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
Ramona Was a Waitress
Paul Dempsey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
late at night on a closed piano lid
she circles past, she fills your glass
but she doesn't recognise the song
once in a lifetime she says
the waking life stitched together in your head
well, what if it's only worth
the bundle of nerves it's written on?
i don't need this heart now, to love
i don't need this skin and bone at all
there's a way you've alwys known her
telephone between her cheek and her shoulder
and eyes like crystal balls
that just won't shut up about the future of the future
and ramona was a waitress
all but made of information
in a bar under the third bridge
she says she's looking forward to living forever
when i won't need these arms anymore
when i won't need this heart now to love
and i won't need this skin and bone at all
at all...
and ramona was a waitress...
The lyrics of "Ramona Was A Waitress" by Paul Dempsey speak volumes about how a person's life can be perceived by those around them. The song is about Ramona, a waitress who seems to be the type of person who is deeply introspective and contemplative. The first verse of the song describes Ramona as someone who writes letters to the dead, which suggests that she may be haunted by thoughts about mortality and the afterlife. The line "she circles past, she fills your glass" suggests that Ramona is someone who is always there to help others in some way, even if it's just filling their drink.
The second verse is where the song takes a more existential turn, with Ramona questioning the meaning of life. She tells us that the waking life is stitched together in our heads and wonders if it's only worth "the bundle of nerves it's written on". The chorus, which repeats the lines "I don't need these arms anymore, I don't need this heart now, to love, I don't need this skin and bone at all", suggests that Ramona has come to a realization about the temporary and fleeting nature of life.
The third verse describes Ramona as having eyes like crystal balls that "just won't shut up about the future of the future". This implies that she is someone who is always looking forward and trying to predict what's coming next. The final chorus reinforces the idea that Ramona is someone who is looking towards an existence beyond this physical one - a place where she won't need her body anymore.
Overall, "Ramona Was A Waitress" is a thoughtful and introspective song that touches on themes of mortality, existentialism, and the transitory nature of life.
Line by Line Meaning
typing letters to the dead
Ramona spends her nights typing letters to people who are no longer alive
late at night on a closed piano lid
Ramona writes these letters at a piano, late at night when the lid is shut
she circles past, she fills your glass
Ramona works as a waitress and serves drinks to customers
but she doesn't recognise the song
Ramona is not familiar with the music being played
once in a lifetime she says
Ramona believes that life only happens once
the waking life stitched together in your head
Ramona thinks that life is just a construct of our minds
well, what if it's only worth
Ramona wonders if life is really worth anything
the bundle of nerves it's written on?
Ramona questions whether our thoughts and feelings are just a result of neurological activity
and i don't need these arms anymore
The artist of the song (not Ramona) doesn't need their arms anymore
i don't need this heart now, to love
The artist of the song doesn't need their heart to love anymore
i don't need this skin and bone at all
The singer of the song doesn't need their physical body anymore
there's a way you've always known her
Ramona seems familiar to the listeners in some way
telephone between her cheek and her shoulder
Ramona talks on the phone with the device pressed against her cheek and shoulder
and eyes like crystal balls
Ramona has piercing, prophetic eyes
that just won't shut up about the future of the future
Ramona often talks about the future in a seemingly endless manner
and ramona was a waitress
The song is ultimately about Ramona, who works as a waitress
all but made of information
Ramona is defined by her knowledge and ideas
in a bar under the third bridge
Ramona works at a bar located under the third bridge
she says she's looking forward to living forever
Ramona believes in some form of eternal life
when i won't need these arms anymore
The artist of the song continues to contemplate a future without physical form
when i won't need this heart now to love
The artist continues to imagine a life without the need for love
and i won't need this skin and bone at all
The artist continues to imagine shedding their physical body
at all...
The singer emphasizes that they truly won't need their physical body
and ramona was a waitress...
The song cycles back to its beginning, reiterating the theme of the title character's life and job
Contributed by Lincoln V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
iapetus
Took me 4 years to think to retry finding an acoustic live version of this, so glad I did. absolutely golden
Smith Smithson Acoustics
10K views? Cmon internet. There are social media tycoons out there getting 1M + views for doing nothing in particular. This deserves so many more views. Paul Dempsey is world class.
Smith Smithson Acoustics
This is so freakin great! Criminally underrated! Great songwriter and performer. World class!
nbroleur
The audio on these recordings is unreal; thanks for uploading!!
MrKittipoo
Beautiful.
chapple03
how have only 470 people watched this !