He started working as Dntel, pronounced Din-tell, in 1994. A collection of tracks created between 1995-1997 (Early Works For Me If It Works For You) was released on the Phthalo label in 1999, followed by the release of an EP recorded in 1994 (Something Always Goes Wrong) in 2000. After contributing a song to Plug Research's Voices In My Lunchbox compilation he was invited to do a full length for the label, preceded by a 12" EP (Anywhere Anyone).
Dntel released his full-length album Life Is Full Of Possibilities in 2001. The LP featured vocal contributions by many artists, including Death Cab For Cutie's Ben Gibbard on the breakout track (This Is) The Dream of Evan and Chan, which led to a single in 2002 and later, the formation of the band The Postal Service with Gibbard. With vocals buried in static, cut-up acoustic guitars and sampled symphonies struggling to find somewhere to settle, Life Is Full Of Possibilities reserved Dntel's spot as a pioneer of contemporary glitch, electro-pop, and indietronica.
Tamborello is currently working with The Postal Service and continuing his solo work, including remixes for various artists. As Dntel, he is releasing a compilation, Early Works For Me If It Works For You II, which will feature unfinished instrumental tracks from when he was working on Life Is Full Of Possibilities in 1998-2001, to be released on Phthalo. He released his newest full-length LP, titled "Dumb Luck" on April 24, 2007. "Dumb Luck" is his first LP on Sub Pop records.
Don't Get Your Hopes Up
Dntel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It may leave at times,
But always comes back to you.
So don't get your hopes up,
Don't aim too high,
They may say they love you,
But most of them lie,
So don't even try.
Disappointment is nothing new,
It may leave you hopeless,
Alone and confused.
So don't get your hopes up,
But try not to cry,
They may not quite love you,
But most of them try.
So don't get your hopes up,
But try not to cry,
They may not quite love you,
But most of them try.
The song "Don't Get Your Hopes Up" by Dntel presents a melancholic and honest perspective on love and relationships. The lyrics reveal a sense of resignation and acceptance of the fact that disappointment is a constant factor in romantic connections. The opening lines, "Disappointment is nothing new, it may leave at times, but always comes back to you," set the tone for the rest of the song, describing a cyclical pattern of heartache and hopelessness.
The chorus provides a warning and a defense mechanism against getting hurt. The singer advises not to get one's hopes up or aim too high, suggesting that romantic love is often based on lies and false promises. Thus, the repetitive line "don't even try" serves as a mantra for a jaded outlook on love.
Despite the cautious approach, there is some optimism in the second verse, acknowledging that some may try to love sincerely, even if they may not be successful. The final lines of the chorus encourage resilience and emotional strength, encouraging the listener not to cry and keep their expectations low.
Overall, the song portrays a realistic and poignant reflection on the complexities of love and relationships, highlighting the mixture of hope and disappointment that people often experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Disappointment is nothing new,
Disappointments happen all the time and it's a common experience.
It may leave at times,
Disappointments sometimes go away and disappear temporarily.
But always comes back to you.
However, disappointments seem to always come back to haunt you in some way or form.
So don't get your hopes up,
Don't have high expectations so that you will not be disappointed if things don't work out the way you want them to.
Don't aim too high,
Don't set goals or expectations that are beyond your reach or capabilities.
They may say they love you,
Other people may express their love and affection for you verbally.
But most of them lie,
However, many people are not truthful or genuine in their expressions or promises of love.
So don't even try.
Therefore, it's not worth putting in the effort to pursue something or someone that is likely to result in disappointment or betrayal.
It may leave you hopeless,
Experiencing disappointments can make you feel helpless, hopeless, and lost in life.
Alone and confused.
Disappointments can also make you feel lonely and unsure of what to do next.
But try not to cry,
Even though disappointments can be painful, try to stay strong and not let them bring you down completely.
They may not quite love you,
People may not have the same level of love or affection for you as you do for them, or they may not show it in the way that you prefer.
But most of them try.
However, most people do make an effort to express their love and care for others, even if it's not always genuine or reciprocated.
Contributed by Natalie C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@airimatsu
Disappointment is nothing new
It may leave at times
But always comes back to you
So don't get your hopes up
Don't aim too high
They may say they love you
But most of them lie
So don't even try
So don't even try
Disappointment is nothing new
It may leave you hopeless
Alone and confused
So don't get your hopes up
But try not to cry
They may not quite love you
But most of them try
So don't get your hopes up
But try not to cry
They may not quite love you
But most of them try
@darthsarcasm73
2020 lost my job, and my girlfriend and I broke up during quarantine. Hello again.
@silverCandyshops
brooo. hope you're doing well :)
@easytakeit5001
if you are alive. Im sure that u are enjoying all more. I had the same... And now. I enjoy more and more the life...
@1k_Synth
update?
@mikeneville9462
This is so VERY BEAUTIFUL on so many levels! I just found it again after many years....many years ago. It embraces and "holds you in it's arms"....and reassures you that you are NOT alone....yet, says it lovingly. Pure genius..........and love.........Thank you, Tommy! Mike
@tessarae9127
This is the greatest song of all time... Been listening on repeat since 2010
@rogeronekaka4584
Me too!
@rarecharisma
Me too!! I can’t find this song anywhere but here and I’m afraid one day it’ll get taken down
@mohutch7863
Please don’t delete this video. I literally have no idea where to find this song other than here
@vinyl66tape
It’s been more than 10 years, and I’m already 31.
This song brings so much melancholic memories.
But somehow when I’m feeling down, I find it comforting in a weird way.
This song is my life’s motto and an anthem.