The band originated in the early 1990s as One Fell Swoop, but changed their name to Dispatch in 1996. Chad Urmston, Braddigan, and Pete (Francis) Heimbold, who were all attending Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont comprised the band's lineup throughout their entire career. Their music has drawn on several influences, such as acoustic folk-rock, reggae, and funk.
Dispatch gained much recognition outside of New England, without any help from a label, and stuck together long enough to release seven albums, three of which were live performances. During concerts, the band had been known to improvise upon their album releases, often resulting in a song ending in twice the length of the original. The group was also fond of switching instruments and vocal duties when playing live.
Upon the announcement of its break-up in 2002, the band scheduled one final concert. The free show was performed at the Hatch Shell in Boston on July 31, 2004. "The Last Dispatch," as it was referred, is said to be the largest concert in independent music history; roughly 110,000 fans from over 20 different countries attended the show. Parts of the performance were released as a CD/DVD two-disc set later that year, entitled All Points Bulletin, along with an earlier show in Somerville, Massachusetts.
All three of the band's members are currently still in the music industry. Urmston is now the frontman of State Radio, while Corrigan (now credited as Braddigan, a nickname by which he was known since his time with Dispatch) and Heimbold (now credited as Pete Francis, his middle name) are succesfully pursuing solo efforts.
After the song Elias, written by Urmston after his experience living and teaching in Zimbabwe, the "Elias Fund" was formed to send children from the ravaged country to college.
Dispatch came out with a movie entitled "Last Dispatch" in July 2005, which documents their final 12 days together as a band and tells the story of how they became "the band that redefined independent music history". The film was released and previewed in Boston. Chad, Brad, and Pete attended the showing and celebrated throughout the weekend with their fans.
On December 22, 2005, Corrigan helped to organize a benefit concert, known as the Relief Project, at Irving Plaza in New York, New York. Along with several other performers, Corrigan invited Heimbold and State Radio to play. The three reunited very briefly, playing the song Here We Go as an encore. Corrigan stated there that he plans further Relief Project concerts featuring all three and perhaps sometime in 2007, a major Dispatch reunion concert.
Entitled "Dispatch: Zimbabwe", Dispatch arranged for one show in Madison Square Garden, with all the money sent towards relief efforts in Zimbabwe. Originally billed as a one show deal on July 14, Dispatch was surprised how quickly this first show sold out and set two more shows for the 13 and 15. After all three shows sold out, Dispatch announced another smaller show on July 11th at Webster Hall in New York, where they made their comeback debut to great success.
Dispatch had a second set of reunion concerts beginning at Red Rocks amphitheater in Denver, Colorado on June 3, 4, and 5th, 2011. These performances launched a reunion tour around the US and the release of their Dispatch EP on May 17th.
In 2017, the band released the song, "Only The Wild Ones" from their album, America, Location 12.
Bulletholes
Dispatch Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Scattered across the sky
I wander
These steep hills
Into the grey light.
My fingers collapse around my pen
Like soldiers tryin' to hold up the flag
I'm callin' out, once again
In this letter to you my friend
In this letter to you my friend
And don't tell me you been comin' up easy
Stop, drop, you're life is greasy
You used to say that you would come around
Oh baby, but you're never here
You have been
Up above (so high so high so high)
And lived, in the dirt
You have felt
Some love
And you
Have been hurt
Well I've gone to shorten my road
With a fistful of matches, but nothin' to strike (nothin' to strike)
And as we walk along the cove
You will know that this is right
You may think I'm crazy
You may think I'm foolish
But I'm coming through the lightening
Comin' back to you
Don't tell me you been comin' up easy
Stop, drop, you're life is greasy
You used to say that you would come around
But you're never here
You have been
Up above (so high so high so high)
And lived, in the dirt
You have felt
Some love
And you
Have been hurt
Oh my my my my my my my
I'm feelin' fine
Oh my my my my my my my
I'm comin' through
Oh my my my my my my my
Oh my my my oh my
You have been
Up above so high so high so high
And lived, in the dirt
You have felt
Some love
And you
Have been hurt
Oh you have been, you have been
Up above, up above
And you've lived, and you've lived, in the dirt, in the dirt
Oh you have felt you have felt
Some love, oh some love
And you, you have
Been hurt
You have been up above
The song “Bulletholes” by Dispatch starts with the line “Black birds send bullet holes scattered across the sky” setting a dark and eerie tone to the song. The lyrics throughout the song are cryptic and mysterious as they weave together various themes of pain, love, loss and hope. In the first verse, the singer is walking through steep hills towards grey light while struggling to write, clenching his pen like a soldier holding up the flag. He writes a letter to his friend, pouring out his anguished heart in his own way.
