Aside from a brief interlude in 1998 and 1999 when they were signed by major label Interscope Records, the band recorded for local label DeSoto Records. Their third record and breakthrough album, Emergency & I, was actually created during their time at Interscope; however, they were dropped from the label shortly after its completion, and thus took it back with them to DeSoto, where it wound up being released. The Ice of Boston EP is the only item of theirs Interscope actually released during their tenure there.
Following the massive underground success of Emergency & I, the band received an even higher profile after being invited to open for the European leg of Pearl Jam's 2000 tour. The band recorded and released a follow-up to Emergency & I, Change, in 2001 using the severance money they received from Interscope, and a subsequent co-headlining tour in 2002 with Death Cab for Cutie (cheekily called the "Death and Dismemberment Tour") also worked well to raise both bands' profiles and cross-pollinate their fanbases, as well as forge creative ties between several members.
Later that summer and fall, the Dismemberment Plan started to debut songs for their follow-up to Change. In 2002, the band put all the music tracks from their last two albums on their website, encouraging fans to remix the songs. The result was 2003's A People's History of the Dismemberment Plan. On January 19, 2003, however, the band announced on their website that they had decided to break up after a few tours that year. A final show was planned for July 28, 2003 in Washington D.C.'s famous outdoor show space, Fort Reno Park. However, come show-time, a heavy rain had driven off all but the most devoted fans, leading the band to add one more final show.
On September 1, 2003, the band closed out the first part of their career with a sold-out show at the renowned 9:30 Club. Following the split, Travis Morrison took the post-Change songs with him for further work, and released many of them on his first album, Travistan, in 2004. Jason Caddell worked with Morrison on Morrison's second album, All Y'all, which was released under the name Travis Morrison Hellfighters. Eric Axelson started a band called Maritime with former members of The Promise Ring; they released an album, Glass Floor, in 2004. Axelson subsequently left Maritime and joined the band Statehood in mid-2006 with Joe Easley until the tragic death of Clark Sabine in June 2009. The Dismemberment Plan itself even reunited for two shows to benefit Cal Robbins at the Black Cat in Washington, D.C. on April 29 and April 30, 2007. A full reunion still seemed unlikely, though, and on July 2, 2009, Travis Morrison announced his retirement from music, stating that there would be no more shows or bands.
In late 2010, however, the Dismemberment Plan announced that they would reunite for a full-scale tour in 2011 coinciding with Barsuk's vinyl reissue of Emergency & I. At the time, the band denied that they were planning a new record, but implied that one could be possible. By the time the tour was finished, the band played on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, as well as three performances in Washington, D.C., the Pitchfork Music Festival, Philadelphia's Roots Picnic, and ten other dates.
The band reconvened once again in 2012 and played several small-venue shows in Baltimore, Maryland and Fredericksburg, Virginia, where they debuted eight new songs; a month later, Travis Morrison confirmed that they were working on a new record. On June 26, 2013, the band officially announced their fifth studio album (and first new record in 12 years), entitled Uncanney Valley. It was released via Partisan Records on October 15, 2013.
Back And Forth
The Dismemberment Plan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's all clear expensive drinks and shiny shirts
And the click of heels as they descend from the taxi
Like the first foot on the moon, oh, and it glows with ache
And if it hits me right it's almost too much to take
And it's got right angle razor thin lines
That turn and swerve like perfect sines
As we dress to the nines in an
In a search of the moment between the seconds where
Everything is just fine
That silver thread imbedded deep within our spines
And I used to be kind of weird about this
A fear of dependence on a guilty gilt-edged
Hedged transcendence that makes us lairs
And tense when we look down and realize
That nothing really suspends us
But it was never just another Saturday night
Not with you in attendance
So throw your hands in the air
And wave them like you just don't care
It's on a whim; it's on a dare
To shrug away what we can't bear
And we're going back and forth
And back and forth and back and forth and back
We're going back and forth
And back and forth and back and forth and back
And it's a deep blue see-through membrane that protects us
It connects us, a pulsing cellophane
Party-train skein that helps us and
Envelopes and keeps us locked inside
Forever and ever along for the ride
And we're moving through a phosphorescent gel
A semi-solid self-lit ocean and it's a funny notion, isn't it?
