Paul Dempsey formed Something For Kate just after leaving high school in 1994 with school friend, drummer Clint Hyndman. They then found bass player, Julian Carroll from an advertisement in a record store. The three played only a couple of shows and released a demo tape before they were approached by Chris Dunn, then A&R representative for Sony subsidiary label Murmur records who signed them instantly. All members were 17 years old. Dempsey wrote all songs and lyrics and after releasing 2 EP's, the band went to New Zealand to record their first album, Elsewhere for Eight Minutes. In 1998, he then released a solo album under the name Scared of Horses for which he wrote and played all the music whilst inviting guest vocalists to record the vocals. After this came album number 2, Beautiful Sharks for which Paul and the band won a Music Critics Award for Best Australian Album and Best Australian Live band and 2 ARIA nominations. This album gained much critical acclaim in particular for Paul's insightful lyrics and unique and understated observations on science, physics, astronomy and a general questioning nature. It was album no. 3 Echolalia, that really propelled Paul into being recognized as one of Australia's most gifted songwriters. He was voted Best Male Vocalist in Rolling Stone and the album was nominated for 5 ARIA Awards. It debuted at No.2 and has gone on to sell double platinum. Paul experienced writers block and depression (see below) at around this time. He and the band toured the U.S and Europe while he tried to write lyrics for the band's fourth album. No doubt feeling the pressure from the band's success, it wasn't until 2003 that The Official Fiction was released. Debuting at Number 1, this album displayed Paul's lyrical talent and maturity and a sense of anger at the political events of the time.
In 2003 Paul also produced and played drums, bass, guitar and keyboards on the Givegoods' 2003 album I Want to Kill a Rich Man , the side project for Tom Morgan and Evan Dando.
In 2005 after another bout of writer's block and debilitating depression, Paul and the band went to Los Angeles to make album number 5, Desert Lights which again displayed another leap in Paul's songwriting abilities and unique observations on the world around him. The album was released in 2006 and again debuted at Number 1 pointing to the longevity of the band and Paul's uniqueness in an ever changing musical climate.
In 2007 Paul began writing his first official solo album and produced the debut album for Melbourne singer-songwriter Brendan Welch titled The Gleaner.
Paul has also appeared on several of Melbourne Dance Artist T-Rek albums, playing a variety of instruments on the albums as well as playing keyopards on Melbourne band, The Nation Blue's album, 'Protest Songs'.
Recording was completed for Paul's debut solo album in April 2009 in Los Angeles with Mix engineer/ producer, Doug Boehm. The first song to be released from the album is titled Out the Airlock and was initially given away as a very limited free download on http://www.pauldempseymusic.com. The single was released through "itunes" May 15 2009.
The Daily Telegraph revealed on May 29 that the title of Dempsey's album is Everything Is True and is to be release on August 14 2009
Bird In A Basement
Paul Dempsey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and drive me out to the airport
Give me two hundred dollars and say
the best thing anyone's ever said
If you steal every word from your grandmothers' purse
and lay them out on the dashboard
we'll be fine...
I'll wake you when something changes
then I'll ring all the bells again
and you'll spill champagne in my shoes
we'll make rose-coloured smoke from bad horoscopes,
confetti from news pages
and you'll be mine...
The same heart attack
will keep feeding back
Right under the streets
skipping every other beat
So hey living thing, let me in
to the world you're living in
Hey living thing, you've waited for it
from billions counting backwards
like a dog on a fire escape
like a bird in a basement
Now release your breath form it's paper bag
and no matter what you hear,
if green lights come raining down tonight
it means tomorrow's another year...
and the same heart attack
will keep feeding back
Right under the streets
Skipping every other beat
Hey living thing, you're breathing again
You're breathing again....
The lyrics of Paul Dempsey's song Bird In A Basement tells a story of two individuals seeking escape and excitement from the mundane routine of life. The first verse describes the desire to embark on a spontaneous adventure and to feel a sense of freedom. The imagery of scattered words on the dashboard symbolizes the randomness and unpredictability of the journey they're about to embark on. The chorus encompasses the idea that life may be monotonous and predictable at times, but taking a chance and allowing oneself to venture off the beaten path can yield rewards and new experiences.
The second verse speaks to the desire for connection and companionship during this journey. The idea of waking each other up when something changes and ringing all the bells again encompasses the idea that sharing experiences together is what truly makes life meaningful. The usage of rose-colored smoke and confetti made of news pages highlights the idea that beauty can be found in the most unexpected places. The bridge repeats the message of the song and ends with the realization that the heartache of life will continue to exist but the act of taking chances and pursuing life to the fullest is what ultimately makes it worth living.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey living thing, buy me a drink
Requesting someone to buy him a drink
and drive me out to the airport
Asking to be driven to the airport
Give me two hundred dollars and say
Asking for two hundred dollars and to receive a compliment
the best thing anyone's ever said
Requesting to hear the best compliment ever given
If you steal every word from your grandmothers' purse
Suggesting to use the words from a grandmother's purse as conversation starters
and lay them out on the dashboard
To arrange the words on the car dashboard
we'll be fine...
Assuring that everything will be alright
Hey living thing, if you're turning in
Asking the person if they're going to bed
I'll wake you when something changes
Promising to wake them up when something interesting happens
then I'll ring all the bells again
Repeating an action from before
and you'll spill champagne in my shoes
Expecting the person to celebrate and accidentally spill champagne on his shoes
we'll make rose-coloured smoke from bad horoscopes,
Creating rose-colored smoke from negative horoscopes
confetti from news pages
Make confetti out of news pages
and you'll be mine...
Announcing possession of the person
The same heart attack
Referring to an ongoing struggle
will keep feeding back
Continuously recurring problem
Right under the streets
Happening under society's notice
skipping every other beat
An irregular heartbeat
Hey living thing, let me in
Asking to be allowed into the person's world
to the world you're living in
To be allowed to see the world from their perspective
Hey living thing, you've waited for it
The person has been waiting for something
from billions counting backwards
Waiting for something to happen like a countdown
like a dog on a fire escape
Waiting anxiously like a dog on a fire escape
like a bird in a basement
Feeling trapped like a bird in a basement
Now release your breath form it's paper bag
Let go of anxiety and stress
and no matter what you hear,
Do not be affected by any negative news
if green lights come raining down tonight
If everything goes according to plan
it means tomorrow's another year...
Tomorrow is a new day and a new start
Hey living thing, you're breathing again
The person is starting to relax
You're breathing again....
A sign of relief that the person is breathing easily once more
Contributed by Aiden D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Tim Firman
This song CANNOT have zero comments. One of my all time PD favourites. Dead-set winner.
JZT Ordinary
Agree - This is outrageous! This is one of THE greatest song writing moments in Australian music history, the lyricism and harmony of this love song are amazing. I guess the 100% likes mean ppl were lost for words?