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.
Roll On
Dntel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To your father's friend
To that cop who pulled me over on Beverly Glen
I've had a famous man
On his fire escape
And countless dinner dates
And a warm bed, well that's something
So I roll on, roll on
But it's just no fun
When your heart belongs to a son of a gun
A shooting rifle, a firing range
I'm pistol-whipped, I'll never be the same
But I love him, yes I do
And he's gonna do what he's gonna do
He'll roll on, roll on
When I knocked you down, you called my bluff
You pushed me over, fair enough
In high schools, hospitals, on holidays
I've seen your face in every goddamn state
My overdose, you were almost too late
You said it aged you when you saw my face
And a warm bed, well that was something
And history's horse keeps on thumping
And it rolls on, rolls on
And it's just no fun
When you hate the person that you've become
Bitter, lonely, and isolated, before I know it I'll be an old maid
But I love love, yes I do
Even when its weight cripples you
It rolls on, rolls on
I never loved that other man
He's a fairy tale that I can't have
Now I know how a fairy tale feels
You wanna marry me, you say that I'm the real deal
And I just don't know how I got stuck
Guess there's muscle memory for love
And if you try hard enough
You might once again call my bluff
Or you can roll on, roll on
But it's just no fun
When your happiness is on the run
Jumping hurdles in life's 10k,
It's a marathon and love's too late
But a warm bed is as good as it gets
Let's settle down and have a couple of kids
And do like your parents did,
Or we can roll on, roll on, roll on
The lyrics to Dntel's "Roll On" tell a complex story of romantic relationships and personal struggles. The song touches on themes of fame, heartbreak, and sacrifice while maintaining a strong sense of introspection and self-doubt. The singer describes a wide range of experiences, from dating a famous person to being pulled over by the police, and reflects on the challenges faced in trying to find true happiness.
The first verse of the song refers to the singer's past relationships, describing encounters with "begging men" and "father's friend," as well as more high-profile romances. Despite having experienced love and the warmth of a comfortable bed, the singer expresses a sense of restlessness, suggesting that these things are not enough to fulfill her. The chorus, "So I roll on, roll on / But it's just no fun / When your heart belongs to a son of a gun," seems to speak to the difficulties of moving on from a relationship even when it's painful and unfulfilling.
The second verse delves into more specific struggles, including addiction and the difficulty of letting go of someone toxic. The line "When I knocked you down, you called my bluff / You pushed me over, fair enough" suggests that the relationship has involved a lot of back-and-forth, with both partners contributing to the hurt and anger. The chorus is repeated, with the singer acknowledging that love is heavy but still worth pursuing.
The final verse draws on some of the same themes as the first, suggesting that settling down and having children might be a way to find happiness. The singer is torn between the comfort of a stable domestic life and the excitement of pursuing new relationships. The final line, "Or we can roll on, roll on, roll on," suggests that the choice is ultimately up to the singer and possibly highlights the cyclical nature of relationships and life.
Line by Line Meaning
From begging men
I have had romantic relationships with men who were not well off financially
To your father's friend
I have been in a relationship with an older man who knew my family
To that cop who pulled me over on Beverly Glen
I have been in a romantic relationship with a police officer who stopped me while driving
I've had a famous man
I have been involved romantically with a celebrity
On his fire escape
I have been on the balcony or roof of a building with my partner
And countless dinner dates
I have had numerous romantic dinner dates
And a warm bed, well that's something
Although having a warm bed to sleep on is comforting, it's not enough for a fulfilling life
But that alone just ain't enough
Having a warm bed is just not going to make me happy
So I roll on, roll on
I must keep moving forward in life and searching for true satisfaction
But it's just no fun
It is not enjoyable to have your heart belong to an undeserving person
When your heart belongs to a son of a gun
Loving someone who is dangerous and causes harm is very difficult
A shooting rifle, a firing range
The person I am in love with uses violent means
I'm pistol-whipped, I'll never be the same
I have been abused and traumatized by this person
But I love him, yes I do
Even though my partner is abusive, I still have strong feelings for him
And he's gonna do what he's gonna do
I cannot control his actions and decisions
He'll roll on, roll on
My partner will continue on his path regardless of my feelings
When I knocked you down, you called my bluff
I have gotten into conflicts with my partner, and he was not afraid of me
You pushed me over, fair enough
He also stood up for himself and fought back
In high schools, hospitals, on holidays
I have encountered my partner in different places and situations throughout my life
I've seen your face in every goddamn state
I seem to come across my partner wherever I go, in different locations and settings
My overdose, you were almost too late
My partner had to save me from a drug overdose
You said it aged you when you saw my face
My partner has been affected by my drug use and overdose
And a warm bed, well that was something
Having a comfortable place to sleep is nice, but it doesn't solve all your problems
And history's horse keeps on thumping
Time moves forward, and past events continue to affect the present
And it rolls on, rolls on
Life keeps on moving, and so must I
And it's just no fun
It is not enjoyable to hate yourself
When you hate the person that you've become
I am not happy with who I am right now and how my life has turned out
Bitter, lonely, and isolated, before I know it I'll be an old maid
I feel alone and disconnected from others, and I worry about being single forever
But I love love, yes I do
I value love and companionship very highly
Even when its weight cripples you
Although love can be heavy and difficult, I still desire it
It rolls on, rolls on
Life and love keep moving forward, and I must keep up
I never loved that other man
I have not truly loved any other man besides my current partner
He's a fairy tale that I can't have
The idea of being with someone else is more like a fantasy than a reality for me
Now I know how a fairy tale feels
I understand the disappointment of wanting something that you cannot have
You wanna marry me, you say that I'm the real deal
The person speaking directly to me expresses love and commitment
And I just don't know how I got stuck
I am unsure how I ended up in this situation with my current partner
Guess there's muscle memory for love
Unconscious patterns or habits can affect our romantic choices
And if you try hard enough
If my partner puts in effort, we may be able to make our relationship work
You might once again call my bluff
My partner could potentially see through my defenses again
Or you can roll on, roll on
My partner has a choice to continue the relationship or move on
But it's just no fun
It is not enjoyable to feel unhappy
When your happiness is on the run
I understand that I cannot rely entirely on a romantic relationship for happiness
Jumping hurdles in life's 10k
Life can be challenging and difficult to navigate
It's a marathon and love's too late
By now, my romantic past has likely affected my ability to love in a healthy way
But a warm bed is as good as it gets
A comfortable bed is still the best thing I have going for me right now
Let's settle down and have a couple of kids
I am open to starting a family with someone who loves me
And do like your parents did
I hope to have a relationship reminiscent of my partner's parents' successful union
Or we can roll on, roll on, roll on
Everyone has choices, and life keeps moving forward
Contributed by Jayden O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.