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.
Open Up
Dispatch Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They were looking for me when I came back
Said "Hey you, you're looking very suspicious"
I said "Relax, man, get off my back"
I said "Relax, man, get off my back"
I, I, I ain't opposed to seeking justice
But you're going about it all wrong
The man you're looking for does not exist
And they say "Open up, we're coming inside
You can't run so you may as well hide
We got the place covered from head to toe
Head to toe
Open up, we're coming inside
What's it feel like to know you're gonna die
On the other side of the road
On the other side of the road
On the other side of the road"
Yeah so they took me down to the gallows
And this boy, he say to me
"Why do you smile when the rope's around your neck"
I say "I'll tell you boy when I get back"
I say "I'll tell you boy when I get back"
I, I, I ain't opposed to seeking justice
But you're going about it all wrong
The man you're looking for does not exist
He's just a figment of the higher man's tongue
He's just a victim of the higher man's song
And they say open up, we're coming inside
You can't run so you may as well hide
We got the place covered from head to toe
Head to toe
Open up, we're coming inside
What's it feel like to know you're gonna die
On the other side of the road
On the other side of the road
On the other side of the... road
Hands above your head
Que la vie bien
Step out of line and we'll fill you with lead
How are we to know that you are not a liar, hey
Don't you see we have a job to do
And our job is the law
Job is the law
You fit the description of a criminal crosser, hey
We believe that he is you and that is your flaw
That is your flaw
That is your flaw
That is your flaw
That is your flaw
And they say open up, we're coming inside
You can't run so you may as well hide
We got the place covered from head to toe
Head to toe
Open up, we're coming inside
What's it feel like to know you're gonna die
On the other side of the road
On the other side of the road
On the other side of the road
On the other side of the road
"Open Up" by Dispatch is a political song highlighting the danger of the abuse of power by those in authority. The narrative speaks of an innocent man who is being pursued by the authorities through a case of mistaken identity. The singer of the song finds himself in a difficult situation where he is being sought after by the police who believe he is a criminal. He tries to explain his innocence, but the authorities are convinced of his guilt, and they make no effort to listen to him. The man in question is eventually captured, taken to the gallows, and he left with a noose around his neck waiting to be executed. Even in his final moments, when someone asks him why he smiles even when he is about to die, what he says in response still remains a mystery.
The lyrics of "Open Up" highlight the struggles of those who are wrongly accused of crimes, and the powerlessness of the individual in the face of the state. The song tells the story of an innocent man who, despite his best efforts to plead his case, is ultimately unjustly punished by the authorities. The song conveys the message that it is crucial to question authority and not to blindly trust those in power, as their actions may not always be just.
Line by Line Meaning
They were looking for me when I came to
As soon as I arrived, they were already searching for me.
They were looking for me when I came back
Even upon my return, they continued their search for me.
Said 'Hey you, you're looking very suspicious'
They accused me of looking guilty without any evidence.
I said 'Relax, man, get off my back'
I asked them to calm down and stop harassing me.
I, I, I ain't opposed to seeking justice
I believe in finding justice.
But you're going about it all wrong
However, their methods are flawed and unjust.
The man you're looking for does not exist
The person they're searching for is a fabrication, not a real person.
He's just a figment of the higher man's tongue
He's a creation of those in power, not a real threat or criminal.
And they say 'Open up, we're coming inside
They threatened to enter my home forcefully.
You can't run so you may as well hide
They claimed that I couldn't evade them, so I should try to hide instead.
We got the place covered from head to toe
They had the entire area surrounded with their search.
What's it feel like to know you're gonna die
They tormented me with the idea of my impending death.
On the other side of the road
In a place far away and removed from where we currently stand.
Yeah so they took me down to the gallows
Eventually, they brought me to be hanged for a fabricated crime.
And this boy, he say to me
A young man spoke to me before my execution.
'Why do you smile when the rope's around your neck'
He asked me why I was smiling despite knowing I was about to die.
I say 'I'll tell you boy when I get back'
I promised to explain my reason for smiling after my death.
He's just a victim of the higher man's song
The person they're searching for is simply a pawn in the games of those in power.
Hands above your head
They demanded that I put my hands up in surrender.
Que la vie bien
They wished for my surrender to result in my death.
Step out of line and we'll fill you with lead
They threatened me with violence if I didn't comply with their demands.
How are we to know that you are not a liar, hey
They questioned my honesty without cause.
Don't you see we have a job to do
They used their duty as an excuse for their unjust actions.
You fit the description of a criminal crosser, hey
They accused me of being a criminal based solely on my appearance or supposed behavior.
We believe that he is you and that is your flaw
They had already made up their minds about my guilt without any evidence.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CHARLES JOSEPH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gagethompson5299
This was my aunt and my favorite song growing up, still love it a decade later!
@timothywagner8798
This is the first song I heard by Dispatch… it’s very relevant… I had hard times and too many run ins… eventually I found recovery… “I said I’ll tell you when I get back “… excellent band
@danielrichardson6054
Same. I’m a big sublime guy and that’s putting it modestly
@franciscodiaz3028
I 1st heard this song on q101 in chicago and then bought their live compilation album and fell in love with this group
@theturtleclub4963
They are amazing live and sound just like they do on their albums. Can't wait to see them again
@josecarmona9757
Wow!!! It took 4 years to find this song again!
@raydonavin3507
I'm going through a rough patch man but this music , the whole band is just talented in the different people that they get involved just kind of stuck in my room a little sad
@miguelangelhernandezcolin8302
good song!
@dennispierce3959
Idk why but this kinda gives me sublime vibes .
@carmenreichard2552
Dennis Pierce cause dispatch and sublime are both amazing