From the beginning, The Dig have been a classic band’s band, and a true col… Read Full Bio ↴From the beginning, The Dig have been a classic band’s band, and a true collaboration: three longtime friends, three songwriters, two singers in a true dual frontman setup, all individuals but all woven more and more tightly together as they have evolved. In a world that rewards drama, reckless moves and often-overwrought narrative twists, The Dig have bucked that trend by focusing on, well, the work: writing song after song to cast off more than they keep, and keep only the best. The Dig do a lot, and they do it the right way — building brick by brick, writing constantly, touring steadily, and most crucially, pushing themselves creatively to make better and better records. Which brings us, of course, to Bloodshot Tokyo, a record rich with ambition and a bright, irresistible ease.

“In the past I think we’ve tried to create a mindset of writing ‘for The Dig’”, says guitarist/keyboard playing Erick Eiser, “so as to create something cohesive. This time I think we really freed ourselves from that, and just wrote.” They made the most of their interconnectedness as a way to push themselves forward, writing what singer and bassist Emile Mosseri describes as “elaborate demos” for most of the songs. Arrangements were fully worked out, ideas were explored and re-explored before they sat down to record. Emile continues, “It’s not hard to write songs separately, but there’s a thing that happens where I’ll sometimes have the other guys in my head, even when I’m writing by myself. So in a way, we’re kind of always writing together even when we’re writing alone. We all grew up playing in different bands together since we were little kids, and have toured with and were inspired by all kinds of different bands for years. We did all this together, and I feel like writing this record was the sum of all those years. It’s the most wide spanning stylistically and colorful of our records, and also sounds the most like us.”

The result is a tremendously confident record, and one that’s far punchier than its predecessors. Even with veritable piles of songs to choose from, it feels oddly apt that Bloodshot Tokyo opens with the brief snippet that is “Ordinary Mind”. It is a sparkling, hugely inviting riff and a refrain that paves the way, just a small snippet too good to let go of. “Jet Black Hair” follows and is an undeniable A-sider, putting the band’s pop instincts front and center, never shying away from the groove but never weighed down by it, either. Lead single “Simple Love” moves stealthily, winking to just a little something retro but dancing across genres in an exhilaratingly modern way.
As a band, The Dig made a choice to turn somewhat from the more ambient sounds of their earlier songs, using those tones as texture to drive songs with other foundations, rather than making it the focal point. Drummer Mark Demiglio, The Dig’s relative newcomer, brings a modern pop counterweight to The Dig’s moodier side, and it shows. Songs like “Pool of Rotting Water” underline that change, going downright beat-driven with just the right amount of glam for a band that is, at its heart, very much a rock band. And what of the records return to love as a theme? Singer and guitarist David Baldwin explains, “there are elements of both a falling in love and a break up album for sure. I think the songs we picked all generally came from so many different phases and mindsets, there might be different stages in a relationship juxtaposed into the same song. Certain songs may come off like breakup songs but were written while in the peak of a relationship. A kind of regret from the future that hasn’t happened yet.”

No band escapes talking about its influences, but its particularly telling that The Dig’s members often come back to The Kinks, Harry Nilsson, Betty Harris, Parliament, even Bach — artists who worked in the canon of their eras’ pop music, but always with an eye toward upending pop’s expectations, fraying the edges, getting weird. Baroque structures and subtle nods pop up throughout , in the low end of “Bleeding Heart” or the keyboard swirl of “Simple Love”, and they permeate the art surrounding this new collection, as well.

Everywhere you look these days, there are “I could do that”-type cynics. But could they, really? And if they did, would they be able to maintain through the years the same wide-eyed spirit The Dig have had since the band’s two singers first started a Rage Against the Machine cover band together back when they were eleven years old? As it relates to one band’s rock record, it may seem strange to point out how cynical the world happens to be right now, but it takes dedication and a deep well of talent to do it like The Dig do it, and do it so well.

You're Not Alone
The Dig Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well you know you're not alone
I wanna tell you you're not alone
In your mind
Something died along time ago
But you're not alone

They're gonna call you on the phone
They're gonna call you on the phone

When it's time
When it's time they'll let you know

Somebody calls you
And answer to your prayer
Somebody calls you
And answer to your prayer
You're not alone

Somebody calls you
And answer to your prayer
Somebody calls you
And answer to your prayer
Somebody calls you
And answer to your prayer
Somebody calls for you
And answer to your prayer
You're not alone

Oh, you know you're not alone
Oh, you know you're not alone
Somebody's calling for you

Oh, you know you're not alone
Oh, you know you're not alone
Somebody's calling for you

Oh, you know you're not alone
Oh, you know you're not alone
Somebody's calling for you

Somebody calls you

And answer to your prayer
And answer to your prayer

Overall Meaning

The Dig's song You're Not Alone is a reassuring song that reminds the listener that they are not alone. The song tells the story of someone who has lost something important to them, but they are not alone in their pain. The first few lines of the song say, "Well, you know you're not alone. I wanna tell you you're not alone in your mind. Something died a long time ago, but you're not alone." The singer is telling the listener that even though they may feel alone in their pain, they are not alone.

The song then goes on to say that someone will call the listener on the phone when it's time. This line is referring to the idea that when someone is going through a hard time, eventually someone will reach out to them and offer them support. The next lines say, "Somebody calls you and answers to your prayer...You're not alone." These lines are suggesting that the person who calls the listener will be an answer to their prayer and will remind them that they are not alone.

The chorus of the song repeats the line, "Oh, you know you're not alone. Somebody's calling for you." The repetition of the line emphasizes the idea that the listener is not alone and that someone is reaching out to them. The song ends with the lines, "Somebody calls you and answer to your prayer." These lines are a reminder that even in dark times, there is always someone who cares and is willing to help.

Line by Line Meaning

Well you know you're not alone
You should be comforted by the fact that you have people who care about you and are there for you.

I wanna tell you you're not alone
I want to reassure you that you have support and are not facing your struggles by yourself.

In your mind
The challenges you face are predominantly mental, internal struggles.

Something died along time ago
You experienced a loss, whether it be a person, relationship, or emotional state, and it has felt like a part of you has been gone for a long time.

But you're not alone
Despite feeling like a part of you is missing, you do have people who care for you and can support you through this difficult time.

They're gonna call you on the phone
People who care for you will reach out to you and check in on you through phone calls.

When it's time
They will know when you need support, and they will be there for you without hesitation.

Somebody calls you
Someone who cares for you will reach out to you and show their support.

And answer to your prayer
They will meet your needs and offer solutions to problems you're facing.

Oh, you know you're not alone
You have been reassured before that you have people by your side, and it still holds true, so you should never forget that.

Somebody's calling for you
You have people in your life who are actively seeking to check on you and offer their support.

Writer(s): David Mark Baldwin (sesac)

Contributed by Samantha J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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