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.
Circles Around the Sun
Dispatch Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He's much too small, it's like he's weightless
When he turned six, they ran some tests
They said, "It's for science, it's patriotic."
"Ah let's send him where no one else has gone
And after all he cannot speak or walk
Let's send him at the moon, do circles round the Sun."
When he was twelve, the time had come then
And with his eyes, he said he loved them
Then came the suits, then came the government
She stood and cried, she could not keep him
"Ah let's send him where no one else has gone
And after all he cannot speak or walk
Let's send him at the moon, do circles round the Sun."
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
Oh, oh, oh
Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
Oh, oh, oh
Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho
Then he came back, yeah he came back
He came back, a smile as big as the whole world
The doctors were shocked by his vital signs
She said, "Would you like to go home now?"
"Ah let's send him where no one else has gone
And after all he cannot speak or walk
Let's send him at the moon, do circles around the Sun."
The song Circles Around the Sun by Dispatch tells a compelling story of a child who is born with a unique set of circumstances, leaving the doctors puzzled and concerned about his well-being. As he grows up, the government takes an interest in him and decides to use him for scientific purposes, sending him into space to do circles around the sun. The child's mother is heartbroken but ultimately cannot keep him from this fate.
The chorus repeats the government's sentiment of "let's send him where no one else has gone" and highlights the child's inability to communicate or move on his own. The song then jumps ahead to when the child is twelve and it's time for him to go on this journey. He expresses his love to his family before leaving, and the mother is left to cry as her son is taken away by the suits and the government.
In the end, the child returns with a smile "as big as the whole world," and the doctors are shocked by his vital signs. The mother asks him if he wants to go home, and the chorus repeats, ending the song with the sentiment of sending the child "where no one else has gone."
The song leaves a lot of questions unanswered - what did the child experience on this journey? Was it worth it? While it's unclear, the story still leaves a lasting impact and touches on themes of sacrifice, love, and the quest for knowledge.
Line by Line Meaning
When he was born, the doc said "What's this?"
Upon being born, the doctor was puzzled by the child's small body and weightlessness.
He's much too small, it's like he's weightless
The child's body was so small and light that it raised concerns.
When he turned six, they ran some tests
At age six, the child underwent medical testing.
They said, "It's for science, it's patriotic."
The testing was explained as serving scientific purposes and was intended for the benefit of the country.
"Ah let's send him where no one else has gone
Someone suggests that the child be sent on a unique journey to unexplored territory.
And after all he cannot speak or walk
It is noted that the child is unable to speak or walk.
Let's send him at the moon, do circles round the Sun."
The aforementioned journey would involve orbiting around the sun as the child circles around the moon.
When he was twelve, the time had come then
When the child turned twelve, the opportunity arose for the suggested journey to be undertaken.
And with his eyes, he said he loved them
The child expressed his love or gratitude to those around him using his eyes.
Then came the suits, then came the government
After the child expressed his love, individuals such as government officials intervened.
She stood and cried, she could not keep him
A female, presumably a loved one, was unable to prevent the child from leaving.
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
This line serves as an interlude with no particular meaning.
Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho
This line serves as an interlude with no particular meaning.
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
This line serves as an interlude with no particular meaning.
Oh, oh, oh
This line serves as an interlude with no particular meaning.
Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho
This line serves as an interlude with no particular meaning.
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
This line serves as an interlude with no particular meaning.
Oh, oh, oh
This line serves as an interlude with no particular meaning.
Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho
This line serves as an interlude with no particular meaning.
Then he came back, yeah he came back
The child eventually returned from his journey.
He came back, a smile as big as the whole world
When the child returned, he was overjoyed and expressed this happiness through a large smile.
The doctors were shocked by his vital signs
Medical professionals were stunned by the child's bodily functions and statistics upon returning.
She said, "Would you like to go home now?"
After the child's return, someone asked if he would like to return home.
"Ah let's send him where no one else has gone
A suggested journey is once again brought up, indicating a desire for more exploration.
And after all he cannot speak or walk
The fact that the child still cannot speak or walk is reiterated.
Let's send him at the moon, do circles around the Sun."
The journey is once again detailed, highlighting the intended orbit around the sun and moon.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sisilik44
one of the most underrated songs ever
@trumpsb757sucks5
Let us make it famous
@spencerbobsue
one of the most wanted underrated songs ever
@karlmarxwasright6006
in history 😭😭😭
@SzAkos04
One of the most wanted one too
@v-buckschan111
@@SzAkos04 aha , i get it xD
@TheWatzitooya
This song is hauntingly sad, yet tells a rather happy story. Kudos to Criterion for finding some really good music to use in their Need for Speed game.
@trumpsb757sucks5
It it sad coz only few people know this song
@trumpsb757sucks5
Just a JoJo. I too came from most wanted
@gurbindersekhon8240
@@trumpsb757sucks5 it's even sad that fewer people know Larry Perry