The band started life as a side project for singer Ben Gibbard of Death Cab For Cutie and producer Jimmy Tamborello of Dntel, Headset and Figurine. The group formed, in 2001, after Gibbard contributed vocals for a song on Dntel's album Life Is Full Of Possibilities called (This Is) The Dream Of Evan And Chan.
The band released their debut album Give Up on 18 February 2003 on the Sub Pop label. The album was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America and is the second best-selling record in the history of Sub Pop Records after Bleach by Nirvana.
Several songs on this album feature guest vocals from Jenny Lewis, the lead singer of Rilo Kiley, a band which was once on the same label as Death Cab (Barsuk Records) and vocals from Jen Wood, an indie rock solo artist. Chris Walla recorded some of the songs and played the piano on Nothing Better. Lewis' membership in the band was unclear during the "Give Up"-era, although she appeared with Tamberello and Gibbard in the music video for "We Will Become Silhouettes". By the time of their 2013 reunion, Lewis had become a permanent third member of the group.
The group's name comes from the manner in which their songs were written, due to the fact that the two of them lived too far away to be able to work together in person. Tamborello would create beats and mail them to singer and lyricist Gibbard, who would then edit them and put his melodies over the tracks and mail them back. Gibbard didn't write any of the lyrics until the tracks were completely finished.
In August 2003, the United States Postal Service sent the band a cease and desist letter, citing its trademark on the phrase "postal service". After negotiations, the USPS relented, allowing the band use of the trademark in exchange for promotional efforts on behalf of the USPS and a performance at its annual National Executive Conference. Additionally, at one point the USPS website sold the band's CDs. In 2007, "Such Great Heights" appeared in the background of the "Whiteboard" advertising campaign for one of the federal establishment's private competitors, the United Parcel Service.
The album's most notable single was Such Great Heights that has been featured in various television commercials, series, and movie trailers also remixed by John Tejada.
The Postal Service contributed a cover of Against All Odds to the soundtrack to the 2004 motion picture Wicker Park, and the band has worked on several remixes of other artists, including Do You Realize?? (Postal Service remix) (from Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots) and Little Girl Blue (Postal Service remix) (from Verve Remixed 3) and Mushaboom (Postal Service remix). Gibbard doesn't sing on these remixes (except for Feist's Mushaboom), and it is likely that he granted Jimmy Tamborello permission to work alone under the name The Postal Service.
Second album
On June 22, 2007, it was revealed that The Postal Service had begun work on a new album, though the specifics of the release date were ambiguous. Gibbard stated, "We're slowly starting. We're crawling right now, and whether that crawl turns into a walk remains to be seen. But we'll know more towards the end of the year. I've just been touring so much and trying to find time to make it happen and make our schedules line up." Tamborello added, "We're talking about wanting to finish an album by sometime next year, because we have to work with Death Cab's schedule and stuff. I definitely want to do another one."
On February 29, 2008, Spinner released an article stating that The Postal Service may not release a new album. Ben Gibbard stated, "Jimmy and I are still throwing ideas back and forth, but as time goes on, we find ourselves busy with our own music. ... We have some stuff, but it's been difficult to find the time and the drive to do the record. I'd love to finish it at some point and maybe even do some performances. If it's meant to be, it's meant to be."
In a December 2008 interview with Rolling Stone, Gibbard laughed off suggestions that The Postal Service's long overdue follow-up to their 2003 hit Give Up is an indie version of Guns N' Roses' Chinese Democracy. Gibbard said that both he and Tamborello do not see it as a priority in light of their main projects, Death Cab for Cutie and Dntel. He said, "The anticipation of the second record has been a far bigger deal for everybody except the two of us... I don't know about it being the indie-rock Chinese Democracy, but now that Chinese Democracy has come out, I guess it just becomes the second Postal Service record that will never come out. There never really was a plan to do a second album. We work from time to time together but we have other things that take up all of our time."
2013 Reunion
As of November 2012, Ben Gibbard posted on his Twitter account that there are "no plans" to produce another Postal Service record. He did not cite any specific reason for this statement, other than the fact that multiple fans questioned if there was going to be a second album.
In January 2013 Postal Service updated their website to read "The Postal Service 2013," reigniting speculation that the band would play shows, or possibly release a new album. It was later confirmed that the image on the band's site portended that the band's debut, Give Up, would receive a ten year anniversary re-issue featuring a 15-song disc of rarities, including two new songs with Jenny Lewis.
