The Ditty Bops formed in New York City, when Abby and Amanda were on a hunt for a friend's lost cat. When they stumbled into the backyard of a stranger, they discovered that he was a musician and an avid guitar collector. He encouraged them to form a band and start playing. So began the Ditty Bops.
Abby and Amanda have been a couple since 1999.
The Ditty Bops appeared with Tori Amos in 2005 while promoting their first eponymous album. Since then they have released a second album, Moon Over the Freeway, and the freshly released Summer Rains
In The Meantime
The Ditty Bops Lyrics
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Staring down at me
Life seems to have a purpose
When you're wandering aimlessly
In the meantime
What am I missing
I'm missing out
In the meantime
There is no meantime
There is only now
Is there something I'm supposed to be doing
If there is I just don't know
Tell me so that I can disobey
The rules were meant to bend and change
If we're not so tight
We won't break when we fall
Waiting around all day
They didn't make the play
Don't get mad you'll only get madder
It's hard to get even when things don't matter
Stop the tape playing
Mundane chatter and leave
In between the place you thought
You'd be and where you are
Check my pulse if I'm living
Fine time to be alive
Feel the breeze, touch the water
I'll feel better
There's no way I'd rather pass the time
Wandering aimlessly
The Ditty Bops's song "In the Meantime" is a poetic reflection on the paradox of living aimlessly and the search for purpose in life. The opening lines mention a cat in the upstairs window staring down at the singer while they are wandering aimlessly. This is a metaphor for the feeling of being lost and unsure of one's purpose in life. The cat, representing a sense of calm and contentment, gives the singer a glimpse of what it means to feel purposeful in life.
The chorus repeats the phrase "in the meantime" as a way of acknowledging the search for meaning in life. The singer wonders if there is something they should be doing that they do not know about. However, they suggest that even if they knew what it was supposed to be, they might choose to disobey the rules because rules are meant to bend and change. The song encourages listeners to enjoy the present moment and not worry too much about the future.
The song creates a vivid and poetic portrait of the restlessness and uncertainty that many people experience in their lives. The lyrics suggest that it is possible to find peace in wandering aimlessly, to embrace life as it is and to be content with the present moment. This message is conveyed through the song's gentle melody, its whimsical imagery, and its insight into the human experience of searching for meaning in a world that often seems chaotic.
Line by Line Meaning
Cat in the upstairs window
A cat sitting in a window upstairs and staring down at her.
Staring down at me
The cat looking down on the vocalist, perhaps with judgment.
Life seems to have a purpose
The feeling that life has meaning, even when wandering aimlessly.
When you're wandering aimlessly
Life can still have purpose and meaning, even when you feel lost and purposeless.
In the meantime
While waiting for something to happen or change.
What am I missing
Feeling like something is missing from life.
I'm missing out
Feeling like there are missed opportunities.
In the meantime
While waiting for something to happen or change.
I will be living
Life is still happening, even when waiting for something.
There is no meantime
There is only the present moment, no matter how waiting or uncertain it feels.
Is there something I'm supposed to be doing
Feeling unsure about life's purpose and direction.
If there is I just don't know
Feeling lost and uncertain about the path to take in life.
Tell me so that I can disobey
Asking for guidance, but also willing to be nonconformist and disobedient.
The rules were meant to bend and change
Believing that rules are not set in stone and can be altered or broken.
If we're not so tight
If we are not holding onto things so tightly.
We won't break when we fall
If we are more flexible and adaptable, we will not break as easily when we experience setbacks.
Waiting around all day
Spending much of the day waiting for something to happen.
They didn't make the play
Missing out on an opportunity due to missed chances.
Don't get mad you'll only get madder
Being angry and upset only makes things worse.
It's hard to get even when things don't matter
It is challenging to find justice or balance when things seem meaningless or insignificant.
Stop the tape playing
Putting an end to repetitive or mundane activities or thoughts.
Mundane chatter and leave
Walking away from meaningless conversations or actions.
In between the place you thought
Being in a state of transition.
You'd be and where you are
Between where you thought you would be and the reality of where you are now.
Check my pulse if I'm living
Asking to be reminded that life is happening now, regardless of circumstances.
Fine time to be alive
Feeling grateful for being alive, even during difficult times.
Feel the breeze, touch the water
Taking pleasure in simple things like feeling a breeze or touching water.
I'll feel better
These simple pleasures can improve one's mood and outlook on life.
There's no way I'd rather pass the time
Preferring to pass time by experiencing simple pleasures rather than waiting for something to happen.
Wandering aimlessly
Moving through life without a specific purpose, but finding meaning in simple moments.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: GIDEON BENSEN, ISABELLA MANFREDI, JACK MOFFITT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind