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.
Midnight Lorry
Dispatch Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like Tom and Huck stumbling down the aisle of their own funeral
Please goddess of the road, get me on my way
You see my love just left me so I'm on my own
And my heart's banged up looking for a foster home
The highway moon is getting me dizzy
I see a mirage of medusa
A top of an Appaloosa
Whispering to Mr. Beck now who's the real loser
Here come again the midnight Lorry
I think I might be moving along
There's a lot of places I got to get to
I know you're out there but I never even met you
Take me to the land of no worry and then I'll just keep playing this song
Mr. Driver I hear the music playin' and I see the lights
Will you throw me a ride?
A pretty young thing ushers me back to the rear
I haven't been many places and I definitely haven't been here
To think I was just a lonely soul in the cold with my thumb out
Now I'm rolling a smoke and being told to stick my tongue out
We bounced and blared and so did the Lorry
She teased my hair and held me close with a story
Of ragtag visions as the moonlight poured in
Second star to the right and straight on 'til morning
Here come again the midnight Lorry
I think I might be moving along
There's a lot of places I got to get to
I know you're out there but I never even met you
Take me to the land of no worry and then I'll just keep playing this song
Mr. Driver I hear the music playin' and I see the lights
Will you throw me a ride?
Looking at her face was like looking at the sun
She said you can't ask of everybody what you don't ask of one
Either way, we got today and that's all we may be allowed
I know that if we hold it together
There's real love we can bring about
Here come again the midnight Lorry
I think I might be moving along
There's a lot of places I got to get to
I know you're out there but I never even met you
Take me to the land of no worry and then I'll just keep playing this song
Mr. Driver I hear the music playing and I see the lights
Will you throw me a ride?
Here comes
Here comes
Here comes
Here come again the midnight Lorry
I think I might be moving along
There's a lot of places I got to get to
I know you're out there but I never even met you
Take me to the land of no worry and then I'll just keep playing this song
Mr. Driver I hear the music playing and I see the lights
Will you throw me a ride?
Here comes
Here comes
Here comes
Oh oh oh
Here comes
Here comes
Here comes
Oh oh oh
The song "Midnight Lorry" by Dispatch is a tale of a man walking down the road, searching for his tribunal, his purpose in life, after his love left him. He compares himself to Tom and Huck, stumbling down the aisle of their own funeral, as he wanders aimlessly. However, he calls on the goddess of the road to guide him on his journey. He sees a mirage of Medusa on top of an Appaloosa, wishing to be with his love and her caboose. He whispers to Mr. Beck, questioning who the real loser is. As the midnight lorry comes along, he decides to jump in and go wherever it takes him. A pretty young thing ushers him to the back of the lorry, and they share stories and visions. As they bounce and blare, she tells him that he cannot ask of others what he doesn't ask of himself. He realizes that they have only today and that if they hold it together, they can find real love.
The song's lyrics are poetic and vivid, portraying the journey of a man who seeks to find himself and make sense of his lost love. The midnight lorry becomes a metaphor for escape and change, offering new possibilities and hope. The song's message is to keep moving forward, even when faced with uncertainty and heartbreak, because there are always new experiences and people out there waiting to be discovered.
Line by Line Meaning
I walk down the road looking for my tribunal
I'm searching for my purpose in life and feel like I'm on trial.
Like Tom and Huck stumbling down the aisle of their own funeral
I feel lost and disconnected from society, like two famous literary characters who were disconnected from their own funeral.
Please goddess of the road, get me on my way
I'm asking for divine intervention to help me find my direction and guide me on my journey.
You see my love just left me so I'm on my own
I'm feeling lost and alone because my significant other just left me.
And my heart's banged up looking for a foster home
My heart is broken and needs a safe place to heal and mend.
The highway moon is getting me dizzy
I'm feeling disoriented and overwhelmed by the vastness of the open road.
I see a mirage of medusa
I'm seeing things that aren't really there, like the infamous Greek mythological creature Medusa which was known for its petrifying gaze.
A top of an Appaloosa
I'm fantasizing about being on top of a spotted horse breed to get away from my problems.
What I wouldn't do to be with you and your caboosa
I would do anything to be with you and escape my current struggles.
