While they began performing live in June 2003, they soon released their 4 Song Sampler, produced by Hidden in Plain View's Rob Freeman, to help spread the word. Due to various national tours with bands such as Hidden in Plain View, The Academy Is... and Hellogoodbye, Houston Calls' fanbase grew steadily, until in spring 2004, Clayton left the band. Through mutual friends, Josh Grigsby was introduced to the band and became their drummer on May 15, 2004. The newly manned five-piece went into the studio with producer Jesse Cannon, to record their Sampler Volume 2 (2004). A few months after its release in August 2004, Houston Calls became the second band to sign with Rushmore Records, a subsidiary record label of Drive-Thru Records, who the band had been friends with ever since their formation.
On August 2, 2005, the band's official debut album, A Collection of Short Stories, was released. Produced by Ed Rose, the CD contained eleven songs, three of which had previously been released on their two samplers.
In November 2006, Kenny Ryan announced he was leaving the band, Houston Calls found a replacement in Jose Lopez in Feburary 2007 who had been filling in for Kenny.
In April 2008, the band entered the studio with producer Mark Weinberg to record their follow up to A Collection of Short Stories, The End of an Error and was released on October 14, 2008, along with the single "Life Won't Wait". The album was made available to stream via AOL on the day of release. The band went on a UK Tour as main support newcomers You Me At Six. Farewell were the openers.
At the end of December 2008, founding member Jarrett Seltzer left after no longer wishing to tour as a musician. Two weeks later, it was announced that Jose Lopez would no longer be in the band due to personal reasons. The band has announced that Dan Diaz of Red Light Green Light will be filling Jose's spot. Jason Jaksetic of The Pilot will be filling in on bass. The tour will go on as planned.
On June 9, 2009, the band officially announced that they are disbanding. They will play their last show on August 29, 2009, at School of Rock in their hometown.
Some of the members brand new band Future of the Party with some of the Paulson members.
A Pen And A Piece Of Mind
Houston Calls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To document this mess of miscommunication
I'll seal it in a letter and hope you can find the time
To count inconsistencies and read things you fail to see
I really shouldn't spend so much time explaining
I'm smart enough to know you're not done complaining
[Chorus]
And I'll hang it up to remind me of sunrise goodbyes
So we know something we should never try
I'll paint just one portrait of us
And I'll tear it down
To remind me of sunrise goodbyes
So we know something we should never try
So I ask myself "Self, are there more sides to this story?"
The corners of this triangle are skewed and confused
On one hand
One date, one chance, the time becomes too boring
What she made seem like more
I'm not impressed and not amused
So simple goodbye would've sufficed
But now you've said enough
Instead you got involved and lashed at me
Can't you see that we're done, we're through
I'm well enough and I'm quite over you
So end the calls
Goodbye, I'll see you on the other side
[Chorus]
I'll show myself some other time
[Chorus:Repeat x2]
I'll paint just one portrait of us
And I'll hang it up to remind me of sunrise goodbyes
So we know something we should never try
The song "A Pen And A Piece Of Mind" by Houston Calls is a powerful and relatable piece, exploring the frustration that comes with trying to communicate with someone who isn't able or willing to understand. The lyrics speak of using a pen to document miscommunication and seal it in a letter, hoping the recipient will take the time to read and understand the inconsistencies. The singer recognizes that spending too much time explaining is futile when the other person is only interested in complaining.
The chorus paints a poignant picture of a relationship that has run its course. The singer paints one final portrait of the couple and hangs it up to remember the sunrise goodbyes, reminding themselves of something they should never try again. The bridge of the song questions whether there are more sides to the story, acknowledging that the triangle of the relationship is skewed and confusing.
Overall, "A Pen And A Piece Of Mind" is a powerful song that explores the complexities and frustrations of relationships. The use of vivid imagery and relatable experiences makes the song easy to connect with for many listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
A pen and a piece of mind is all that I need to find
I need only a writing utensil and clear thinking to make sense of this mess
To document this mess of miscommunication
I need to put this mishandling of communication in writing
I'll seal it in a letter and hope you can find the time
I'll write it down and send it to you, hoping that you'll make the effort to read it
To count inconsistencies and read things you fail to see
To notice all the contradictions and the things you've missed
I really shouldn't spend so much time explaining
I shouldn't waste too much time trying to clarify
I'm smart enough to know you're not done complaining
I realize that you'll keep nagging regardless of how much I try to explain
I'll paint just one portrait of us
I'll create a lasting image of us in my mind
And I'll hang it up to remind me of sunrise goodbyes
I'll let this memory serve as a reminder of the pain of parting ways
So we know something we should never try
So we are aware of what we must avoid in the future
So I ask myself "Self, are there more sides to this story?"
I wonder whether there are other perspectives to consider
The corners of this triangle are skewed and confused
There is a lot of confusion and uncertainty among us three
On one hand
From one perspective
One date, one chance, the time becomes too boring
One opportunity for a romantic encounter that proved monotonous
What she made seem like more
What she built up to be more significant than it was
I'm not impressed and not amused
I'm not impressed or entertained by her attempts to make the incident more significant than it was
So simple goodbye would've sufficed
A simple farewell would have been sufficient
But now you've said enough
But you've gone ahead and exceeded the reasonable conversation limit
Instead you got involved and lashed at me
Instead, you resorted to being overly critical and aggressive towards me
Can't you see that we're done, we're through
Can't you realize that it's over between us
I'm well enough and I'm quite over you
I'm completely over you and I'm doing well without you
So end the calls
Stop calling me
Goodbye, I'll see you on the other side
Farewell, I'll move on and see you in another life
I'll show myself some other time
I'll make sure to reappear in your life but not now
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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