In February 2013, The Postal Service announced it would officially reunite for twelve tour dates including the 2013 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April, the Primavera Sound Festival 2013 in Barcelona, Sasquatch! Festival in Washington, and Lollapalooza 2013 in Chicago. The band played a Lollapalooza aftershow on August 4, 2013 to 1,200 people at Wrigleyville's Metro, in which Ben Gibbard prefaced the night's second rendition of "Such Great Heights" by saying "not only is this the last song of the tour, this is the last show we will ever do." At the song's conclusion, Gibbard stated that "The Postal Service is closed."
In 2023, the band reunited once again to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of "Give Up" in a co-headlining tour with Death Cab for Cutie for the 20th Anniversary of "Transatlanticism."
Brand New Colony
The Postal Service Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bottled and served with the table set in my finest suit
Like a perfect gentlemen
I'll be the fire escape that's bolted to the ancient brick
Where you will sit and contemplate your day
I'll be the water wings that save you if you start drowning in an open tab
When your judgment's on the brink
As your lying there drifting off to sleep
I'll be the platform shoes and undo what heredity's done to you
You won't have to strain to look into my eyes
I'll be your winter coat buttoned and zipped straight to the throat
With the collar up so you won't catch a cold
I want to take you far from the cynics in his town
And kiss you on the mouth
We'll cut out bodies free from the tethers of this scene
Start a brand new colony
Where everything will change
We'll give ourselves new names, identities erased
The sun will hear the grounds
Under our bare feet in this brand new colony (this brand new colony)
Everything will change, ooh, ooh
Everything will change, ooh, ooh
Everything will change, ooh, ooh
In the lyrics to The Postal Service's song Brand New Colony, the singer is expressing their dedication to their significant other. The first stanza describes the singer's willingness to be whatever their partner needs, whether it be a fine wine or a fire escape for reflection. The use of the metaphor of being bottled and served like a gentleman shows the singer's desire to take care of and be there for their loved one. The second stanza expresses the singer's desire to protect their partner, referenced through the water wings that will save them from drowning and the platform shoes that undo the effects of heredity so their partner won't have to strain to look into their eyes. The singer then goes on to describe layering up their love like a winter coat, ensuring their partner won't catch a cold.
The chorus offers a glimpse into the singer's overarching desire for their relationship. They want to create a new life, free from the judgment of others and with a new sense of identity. This new life will allow for change that positively impacts their relationship, as they will start fresh and build their own path together. By emphasizing the idea that everything will change, the singer challenges the static nature of the world and asserts their desire for growth and transformation with their partner.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll be the grapes fermented
I'll be the one who works hard, matures and becomes a refined product, ready to be served at the best table.
Bottled and served with the table set in my finest suit
I'll be the best version of myself, ready to complement your life and be the one that adds value and elegance to your already beautiful existence.
Like a perfect gentleman
I'll be the one who treats you with respect, kindness, and devotion, like a true gentleman.
I'll be the fire escape that's bolted to the ancient brick
I'll be the way out, the exit, the savior of your beautiful mind, and soul that is trapped within the age-old traditions and beliefs of a society that doesn't understand you.
Where you will sit and contemplate your day
I'll be the place where you can unwind, relax, and contemplate your thoughts, dreams, and aspirations without any judgment or interference.
I'll be the water wings that save you if you start drowning in an open tab
I'll be there to save you when you feel like you're about to lose yourself in the endless sea of open tabs and overwhelming stress that modern society imposes on you.
When your judgment's on the brink
When you feel like you're losing your ability to make the right choices and decisions, I'll be there to guide you and show you the way.
I'll be the phonograph that plays your favorite albums back
I'll be the one who remembers the little things, like the music you love and the memories it brings back, and use them to create new ones with you.
As you're lying there drifting off to sleep
I'll be the one who stays up with you late into the night, sharing stories, and creating new memories until we fall asleep, exhausted, but happy.
I'll be the platform shoes and undo what heredity's done to you
I'll be the one who shows you that you don't have to live up to the expectations of your genetics or heritage, but can forge your own path, create your own destiny, and be whoever you want to be.
You won't have to strain to look into my eyes
I'll be the one who meets you halfway, who stands tall and looks you straight in the eyes, who is honest and transparent with you, without any pretense or facade.