Whispering to Mr. Beck now who's the real loser
I'm talking to myself and wondering who's really losing in this situation - me or my lost love.
Here come again the midnight Lorry
The truck that symbolizes escape, adventure or just mere passage of life appeared.
I think I might be moving along
I'm ready to move forward and let go of the past.
There's a lot of places I got to get to
I have many goals and dreams I want to accomplish.
I know you're out there but I never even met you
I'm hopeful that there is someone out there for me but I haven't met them yet.
Take me to the land of no worry and then I'll just keep playing this song
Bring me to a place where I can forget all my problems and just enjoy the music.
Mr. Driver I hear the music playing and I see the lights
I notice the driver's music and the bright lights seem like a call to adventure and a symbol of hope.
Will you throw me a ride?
I'm asking you for a lift.
A pretty young thing ushers me back to the rear
A beautiful woman invites me to the back of the truck.
I haven't been many places and I definitely haven't been here
I'm inexperienced and haven't been to many new places before, especially not this truck.
To think I was just a lonely soul in the cold with my thumb out
I remember being cold, lonely, and vulnerable while trying to hitchhike.
Now I'm rolling a smoke and being told to stick my tongue out
I'm enjoying the ride and receiving unexpected but enjoyable surprises.
We bounced and blared and so did the Lorry
The Lorry is a place to escape, let go, and have fun - and the music inside reflects that perfectly.
She teased my hair and held me close with a story
The woman in the truck made me feel comfortable and safe and shared a story with me as we bonded.
Of ragtag visions as the moonlight poured in
We shared our experiences and ideas under the moonlit sky.
Second star to the right and straight on 'til morning
This phrase is from Peter Pan and represents the idea of escapism and finding a place where you belong and feel happy.
Looking at her face was like looking at the sun
The woman in the truck is radiant and full of life, I am drawn to her presence.
She said you can't ask of everybody what you don't ask of one
She gave me advice on how to be fair and balanced in my relationships with others.
Either way, we got today and that's all we may be allowed
We only have today to enjoy life, so we should make the most of it.
I know that if we hold it together
I feel that if we work together and find strength in each other, we can overcome obstacles and find love and hope in life.
There's real love we can bring about
I believe that we can achieve true love and happiness if we are patient and persistent, even in the face of adversity.
Oh oh oh
Repeating chorus.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Pete Heimbold, Brad Corrigan, Chad Urmston
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@philipwilliams6307
This is one of my all-time favorite songs. Just something about it hits home. It hits me in the feels, having been suicidal, the song is able to speak past that simple premise it was described for...
Sure home might be your hometown, but perhaps it's life in general, and I've done hitch hiking and truck driving before and late night driving before, too.
Perhaps the lorry could simply represent the hope for something more, that friend who offers a hand when you need it most, your family's hug when you're trembling in fear of what you might do, or that stranger encouraging you to simply give it sometime, or maybe something more supernatural if you really wish lol...
Ultimately there's more to this life even though it's not always obvious, I had lost my job and girlfriend in the same week and had recently turned 31 directionless on where to go in life and couldn't see any reason to keep on keeping on, my whole life felt like a series of mistakes and missed opportunities... not much has changed... except I'm not as depressed as I was.
This song has always sounded precious to me, but its meaning now has a new profound fresh coat of paint to my ears and heart... for a lack of better words.
@NateMoller
Lyrics!
I walk down the road looking for my tribunal
Like Tom and Huck stumbling down the aisle of their own funeral
Please goddess of the road, get me on my way
You see my love just left me so I’m on my own
And my heart's banged up looking for a foster home
The highway moon is getting me dizzy
I see a mirage of medusa
A top of an Appaloosa
What I wouldn't do to be with you and your caboosa
Whispering to Mr. Beck now who’s the real loser
Here come again the midnight Lorry
I think I might be moving along
There's a lot of places I got to get to
I know you’re out there but I never even met you
Take me to the land of no worry and then I'll just keep playing this song
Mr. Driver I hear the music playin' and I see the lights
Will you throw me a ride?
