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."
We Will Become Silhouettes
The Postal Service Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Filtered water and pictures of you
And I'm not coming out until this is all over
And I'm looking through the glass
Where the light bends at the cracks
And I'm screaming at the top of my lungs
Pretending the echoes belong to someone
Someone I used to know
And we become
Silhouettes when our bodies finally go
I wanted to walk through the empty streets
And feel something constant under my feet
But all the news reports
Recommended that I stay in doors
Because the air outside will make
Our cells divide at an alarming rate
Until our shelves simply cannot hold
All our insides in
And that's when we'll explode
And it won't be a pretty sight
And we'll become
Silhouettes when our bodies finally go
And we'll become
Silhoutettes when our bodies finally go
And we'll become
Silhouettes when our bodies finally go
And well become
Silhouettes when our bodies finally go
And we'll become
And we'll become
And we'll become
And we'll become
We Will Become Silhouettes by The Postal Service is a poignant song that speaks on the theme of isolation amidst a catastrophic event. The lyrics revolve around a person who has barricaded themselves indoors to protect themselves from the outside world, which is plagued by the threat of an unknown epidemic. The singer details the things they have stored for survival- a cupboard filled with canned food, filtered water, and pictures of a loved one. They vow not to come out until it's "all over".
The chorus of the song, "And we become silhouettes when our bodies finally go" is a haunting reminder of the ephemeral nature of human life. The singer longs to feel something constant under their feet as they walk through the empty streets. However, the news reports insist that people stay inside for their own safety. The outside air is contaminated and will lead to their bodies breaking down and eventually exploding. The singer's reflection on life and their desire to reconnect with who they used to be creates powerful imagery.
The song is an emotionally charged commentary on the fear of an unknown crisis and the subsequent resulting alienation. The intense imagery and thought-provoking lyrics leave a lasting impression on the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got a cupboard with cans of food
I have a stockpile of food in my cupboard
Filtered water and pictures of you
I have access to clean water and I cherish memories of you
And I'm not coming out until this is all over
I am staying indoors until the crisis is resolved
And I'm looking through the glass
I am observing the world from a safe distance
Where the light bends at the cracks
Where I can see the light shimmering through the gaps
And I'm screaming at the top of my lungs
I am expressing my fear and frustration vocally
Pretending the echoes belong to someone
Imagining that someone is hearing my cries and answering back
Someone I used to know
Thinking of someone I have lost touch with
And we become
We transform
Silhouettes when our bodies finally go
When we die, we will become black outlines against the light
I wanted to walk through the empty streets
I desired to explore and experience the world outside
And feel something constant under my feet
I yearned for a sense of stability and security
But all the news reports
But according to all the information I've received
Recommended that I stay in doors
I was advised to remain inside
Because the air outside will make
Breathing the air outdoors will cause
Our cells divide at an alarming rate
Our cells will divide and multiply rapidly
Until our shelves simply cannot hold
Until our bodies can no longer contain
All our insides in
All of our internal organs and fluids
And that's when we'll explode
And that is when we will die in a violent manner
And it won't be a pretty sight
Our death will be gruesome and unpleasant
And we'll become
We will transform
Silhouettes when our bodies finally go
When we die, we will become black outlines against the light
And we'll become
We will transform
Silhoutettes when our bodies finally go
When we die, we will become black outlines against the light
And we'll become
We will transform
Silhouettes when our bodies finally go
When we die, we will become black outlines against the light
And well become
We will transform
Silhouettes when our bodies finally go
When we die, we will become black outlines against the light
And we'll become
We will transform
And we'll become
We will transform
And we'll become
We will transform
And we'll become
We will transform
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Benjamin D Gibbard, Jimmy Tamborello
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jamesspannthecardreader
I've got a cupboard with cans of food, filtered water,
And pictures of you and I'm not coming out
Until this is all over
And I'm looking through the glass where the light bends
At the cracks
And I'm screaming at the top of my lungs pretending
The echoes belong to someone
Someone I used to know
And we become silhouettes when our bodies finally go
Ba ba ba...
I wanted to walk through the empty streets
And feel something constant under my feet,
But all the news reports recommended that
I stay indoors
Because the air outside will make our cells
Divide at an alarming rate until our shells
Simply cannot hold all our insides in,
And that's when we'll explode
(and it won't be a pretty sight)
And we'll become silhouettes when our bodies finally go
Ba ba ba...
And we'll become silhouettes when our bodies finally go
Ba ba ba...
And we'll become silhouettes when our bodies finally go
Ba ba ba...
And we'll become silhouettes when our bodies finally go
Ba ba ba...
And we'll become
And we'll become
@josephstrider85
My opinion on the story\idea that this music video tells...
The father, shown by the pillow at the beginning, holds a very special place in this family. Thru out the video he is shown as a teacher, leader, and perhaps a visionary. The kids canning gravy (?), the father teaching his son how to dry fruits, and the mother having the make their own clothes give weight to that idea, assuming they were his ideas. Also the wife and keyboardist both seem to look up to him, while the kids perhaps have been raised to believe what he says is true. I believe the family's and friends' body language hints towards that admiration. His message, the song, is one that seems to look forward to an atomic destruction of the world. One that he seems to believe he will survive. One that hasn't come yet as evident of their house and the houses they pass while bycycling.
All that in mind...
The father has placed himself as a survivalist\prophet teaching his wife and friend as well as his kids that the end is coming, and with his help, they will not only survive, but also thrive.
They almost have a cult feel to them.
@funobot7344
I've got a cupboard with cans of food
Toilet paper and pictures of you
And I'm not coming out until this is all over
And I'm looking through the glass
Where the light bends at the cracks
And I'm screaming at the top of my lungs
Pretending the echoes belong to someone
Someone I used to know
And we become
Silhouettes when our bodies finally go
I wanted to walk through the empty streets
And feel something constant under my feet
But all the news reports recommended that I stay indoors
'Cause there's a virus in the air
On the walls and on the chairs
That makes you run a nasty fever and then makes you cough
And lets water fill your lungs
And sometimes that's where it ends
And we'll become
Silhouettes when our bodies finally go
@johnwrath3612
I love poppy happy sounding songs that are actually about horrific things. This song makes me want to dance to the nuclear apocalypse.
@jacvic0790
Ever heard twenty one pilots? 😂
@artiemilano378
You need to check out Darwin Deez then. Don't listen to mr. 21 vomit above me
@micmac274
neun-und neunzing Jahre Krieg (99 year war) German version of 99 red balloons (99 luftballons)
@jasoncope75
Get your dancing shoes on!
@ethanburns8209
17 years and this song is really relevant
@CeticWales
Even more so mow with what happening between Ukraine and Russia
@arishhhhh92
19
@jaymeparadox7230
Absolutely so.
@ericfoster8411
The little look he gives when he says “and that’s when we’ll explode… and it won’t be a pretty sight” is perfection.