Yeah, but I'm kinda digging it
And it's rigged and isn't nearly so big
And it speaks only of its own
Perpetual near miss
Like the uncertain memory
Of a stranger's mistaken kiss
And faces slide by in glowing shadows
Like snowbound ghosts that go up and down
In epileptic shivers and negative radioactive slivers
In a landscape of endless dull glitter
And a taste in my mouth so sweet, yet so bitter
And we exhaust ourselves trying to get there
Somebody screamâ€'all right
We'll try to fill the echoless night
So fasten up and hold tight
We can't give up without a fight
And we're going back and forth
And back and forth and back and forth and back
We're going back and forth
And back and forth and back and forth and back
So in the end, whatever, we die, we dissolve
Equations unbalanced, riddles unsolved
And we were never connected or involved
Except for the intersections and crazy mathematics
With no time and no space and no schedule and no place
And we pass right through it without a trace
And sometimes that music drifts through my car
On a spring night when anything is possible
And I close my eyes and I not my head
And I wonder how you been and I count to a hundred and ten
Because you'll always be my hero, even if I never see you again
The lyrics to The Dismemberment Plan's song Back and Forth talk about the quest for an elusive sense of pleasure and transcendence through music, fashion, and nightlife. The singer describes a certain type of music that reminds them of someone, someone who personifies a glamorous, carefree lifestyle - the kind that comes with "clear expensive drinks and shiny shirts." The singer depicts this lifestyle as an attempt to escape from something, a "search of the moment between the seconds where everything is just fine." The song acknowledges the underlying anxiety of this pursuit and the fear of dependence that comes with it. As the song progresses, the imagery becomes more abstract and surreal, depicting a journey across a phosphorescent, quasi-mystical landscape that speaks of the "equations unbalanced, riddles unsolved" of life. In the end, the song becomes a meditation on memory and the passing of time, and the acknowledgment that the objects of our longing may never quite be within our grasp.
The song describes a complex emotional landscape, combining longing and anxiety, hope and fear, and a sense of wonder about the possibilities of life that gently give way to the realization of its limitations. The lyrics feature a very poetic and skillful use of language, creating evocative imagery that immerses the listener in the singer's reflective journey. The song offers an insightful look at the power of music and art as a way of transcending the mundane, while also underscoring the challenges and uncertainties of that journey. It's a beautiful song that reflects both the joys and the heartaches of being alive.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a kind of music that reminds me of you
There's a specific genre of music that elicits thoughts and emotions I associate with you.
It's all clear expensive drinks and shiny shirts
This music is characterized by the scene it accompanies, including fancy cocktails and shiny clothing.
And the click of heels as they descend from the taxi
The sound of heels hitting pavement is an iconic aspect of this music's vibe.
Like the first foot on the moon, oh, and it glows with ache
The experience of listening to this music is like a monumental and painful moment, like the first lunar landing.
And if it hits me right it's almost too much to take
It's possible for this music to be overwhelming, in a good way, if it resonates with me strongly.
And it's got right angle razor thin lines
The music has a distinct, angular quality, like razor-like lines.
That turn and swerve like perfect sines
These lines follow a mathematical sine wave pattern, making them fluid and dynamic.
As we dress to the nines in an
When we dress up in our nicest clothes,
Attempt to leave it all behind
We try to escape our problems and stressors.
In a search of the moment between the seconds where
We seek the small moments of tranquility in between the chaos.
Everything is just fine
When we can enjoy those moments, everything feels okay.
That silver thread imbedded deep within our spines
There's a metaphorical sliver of magical energy deep within us that connects us to this music and this moment.
And I used to be kind of weird about this
I used to feel strange about my attachment to this music and the emotions it elicits.
A fear of dependence on a guilty gilt-edged
I was afraid that relying on this music and its associated lifestyle would make me feel guilty or hollow.
Hedged transcendence that makes us lairs
The push and pull of trying to rise above while indulging in this lifestyle can make us feel deceitful.
And tense when we look down and realize
We get anxious and uncomfortable when we realize that this lifestyle may not be sustainable or healthy for us.
That nothing really suspends us
We realize that nothing can halt time and the inevitable passing of life.
