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.
Two Coins
Dispatch Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the two coins of your eyes
Into my pockets, yeah
Well, the train skates into Port Henry
Late Sunday (alright)
Sometimes when I'm riding high
Feeling fine
Troubling my mind
So I reach into my pocket for some small change
I reach into my pocket for some small change
I want bones like iron, blood like mercury
So I can tell you when I'm rising
When I'm, sinking in
(I'm sinking in)
(I'm sinking in)
I'm sinking in
I reach into my pocket for some small change
I reach into my pocket for some small change, yeah
I'm gonna take it to the people
Yeah
We're gonna take it to the people
Yeah
We're gonna take it to the people
Yeah
We're gonna take it to the people
Yeah
Hey, let's drink from the cup and share some luck
Go ahead and laugh, 'cause it don't cost much
No, no, it don't, don't cost much
I stick loneliness, your lips
And the two coins of your eyes
Into my pockets, yeah
I stick loneliness, your lips
And the two coins of your eyes
Into my pockets, yeah
In "Two Coins," Dispatch lead singer Chad Urmston tells a story of holding onto love and memory. The first lines "I stick loneliness, your lips // And the two coins of your eyes // Into my pockets, yeah" reveals that the singer is holding onto physical manifestations of a past partner, in order to keep them closer. The following lines "Sometimes when I'm riding high // Feeling fine // You know there's something troubling you // Troubling my mind" reveal that despite his attempt to move on, his partner still haunts him, despite there being nothing physically there. He goes on to say that he reaches into his pocket for small change as a distraction, but it doesn't really help. With the lines "I want bones like iron, blood like mercury // So I can tell you when I'm rising // When I'm, sinking in," the singer wishes for a way to communicate his true emotions and feelings to his partner. He goes on to say "I'm sinking in," showing that he is struggling to keep their memory alive.
The song then takes an interesting turn with the lines "I'm gonna take it to the people // Yeah // We're gonna take it to the people." Here, the singer seems to give up, handing over his struggles to the masses or "the people." The singer then suggests "Hey, let's drink from the cup and share some luck, // Go ahead and laugh, 'cause it don't cost much," showing his acceptance of life's impermanence and being content with even the smallest amount of joy. The song comes full circle with the repeat of the first verse, emphasizing the singer's inability to let go and how he holds onto the past. Overall, "Two Coins" touches on themes of holding onto the memory of a past love, the struggle to move on, and how acceptance of the present can bring joy.
Line by Line Meaning
I stick loneliness, your lips
I hold onto the memory of your kiss when I feel lonely and need something to hold onto
And the two coins of your eyes
I remember the beauty of your eyes, their shine and the happiness they brought me
Into my pockets, yeah
I keep these memories close to me all the time
Well, the train skates into Port Henry
I hear the arrival of a train
Late Sunday (alright)
It's late on a Sunday night and I am ready to move on
Sometimes when I'm riding high
When everything is going well for me
Feeling fine
I feel happy and satisfied with my life
You know there's something troubling you
The memory of you still haunts me and brings me down
Troubling my mind
I can't get you out of my head
So I reach into my pocket for some small change
I try to find something to distract me from my thoughts of you
I want bones like iron, blood like mercury
I want to be resilient and strong enough to survive without you
So I can tell you when I'm rising
I want to prove to you that I am okay without you
When I'm, sinking in
But sometimes I still feel like I'm drowning without you
(I'm sinking in)
I am overwhelmed by my emotions
(I'm sinking in)
I can't keep my head above water
I'm sinking in
I am drowning in my sadness
I reach into my pocket for some small change
I still try to find ways to distract myself
I reach into my pocket for some small change, yeah
But nothing seems to work
I'm gonna take it to the people
I want to share my pain and struggles with others
Hey, let's drink from the cup and share some luck
Let's share our experiences, both good and bad, and hope for better days
Go ahead and laugh, 'cause it don't cost much
We can find happiness in the little things in life
No, no, it don't, don't cost much
We don't need a lot of money to find joy in life
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Brad Corrigan, Pete Francis Heimbold
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gerardoflores6956
Lyrics
I stick loneliness your lips and the two coins
Of your eyes into my pockets
Yeah
Well the train skates into Port Henry late Sunday
(All right)
Sometimes when I'm riding high, feeling fine
You know there's something troubling you troubling my mind
So I reach into my pocket for some small change
I reach into my pocket for some small change
I want bones like iron blood like mercury
So I can tell you when I'm rising, when I'm
Sinking in
I'm sinking in
I'm sinking in
I'm sinking in
I reach into my pocket for some small change
I reach into my pocket for some small change
Yeah
I'm gonna take it to the people
Yeah
We're gonna take it to the people
Yeah
We're gonna take it to the people
Yeah
We're gonna take it to the people
Yeah
Hey lets drink from the cup and share some luck but
Go ahead and laugh 'cause it don't cost much
No no it don't, don't cost much
I stick loneliness your lips and the two coins
Of your eyes into my pockets
Yeah
I stick loneliness your lips and the two coins
Of your eyes into my pockets
Yeah.
@michaelflowerjr3005
I'm heading to my cousin Nicky's wake and he was a huge dispatch fan he got all of us hooked on dispatch cheers to you Nicholas!!
@FallenTrend33
This first Dispatch album still holds fond memories all these years later, it wasn't till about 2006 in highschool when everyone started blasting this cd at every party and every gathering.
@healyourheart8
Who's still listening 🎶 👀 🤔 ❤❤2023
@doug2731
Thanks JWFocker introducing me to Dispatch in college at USF. I havent heard this for nearly 2 decades and somehow still remember all the words and melody.
@0MorningGlory0
This was the very first Dispatch song that I heard, back in college. I was hooked instantly. Thanks for making music!
@bnol03686
Same! This and The General
@robertstahl8835
Same. A shame didn't ever make it big
@BrandonBarwick
Same here. Awesome!
@tinarose3868
Great simple clear music...no outfits or lighting, just a great song!!!
@patrickleary6444
lands in the top 5 of my hippie playlist. everytime.