Welcome to Dignan.
Meet 5 friends from McAllen, Texas:: Andy, Devin, Trey, Heidi and Davy. Meet their auroral melodies, their poetic percussion, and their ethereal lyrics. Meet their shy smiles as they glance downward when asked why they play music together.
"This is our community. This is how we show love."
Not long ago, these youthful artists were high school students, negotiating the maze of adolescence and self-discovery. Rather than pursue the typical channels of rebellion, however, original band members Andy and Devin chose to spend late nights in the local church sanctuary with their guitars. Drinking Pepsi and writing songs until 5: 00am, the young duo began to develop a sound that would eventually transcend their age and experience. Credit the holy architecture and acoustics, credit the sleep deprivation, credit their need to deal with their circumstances; it was in the wee hours that Dignan was born.
Like most young bands, member turnover was high towards the beginning. Andy and Devin played with a number of friends from their hometown before finally recruiting Trey, whom they had met while he was drumming for another band, and Davy, who originally sold and managed merchandise for the band. After befriending Heidi, the only non-Texan in the group, the band was complete.
Between the five of them, Dignan brought an extremely eclectic list of musical influence to the table. Ranging from Broken Social Scene and Arcade Fire, to grandparents who specialize in lounge music, to their hometown of McAllen with a 95% Hispanic population, the band had a wide variety of experiences and sounds in their repertoire to choose from. Feeling free to explore, the band began to incorporate an array of different instruments into their songs. What emerged was an array of melodies that brood over love, loss, angst, and crime.
Playing primarily in Texas, the band built up a strong local following in the lone star state early on in their career. In 2007, the band recorded their first EP, the guest, releasing it on the indie label Bearded Beauty. They also began touring nationally, and by early 2008, had 3 cross-country runs under their belt. The band is currently working on writing and recording new songs, as well as playing with bands like Ra Ra Riot and Colour Revolt.
In the world of complicated musicians, dynamics, and aspirations, Dignan keeps it simple. They love making music, and they love the music they make. As L.I. Wilder said, it is the sweet, simple things of life that are the real ones after all.
Listen
Dignan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lay your head down and listen
Take a rest now
You'll hear it
You'll hear it
So far away
But it's okay 'cause he's home
So far away
But it's okay 'cause he's home
It's okay 'cause he's home
And they all watched in disbelief
As he slowly fell to his knees
And his eyes glanced back and forth
Til' he finally found who he was looking for
And she knelt down to his ear
And whispered good-bye
Good-bye, my dear
So far away
But it's okay 'cause he's home
It's okay 'cause he's home
So far away
But it's okay 'cause he's home
It's okay 'cause he's home
So far away
But it's okay 'cause he's home
It's okay 'cause he's home
Love is who we are
Love is who we are
Love is who we are
Love is who we are
The lyrics of Dignan's "Listen" present a tender and bittersweet moment between two individuals who are separated by distance. The song opens with an invitation to the listener to lay their head down and listen, setting a peaceful and introspective tone. As the song progresses, we learn that the person being addressed is far away from their loved one, but that being away is acceptable because "he's home." This repetition of "it's okay 'cause he's home" suggests that although the separation may be difficult, it is tolerable because the absent person has found a place of comfort and safety.
The second half of the song depicts a heart-wrenching scene in which someone falls to their knees in disbelief, searching for someone specific among the crowd. When the person is found, the two lean towards each other and share a final goodbye. The song concludes with the repeated phrase "love is who we are," a poignant reminder that love is what connects us to one another and sustains us through the hardest of times.
Overall, "Listen" is a song that beautifully captures a universal human experience: the pain of being separated from someone we love and the solace that comes from knowing they are safe and loved, even when we cannot be with them.
Line by Line Meaning
Lay your head down and listen
Relax and focus on the sound around you.
Take a rest now
Take a break from your worries and sleep.
You'll hear it
You'll find peace in the sounds of nature and life around you.
So far away
The person he loves is distant and hard to reach.
But it's okay 'cause he's home
Even though his love is far away, he feels safe and secure knowing they'll always come back.
And they all watched in disbelief
Everyone around him was shocked by his unexpected behavior.
As he slowly fell to his knees
He collapsed in emotional pain and despair.
And his eyes glanced back and forth
He searched frantically for someone he needed to see.
Til' he finally found who he was looking for
He found comfort in the person he loved.
And she knelt down to his ear
She came close to him to provide comfort and ease his pain.
And whispered good-bye
She acknowledged their separation and resigned to the reality of the moment.
Good-bye, my dear
She said farewell with a broken heart.
Love is who we are
Love makes us human and keeps us connected.
Contributed by Isaac J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.