But it was never just another Saturday night
Despite these realizations, these late nights and experiences were never mundane or unimportant.
Not with you in attendance
You, specifically, always made these nights memorable and unique.
So throw your hands in the air
Let's let loose and have fun.
And wave them like you just don't care
Let's celebrate and be carefree, even for just a moment.
It's on a whim; it's on a dare
We're doing this spontaneously, on a whim, without overthinking it.
To shrug away what we can't bear
We're trying to forget our troubles and escape our worries for a while.
And we're going back and forth
We're vacillating between trying to escape our problems and returning to them.
And back and forth and back and forth and back
This back and forth is happening repeatedly, without resolution.
And it's a deep blue see-through membrane that protects us
This lifestyle and music act like a protective barrier that envelops us, but also allows us to see clearly.
It connects us, a pulsing cellophane
This lifestyle brings us together, and it has a pulsating, translucent quality.
Party-train skein that helps us and
It's like a never-ending party or train ride that assists us in escaping our problems.
Envelopes and keeps us locked inside
This lifestyle envelopes us fully and keeps us trapped, unable to escape.
Forever and ever along for the ride
We'll be locked into this lifestyle and all its consequences forever, whether we like it or not.
And we're moving through a phosphorescent gel
As we indulge in this lifestyle, it's like we're swimming through a glowing a gel-like substance.
A semi-solid self-lit ocean and it's a funny notion, isn't it?
It's strange and somewhat amusing to think of this lifestyle as a glowing, self-illuminating ocean that we're swimming through.
Yeah, but I'm kinda digging it
Despite how strange it may seem, I really enjoy this lifestyle and everything it entails.
And it's rigged and isn't nearly so big
This lifestyle is controlled and contained; it's not as overwhelming or impossible as it may seem.
And it speaks only of its own
This lifestyle is self-contained and insular, and only speaks to its own values and priorities.
Perpetual near miss
It's like we're always just barely missing something, or almost touching some elusive aspect of life and meaning.
Like the uncertain memory
Similar to a blurry or unclear memory
Of a stranger's mistaken kiss
Like a kiss that you barely remember, or that may never have happened at all.
And faces slide by in glowing shadows
People appear like glowing, shadowy specters moving past us.
Like snowbound ghosts that go up and down
These specters look like ghostly figures, rising and falling like snowdrifts.
In epileptic shivers and negative radioactive slivers
These specters seem to be shaking and twitching, surrounded by negative energy.
In a landscape of endless dull glitter
This lifestyle and its associated experiences have a monotonous quality, despite its flashy trappings.
And a taste in my mouth so sweet, yet so bitter
There's a bittersweet taste in my mouth when I indulge in this lifestyle - both good and bad feelings.
And we exhaust ourselves trying to get there
We often tire ourselves out while trying to reach a certain goal or destination.
Somebody scream-all right
Someone shouts, perhaps to signal their excitement or enthusiasm.
We'll try to fill the echoless night
We'll try to make the quiet and lonely night feel less empty.
So fasten up and hold tight
Prepare yourself, because things might get wild or hectic.
We can't give up without a fight
We have to keep trying and keep fighting, no matter what.
So in the end, whatever, we die, we dissolve
Despite everything, we'll all eventually die and cease to exist.
Equations unbalanced, riddles unsolved
Many parts of our lives will remain unfinished or unknown to us.
And we were never connected or involved
In the grand scheme of things, we'll never really matter much.
Except for the intersections and crazy mathematics
Except for the small moments where our paths cross with others and things seem to magically align.
With no time and no space and no schedule and no place
These moments are simultaneously unbound by time and place, yet also exist in a specific moment and location.
And we pass right through it without a trace
These moments are fleeting and we often don't realize their importance until they're gone.
And sometimes that music drifts through my car
Every so often, I'll hear that same genre of music playing in my car.
On a spring night when anything is possible
These moments usually happen in the spring, when new life and opportunities are abound.
And I close my eyes and I not my head
I close my eyes and nod along to the music.
And I wonder how you been and I count to a hundred and ten
I start to think about you and wonder what you're doing, and I count in my head to distract myself.
Because you'll always be my hero, even if I never see you again
I view you as a heroic figure in my life, even if we never cross paths again.
Lyrics © TUNECORE INC
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