A pretty young thing ushers me back to the rear
I haven’t been many places and I definitely haven’t been here
To think I was just a lonely soul in the cold with my thumb out
Now I'm rolling a smoke and being told to stick my tongue out
We bounced and blared and so did the Lorry
She teased my hair and held me close with a story
Of ragtag visions as the moonlight poured in
Second star to the right and straight on 'til morning
Here come again the midnight Lorry
I think I might be moving along
There's a lot of places I got to get to
I know you're out there but I never even met you
Take me to the land of no worry and then I'll just keep playing this song
Mr. Driver I hear the music playin' and I see the lights
Will you throw me a ride?
Looking at her face was like looking at the sun
She said you can't ask of everybody what you don’t ask of one
Either way, we got today and that’s all we may be allowed
I know that if we hold it together
There's real love we can bring about
Here come again the midnight Lorry
I think I might be moving along
There's a lot of places I got to get to
I know you're out there but I never even met you
Take me to the land of no worry and then I'll just keep playing this song
Mr. Driver I hear the music playing and I see the lights
Will you throw me a ride?
Here comes
Here comes
Here comes
Here come again the midnight Lorry
I think I might be moving along
There's a lot of places I got to get to
I know you're out there but I never even met you
Take me to the land of no worry and then I'll just keep playing this song
Mr. Driver I hear the music playing and I see the lights
Will you throw me a ride?
Here comes
Here comes
Here comes
Oh oh oh
Here comes
Here comes
Here comes
Oh oh oh
Songwriters: Pete Heimbold / Brad Corrigan / Chad Urmston
@DISPATCHOFFICIAL
"Midnight Lorry" is special song about a young man who fell down on his luck in his hometown (girlfriend cheats on him, loses his job at the bakery) and with nothing to stay home for, he packs a knapsack and starts walking west.
As days go by, he gets picked up here and there, but doesn't make much progress. As the summer nights start to get a little colder, he starts to wonder if leaving was a good idea at all.
Then, late one night in the middle of nowhere while sitting at a roadside picnic table, he lifts his head from resting on his backpack and looks eastward where the sound of music and a Detroit diesel engine are cutting through the silence of the night. Pretty soon he sees an array of lights that cover the whole spectrum. They seem to be married to the same rumbling. Though he's never experienced anything like it and knows well the bleak mercy of the road, he's never wished harder for anything in his life. He stands up in the blinding light as the music gets louder and sticks his thumb out.
@randpratt4448
DISPATCH “Leap and the net will appear.... (eventually)”. Better to chance on possibility, than to perish in purgatory. Much love. Your music feeds my wandering heart.
@jasonmilton3338
am i the only one thats impressed that the freakin band replies to their youtube videos. guys i cannot express in words how much i love this song. MOREMOREMORE.
@BrianCarnevaleB26
Thank you
@bobblunt7115
DISPATCH that's a beautiful inspiration for a beautiful song.. y'all were great tonight in the rain at the redrocks
@stasipagello9305
Love the story/inspiration behind this song. As a hitchhiker myself, this song is beautiful. The road can get lonely sometimes.. directionless.. but this music is what keeps the spirit going.
@donsterrett1010
What a fantastic sound. I love how Dispatch is always doing new things and doing them well.
@philipwilliams6307
This is one of my all-time favorite songs. Just something about it hits home. It hits me in the feels, having been suicidal, the song is able to speak past that simple premise it was described for...
Sure home might be your hometown, but perhaps it's life in general, and I've done hitch hiking and truck driving before and late night driving before, too.
Perhaps the lorry could simply represent the hope for something more, that friend who offers a hand when you need it most, your family's hug when you're trembling in fear of what you might do, or that stranger encouraging you to simply give it sometime, or maybe something more supernatural if you really wish lol...
Ultimately there's more to this life even though it's not always obvious, I had lost my job and girlfriend in the same week and had recently turned 31 directionless on where to go in life and couldn't see any reason to keep on keeping on, my whole life felt like a series of mistakes and missed opportunities... not much has changed... except I'm not as depressed as I was.
This song has always sounded precious to me, but its meaning now has a new profound fresh coat of paint to my ears and heart... for a lack of better words.
@adasnow9390
wtf I alone llistened to this at least 200.000 times! :D
@elgrande4757
Best one on the new album, who's with me?