I'll be your winter coat buttoned and zipped straight to the throat
I'll be the one who keeps you warm and safe, who protects you from the cruel and cold world, who wraps you up in a warm, comforting embrace.
With the collar up so you won't catch a cold
I'll be the one who anticipates your needs, who takes care of the little things, who goes the extra mile to ensure your comfort and well-being.
I want to take you far from the cynics in this town
I want to whisk you away from the critics, skeptics, pessimists, and naysayers of this town, who don't understand your true potential and beauty.
And kiss you on the mouth
I want to show you my affection, my love, and my devotion in the most intimate way possible.
We'll cut out bodies free from the tethers of this scene
We'll break free from the constraints, limitations, and prejudices of this society, and create our own world, our own values, and our own destiny.
Start a brand new colony
We'll build a new, better, more inclusive, and more compassionate community, where everyone is welcome and everyone's voice is heard.
Where everything will change
We'll challenge the status quo, break the mold, and create something new, fresh, and exciting, where nothing is set in stone and anything is possible.
We'll give ourselves new names, identities erased
We'll shed our old skins, our old identities, and reinvent ourselves from scratch, with new names, new personalities, and a new outlook on life.
The sun will hear the grounds
Our new world will be so alive, so vibrant, so full of energy, that even the sun will hear the ground shake with enthusiasm and joy.
Under our bare feet in this brand new colony (this brand new colony)
We'll be so connected to each other, so in tune with our surroundings, that we'll feel every step, every heartbeat, every breath, as if we were one united, joyful, and loving entity.
Everything will change, ooh, ooh
With you by my side, everything will be different, everything will be better, everything will be possible, and I can't wait to start this new, exciting chapter of our lives together.
Everything will change, ooh, ooh
Our journey will be full of surprises, challenges, and opportunities, but as long as we're together, everything will be worth it, and everything will be different.
Everything will change, ooh, ooh
We won't be stuck in the past, in our old ways, in our old beliefs, but we'll embrace change, growth, and evolution, and together we'll create a bright, beautiful, and fulfilling future.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Benjamin D Gibbard, Jimmy Tamborello
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@manofallkind
I'll be the grapes fermented, bottled and served with the table set
In my finest suit, like a perfect gentleman
I'll be the fire escape that's bolted to the ancient brick
Where you will sit and contemplate your day
I'll be the waterwings that save you if you start drowning in
An open tab when your judgment's on the brink.
I'll be the phonograph that plays your favorite
Albums back as you're lying there
Drifting off to sleep (drifting off to sleep)
I'll be the platform shoes, undo what heredity's done to you
You won't have to strain to look into my eyes
I'll be your winter coat, buttoned and zipped straight to the throat
With the collar up so you won't catch a cold
I want to take you far from the cynics in this town
And kiss you on the mouth
We'll cut our bodies free from the tethers of this scene
Start a brand new colony
Where everything will change, we'll give ourselves new names
Identities erased
The sun will heat the grounds under our bare feet
In this brand new colony (in this brand new colony)
Everything will change, ooh
Everything will change, ooh
Everything will change, ooh
@IchibanCourtesan
This was the recessional song at my wedding back in 2006. Still happily married to my best friend, celebrating 14 years on 10/29/2020. He's still all the good things that keep me going.
@randybobandy9828
I was thinking of using it in my wedding 🤔
@TonyandDylan
I hope you let him know that.
@IchibanCourtesan
@@TonyandDylan I do! We're a fortunate pair.
@Analyzingantidotes
So sweet! Reading this 2 days after your fifteenth anniversary!!! My hubby and I celebrate 12 years in January. We never had a wedding and every year I think maybe we will do it this year and this song is a great choice to celebrate with! Hope you are well.
@IchibanCourtesan
@@Analyzingantidotes Thank you for telling me your story!! Yeah, we just celebrated 15 years after moving across the US to the city we love most, and spending the weekend with our now-8-year-old daughter. Still make time for gaming and love, too. Let me know if you and your husband end up celebrating with this song; I'm really happy for you both.
@gingthedigger5046
Discovered this band at 14 I'm 30 now still love them
@amysullivan3244
Same!! Love them so much.
@Antdom420
For me I was 24 and love them even more at 38
@CamelSmokes23
Right here with you man. I was 16 with a bunch of friends, we passed a joint inside his old school bronco while playing Postal Service, was hooked ever since. I'll be 32 next year.