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.
Only the Wild Ones
Dispatch Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Skateboard fair with a primal tribe
And your cut off painter pants
Chargin' down the craggy mountains with our thrift store friends
And who you find so
So in love with the falling earth
Oh you wake in the middle of the falling night
In the attics of the city night
We talked corso and the MC5
And you could dance live
We were all alright
And only the wild ones
Give you something and never want it back
Oh the riot and the rush of the warm night air
Only the wild ones
Are the ones you can never catch
Stars are up now no place to go, but everywhere
One I met in the green mountain state
I dropped out, and he moved away
Heard he got some land down south
Changed his name to a name the birds could pronounce
And only the wild ones
Give you something and never want it back
Oh the riot and the rush of the warm night air
Only the wild ones
Are the ones you can never catch
Stars are up now no place to go but everywhere
(No place to go but everywhere)
And in the city the mayor said
Those who dance are all mislead
So you packed your things and moved to the other coast
Said you gonna be like Charlie Rose
And only the wild ones
Give you something and never want it back
Oh the riot and the rush of the warm night air
Only the wild ones
Are the ones you can never catch
Stars are up now no place to go, but everywhere
Only the wild ones, give you something and never want it back
Oh the riot and rush of the warm night air
Only the wild ones
Are the ones you can never catch
Stars are up now no place to go, but anywhere
Hmm, hmm hmm
Hmm, hmm hmm
Hmm, hmm hmm
The lyrics of Dispatch's song Only the Wild Ones describe a group of carefree individuals who live life on their own terms, unencumbered by societal norms and expectations. The song celebrates the freedom and rebelliousness of "wild ones" who choose to live with abandon, pursuing their passions and dreams without fear or hesitation. The lines "Only the wild ones / Give you something and never want it back" allude to the idea that these individuals are selfless, generous, and open-hearted, sharing their gifts and experiences freely with others.
The lyrics capture the spirit of a counter-culture that values individuality, creative expression, and freedom above all else. The references to skateboarding, thrift store fashion, and punk rock bands like Corso and the MC5 evoke a sense of rebellion and nonconformity. The line "Heard he got some land down south / Changed his name to a name the birds could pronounce" suggests that the wild ones are unconcerned with the opinions of others and are willing to take risks and make bold, unconventional choices in pursuit of their goals.
Overall, Only the Wild Ones is a tribute to those who choose to live life on their own terms, refusing to be bound by social norms and conventions. The song celebrates the vibrancy, creativity, and irreverence of individuals who embrace their wildness and revel in the freedom of self-expression.
Line by Line Meaning
Long hair and longer stride
You have a relaxed, carefree attitude and approach to life
Skateboard fair with a primal tribe
You enjoy the company of like-minded, adventurous people
And your cut off painter pants
You're comfortable in your own skin and unafraid to express yourself
Chargin' down the craggy mountains with our thrift store friends
You find joy in pushing boundaries and exploring new places with friends who share your values
And who you find so
You're curious about and drawn to people who share your sense of adventure
So in love with the falling earth
You appreciate the beauty and power of nature, and seek to experience it fully
Oh you wake in the middle of the falling night
You find peace and inspiration in the quiet, introspective moments
With the summer playing coy
The fleeting nature of the summer season reminds you to live in the moment and enjoy life
In the attics of the city night
You seek out hidden, unconventional places to find inspiration and connect with others
We talked corso and the MC5
You value intellectual and artistic pursuits, and enjoy discussing new ideas with friends
And you could dance live
You're unafraid to express yourself physically, and find joy in moving to the rhythm of music
We were all alright
You feel a sense of belonging and comfort among your free-spirited friends
One I met in the green mountain state
You've had meaningful experiences and connections in unexpected places
I dropped out, and he moved away
You've had people in your life who have made a significant impact, but have inevitably moved on
Heard he got some land down south
You're curious about the different paths your friends have taken in life
Changed his name to a name the birds could pronounce
Your free-spirited friends often forge their own paths and make unconventional choices
And in the city the mayor said
You've encountered opposition and criticism from authority figures who don't understand your way of life
Those who dance are all mislead
You've been told that your choices are foolish or misguided by those who don't share your values
So you packed your things and moved to the other coast
You've faced challenges and obstacles that have required you to make bold decisions and uproot your life
Said you gonna be like Charlie Rose
You're inspired by successful, unconventional people who have made their own paths in life
Only the wild ones
You believe that those who live life on their own terms and seek adventure are the most interesting and inspiring people
Give you something and never want it back
Your free-spirited friends are generous and giving, and don't expect anything in return
Oh the riot and the rush of the warm night air
You find beauty and excitement in the unpredictability of life
Are the ones you can never catch
Your free-spirited friends are always moving forward and exploring new things, making them hard to pin down
Stars are up now no place to go, but everywhere
You feel a sense of freedom and possibility, and know that anything is possible if you have the courage to pursue it
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Chad Urmston, Pete Heimbold, Bradley Corrigan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@DISPATCHOFFICIAL
ICYMI - Last week we put out the new official video for "Only The Wild Ones" that is inspired from our time on and off the road. From our friends at Camp Jabberwocky in Martha's Vineyard to the beautiful Ileana of Managua, Nicaragua — it is so vital to remember there's always more that unites us than divides.
@lopilkderlll
DISPATCH any chance you’ll come through Denver in 2018?
@DavidStanley85281
I love that clip at the end of the surfers holding the flowers. Is there a story behind that, or just something you guys dreamed up for the music video? Either way, it's quite powerful.
@David-dp3pw
Something about the visuals combined with the music has a way of tapping into my emotions. Which has been really needed this year. I'm sitting here, finally crying after a year of taking care of ICU Covid patients. The humanity gets sucked out of the critical care setting to the point that it is impossible to feel anything besides empty and drained. To finally feel that humanity and reflect back on those patients by just watching this video is really needed.
@rouenpucelle990
Thank you for everything you've done for others.
@HelpingHandRealtor
Thank you for what you have done for everyone. Words are not enough
@greghostetter3959
🙏
@nateplumley6821
Your heart has a mind of its own. It keeps secrets from you. The best love story you'll ever know is the one between you and your own coy heart.
@sarahbravo5775
Thank you so much for staying in tune with your heart and mind.
During this Covid pandemic!
This song can help that, for sure!😊
@kingofwandering481
This song makes me feel happy about when I feel sad. Like I can feel sad, but in the back of my mind it just feels good to know that I'm really human and can feel deep emotions. It almost removed the label/connotation of negative feelings as being terrible and leaving you in despair, so I can view my negative emotions in a non-prejudiced way. Like my negative emotions aren't good or bad, they're just straight up human nature... idk it's really hard to explain. But this song just makes me feel happy about being a living & feeling human being