In 2004, the group graduated from college and moved into an apartment in Brooklyn with an aggressive, hirsute landlord named Baki. Shortly thereafter, Daniel joined the group Grizzly Bear and began playing guitar and singing with them (he went on to write a goodly portion of their sophomore album, Yellow House). Fred tried to escape his boring magazine job by going on tour opening up for the band Subtle, but the tour was cancelled when Subtle's bus crashed, tragically injuring keyboardist Dax Pierson. DOE was on something of a hiatus. Then in 2005, a British label re-released their debut album in Europe under a different title, and the group began working on new material. This time around, the music featured little-to-no electronic embellishments and was inspired by Randy Newman, Van Dyke Parks, Paul Williams, and Paul McCartney. On October 7, 2008 they released their follow-up, In Ear Park, on 4AD.
Daniel plays guitar, bass, piano, drums, cello, and sings. He majored in Linguistics. His grandfather, Robert Rossen, directed the critically acclaimed movies All the Kings Men and The Hustler. Fred plays drums and various random instruments. He majored in Art History. His father, Martin Nicolaus, wrote the definitive translation of Karl Marx's Gundrisse.
www.departmentofeagles.com
Department of Eagles went on to join Grizzly Bear with their recording of 2009 LP 'Veckatimist'
Around the Bay
Department of Eagles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All my words, they've flown away
I'll wait around for another soul
With those birds out in the bay
Making their rounds like I knew they would
All my thoughts left me again
Bliss me out, send me away
Watch those birds out in the bay
Making their rounds like I knew they would
Running all around
Running all around
Running all around
Grassy, still, late afternoon
Saw your face swimming in the blue
You lie around for an hour or two
Watch us kids play in our parks
Dropping our lines like a gospel tale
Running all around
Running all around
The song "Around the Bay" by Department of Eagles is a nostalgic tribute to the simple pleasures of childhood and the carefree days of youth. The opening lines suggest a feeling of disconnect or disillusionment with the world, with the singer noting that they feel like their words have "flown away" and that they are waiting for another soul to come along. The repeated imagery of birds making their rounds in the bay serves as a reminder of the cyclical nature of life and the passing of time. The chorus, with its repetition of the lines "Running all around," seems to evoke a sense of joy and abandon, perhaps recalling the freedom and playfulness of childhood.
As the song progresses, the tone becomes more wistful and nostalgic. The second verse describes a late afternoon spent lying in the grass, watching children play and dropping lines into the water. The image of the singer's face "swimming in the blue" creates a sense of dreamy unreality, as if they are only half-present in the moment. This is underscored by the repeated refrain of "Bliss me out, send me away," which suggests a desire to escape the present and return to a simpler time.
Overall, "Around the Bay" is a melancholic but ultimately uplifting meditation on the passing of time and the enduring power of childhood memories. The recurring images of birds, water, and running all serve to reinforce the song's themes of transience and continuity.
Line by Line Meaning
You're all too older today
I feel like everyone around me has become old and mature, while I'm still young at heart and don't fit in with their seriousness.
All my words, they've flown away
All the things I wanted to say have disappeared from my mind, leaving me feeling empty and unable to express myself.
I'll wait around for another soul
With those birds out in the bay
Making their rounds like I knew they would
I'm waiting for someone who understands me and sees the world the way I do, like the birds that always come back to the bay on their daily rounds.
All my thoughts left me again
Bliss me out, send me away
I'll wait around for another soul
Watch those birds out in the bay
Making their rounds like I knew they would
Once again, my thoughts have disappeared and I feel the need to escape my own mind. But I'll still wait for someone who connects with me, while observing the birds that move about with reassuring predictability.
Running all around
Running all around
Running all around
Perhaps all of this searching and waiting is pointless, as I keep running around in circles without finding what I'm looking for.
Grassy, still, late afternoon
Saw your face swimming in the blue
You lie around for an hour or two
Watch us kids play in our parks
Dropping our lines like a gospel tale
I remember a peaceful, summery day watching someone I care about resting and enjoying the outdoors. As kids played nearby, we fished and chatted at a leisurely pace, relishing the simple pleasures of life.
Running all around
Running all around
But even that idyllic moment feels fleeting and unsatisfying, as I'm still running around in search of something deeper and more meaningful.
Contributed by Andrew N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@weirdfishes9961
What a perfectly delicate and beautiful song.
@desertrance
one of my all time favorite projects/albums/recordings!!!!!!!!!!!!
@strangelot
Recently interviewed Daniel Rossen on his songwriting process - will be posting the video on our YouTube channel next Saturday 11/21
@desertrance
@@strangelot awesome I will check it out! Thanks
@jcbjets
Amazing!
@cecilecoiffard
Beautiful serenade...the window of my bedroom was just 3 floors above. rrrrrrrrrrrrr
@arturogomeztobon4689
Realy?, wow you're so lucky
@strangelot
Recently interviewed Daniel Rossen on his songwriting process - will be posting the video on our YouTube channel next Saturday 11/21
@soupermanist
Chris Taylor is the man.
@jamescrue
the outro on the album version reminds me of some Magical Mystery Tour stuff. Daniel Rossen...great musician!