart
I cannot be stopped soon as I start
But you have seen your darkest rooms
And I have slept in makeshift tombs
And this is where we find our peace
This is where we are released
We are the same
We are both sane
Underneath the sycamore
We are the same
We are both sane
Underneath the sycamore
We are the same
We are both sane
Underneath the sycamore
We are the same
We are both sane
Underneath the sycamore
We are the same
We are both sane
Underneath the sycamore
We are the same
We are both sane
Underneath the sycamore
We are the same
We are both sane
Underneath the sycamore
We are the same
We are both sane
Underneath the sycamore
"Underneath the Sycamore" is a song by Death Cab for Cutie that explores the idea of finding common ground and peace with another person despite their differences. The lyrics describe lying in a field of glass, shattered by a mental frame, and being awakened from a dream by one's own name. The singer then reflects on his past as a "wretched man" searching for a homeland before realizing that he and the other person are "under the same sun" and can "feel it through the leaves" and "let it heal us."
The chorus repeats the lines "We are the same, we are both sane, underneath the sycamore," emphasizing the idea that despite their brokenness and struggles, they are both fundamentally human and can find connection and understanding in nature. The second verse continues this theme, acknowledging that they have both been "broken in our own ways" and have looked for solace in the wrong places. However, they have also experienced darkness and found peace "in makeshift tombs," suggesting that they can find commonality in their struggles and healing in their shared experiences.
Overall, "Underneath the Sycamore" is a poignant reminder of the power of empathy and compassion in creating connections with others, even in the midst of challenging circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
Lying in a field of glass
Resting in a place filled with broken and shattered pieces
Underneath the overpass
Located below a bridge or a structure that connects two places
Mangled in the shards of a mental frame
Distorted and twisted due to the broken pieces of one's own mental construct
Woken from a dream by my own name
Awakened from a vision or a hope by acknowledging one's own existence
Well I was such a wretched man
I used to be unhappy and miserable
Searching everywhere for a homeland
Looking for a place to call home and belong to
Now we are under the same sun
Currently existing under the same celestial object that gives light to the earth
Feel it through the leaves, let it heal us
Experience the warmth and the light of the sun through the foliage and let it have a therapeutic effect on us
We are the same
We share commonalities and similarities
We are both sane
We both possess a stable and healthy sense of mind
Underneath the sycamore
Located in a place populated with sycamore trees, which symbolize strength and endurance
We were both broken in our own ways
We both experienced damage and harm in our own individualistic, unique manners
Sifting through the rubble for the wrong things
Sorting through the debris and wreckage, only to find things that are not important or useful
I know you've got a vengeful heart
I am aware of the fact that you harbor feelings of revenge and retribution
I cannot be stopped soon as I start
Once I begin with my actions or my movements, it is difficult to interrupt or stop me
But you have seen your darkest rooms
You have been exposed to the bleakest and the most depressing parts of your own self
And I have slept in makeshift tombs
I have rested in temporary, improvised places, that could be considered tombs or graves
This is where we find our peace
This place or this moment in time is where we discover our inner calm and serenity
This is where we are released
This is the space and time where we experience freedom and liberation
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Benjamin Gibbard, Christopher Walla
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
user0272
I got it like this: two lovers; the girl and the guy who gives the picture to our detective.
For some reason the guy dies and the last thing he does after leaving this world is ask the detective for save her girl knowing that she probably won't be able to make it without him.
Our detective tries to find the girl all night.
When she knows about the death of her love she decides to comite suicide just before our detective find her.
She probably understood that the detective was sent from her love to prevent her deat but she didn't care because she wanted to be with him.
Or maybe she just slip away...
Nabii
Man, I remember watching this on my 3ds. And I had loved this song so much but I didn't remember the title. Just the 'sycamore' part. I would forget about it and remember it over and over again, then I finally found it not too long ago. I was so shocked that it was Death Cab For Cutie, because I had been listening to to some of their songs for over a year now. I'm really happy I finally found this song.
González Silva Christian Alejandro
YOOOO, same here !!!!!
Ariela
SAME HERE!!!!!
Brandon Soto
Same!
Jared Johnson
It’s crazy how their music gets better with time.
Soldier that does not fight
Not really. Nothing beats Plans and Transatlanticism.
Makoto is the best Protag
@Soldier that does not fight Plans is ass. Why anyone likes that record is beyond me…
Matt G
I am a songwriter. I have written 301 songs in my lifetime. Not that anyone cares, but I have a pedigree in music and in storytelling. This is one of the most perfect songs ever written. Period. Every single note, every single word, every single rhyme, every syncopation, and the dynamics are just absolutely perfect. Ben Gibbard is probably the best songwriter in my lifetime. He crafts his songs with such beauty...and his words are incredible.
Arrington 77
I couldn’t agree more, it’s perfect in every sense!
Tri - Island
I don't know about that there are numerous amazing song writers I would say but yes I would definitely yes one of the best