The chorus is a warning from the singer to someone who he feels has had an easy life yet fails to come through for him. The intensity of the emotions caused by his friend’s absence is palpable in the lines “Stop, drop, you're life is greasy / You used to say that you would come around / Oh baby, but you're never here”.
The bridge of the song is about someone who has tasted both highs and lows in their life and has learnt the value of love and hurt. The singer then goes on to express his resolve to come back, no matter how difficult the journey may seem.
Overall, “Bulletholes” is a soulful and poignant song that blends together elements of rock, reggae, and folk while exploring themes of pain, love, hope and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
Black birds send bullet holes
Violence has ravaged the sky, and the bullet holes are evidence of the ongoing turmoil.
Scattered across the sky
The bullet holes are widespread, indicating that the violence affecting the sky is far-reaching and pervasive.
I wander
The singer is lost, wandering aimlessly in the midst of the chaos.
These steep hills
The artist is navigating difficult terrain, which adds to the difficulty of finding their way in the midst of violence.
Into the grey light.
The light is dim and dreary, perfectly reflecting the somber mood and atmosphere of the environment.
My fingers collapse around my pen
The singer is struggling to express themselves, conveying the immense toll that the violence has taken on them.
Like soldiers tryin' to hold up the flag
The singer is struggling to maintain a sense of fortitude, even in the midst of violence that is tearing everything apart.
I'm callin' out, once again
The artist has reached out before, but has yet to make a meaningful connection that will help them guide their way to safety.
In this letter to you my friend
The artist is writing to someone they trust, hoping that this communication will serve as a beacon of hope amidst the chaos.
And don't tell me you been comin' up easy
The artist is calling out someone who is oblivious to the severity of the situation, and is urging them to be more aware of the challenging circumstances.
Stop, drop, you're life is greasy
This is a bold call to action, urging the listener to take action and do something about the circumstances around them.
You used to say that you would come around
The artist remembers how the listener promised to help, but has yet to make good on those promises.
Oh baby, but you're never here
This line conveys regret and disappointment, as the singer has yet to receive the help they need.
Well I've gone to shorten my road
The singer has decided to take action on their own, shortening their path to success by actively doing something about their situation.
With a fistful of matches, but nothin' to strike (nothin' to strike)
The singer has a plan, but currently lacks the resources to implement it.
And as we walk along the cove
This line conveys movement, and suggests that the artist is no longer content to wait for help - they are moving forward, determined to make progress.
You will know that this is right
The artist has confidence in their plan, and is urging their listener to support them now that they are finally taking decisive action.
You may think I'm crazy
The singer expects their listener to be skeptical, as they have not seen the singer take action before.
You may think I'm foolish
This line emphasizes that the singer's listener is not supportive, and may not even believe that the singer's plan is worthwhile.
But I'm coming through the lightening
Despite the challenges ahead, the artist's determination is unwavering. They will endure whatever comes their way in order to ensure success.
Comin' back to you
The artist has decided to once again communicate with their listener, hoping to solidify their support even as they embark on their own journey.
Oh my my my my my my my
This line suggests that something exciting, or unexpected, is about to happen - a sign that the artist's plans are taking shape.
I'm feelin' fine
Despite the challenges ahead, the singer is optimistic and hopeful about the future.
You have been up above
This line again calls to mind the idea of being above a turbulent, troubled atmosphere - a metaphor for transcendence or escape from the chaos and suffering that the artist feels.
And lived, in the dirt
Despite the idea of rising above, there are moments where people must struggle - this line embodies the idea of being in the dirt and struggling to rise above it.
You have felt some love
Love is still present even in the midst of violence and uncertainty, a sign that hope still remains.
And you have been hurt
Ultimately, the violence has caused immense hurt and trauma, a theme that repeats throughout the song.
And you've lived, and you've lived, in the dirt, in the dirt
This line has a repetition that emphasizes the idea of living in the dirt or struggling to rise above it. It's a reminder that people keep trying, and keep fighting, even in the face of adversity.
You have been hurt
This line again emphasizes the theme of hurt and trauma, reminding listeners of the pain and suffering that violence can cause.
Oh you have felt you have felt
This line conveys a sense of empathy - the singer understands how the listener feels, and is trying to reach them on an emotional level.
And you, you have been hurt
This line repeats the idea of hurt, reinforcing the pain that people can experience in the midst of violence and chaos.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Stephanie Williams
I've always loved this one!