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.
breakfast in bed
Dntel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That you take the next
If you tell a lie, I'll just nod my head
Yeah, I'll let it slide
'Cause you woke me up
And there's birds outside, and I still feel drunk
But I'm glad you did, 'cause last night
You said you wanna die
Now you say you wanna live
You said you loved me after forty five minutes
If this is all a game can you just say it is?
I'll do it anyway, so it makes no difference
We should order up
Wash the wine out of the coffee cup
They got bread and fruit, there's probably
Not much else for you
We can lay around, you can kiss me
'Til the maids come kick us out
It's eleven now so make every second count
But back in New York they can't ever find this out
There are things we do, that we're really not allowed
We can say anything but we just can't say it loud
I hope you always find someone to take you home
To put you into bed, kiss your cheek and check your pulse
Make sure you're still breathing with their hand up to your nose
I wish that could be me but it's just not possible
The lyrics to Dntel's song "Breakfast in Bed" deal with a moment after a night of questionable decisions. The singer addresses their partner, telling them that they will support their choices, even if they are not justified. They are grateful for their partner's presence, and the birds outside add to the feeling of waking up in a dream. The song creates a melancholic mood with its slow tempo and the repeating notes throughout the melody.
The lyrics touch on the ephemeral nature of the night and how the choices we make will carry over into the morning. The line "there are things we do that we're really not allowed" is particularly intriguing as it hints at a transgressive nature beneath the surface of the song's events. The singer also mentions their partner's wish for death and their confusing display of affection after only forty-five minutes, suggesting a troubling pattern in their relationship.
Overall, "Breakfast in Bed" is a haunting, introspective track that emphasizes the blurred lines between our nighttime and daytime personas. It deals with the ways in which our actions in the past continue to affect us in the present and the contradictions we carry within ourselves.
Line by Line Meaning
If you take a step, I will make you sure
That you take the next
I'll be here to support you, and help you take the next step.
If you tell a lie, I'll just nod my head
Yeah, I'll let it slide
Even if you're not being honest, I won't push it, I'll let it go.
'Cause you woke me up
And there's birds outside, and I still feel drunk
But I'm glad you did, 'cause last night
You weren't making that much sense
You woke me up, and even though I still feel groggy, I'm happy you are here, because last night you weren't making much sense.
You said you wanna die
Now you say you wanna live
You said you loved me after forty five minutes
If this is all a game can you just say it is?
I'll do it anyway, so it makes no difference
You've been saying conflicting things, which makes me feel like it's all just a game to you. But even if so, I'll continue to do whatever I can for you.
We should order up
Wash the wine out of the coffee cup
They got bread and fruit, there's probably
Not much else for you
We can lay around, you can kiss me
'Til the maids come kick us out
We should order breakfast in bed, clear up the coffee cups, and just relax. We have each other, we can kiss and be together until it's time to leave.
It's eleven now so make every second count
But back in New York they can't ever find this out
There are things we do, that we're really not allowed
We can say anything but we just can't say it loud
It's already eleven, so we should make the most of the time we have together. We have to be careful, as there are things we do that we're not supposed to do. We can talk about anything, but we can't speak too loudly.
I hope you always find someone to take you home
To put you into bed, kiss your cheek and check your pulse
Make sure you're still breathing with their hand up to your nose
I wish that could be me but it's just not possible
I hope you always have someone who cares for you, who will take you home, check on you, and make sure you're okay. Even though I wish that could be me, it's simply not possible.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Donnie Fritts, Eddie Hinton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@SierraRachelle94
This song brings me to tears, especially the last verse. Amazing.
@user-ev3qv1yf2d
Me too
@inxxmemory
Anytime I play this song I think of what could have been and what couldn't be. I wish you well NMF, you'll forever have a special place etched in my heart.
@celestexcore94
HOLY CRAP I first heard this song YEARS back, but never realized it was Conor doing the vocals!
@sinkdemon5813
this song is an emotional gut punch. as time passes it has only felt more real.
@foshizzy03
I was pregnant with my daughter and had just broken up with my ex when this song came out. this song is pretty much the reason I'm here writing this today.
@championette6957
I FUCKING LOVE THIS SONG SO MUCH!! 💜
@ed209onthestairs
I have always felt that this song was written from the perspective of a girl speaking to him, not the other way around. HE is the one that always wants to die, HE is the one that says he's in love too soon. HE is the one who is a vegetarian and can only eat bread and fruit.
@elyh2159
I think he was a vegetarian too at this point.
@kashta5683
I had no idea it was Conor oberst singing but it makes a lot of sense now. No wonder this song reminded me so much of Lua.