White Rabbits came to New York from the midwest. For their first record, they managed to catch the attention of Say Hey Records and producer Chris Zane (Shy Child, Asobi Seksu, Les Savy Fav). Their second album, "It's Frightening," was produced by Britt Daniel (Spoon).
Lead by dual vocalists, Greg Roberts (Guitar / Vox) and Steve Patterson (Piano / Vox), the 6 piece is rounded out by Alex Even (Guitar / Vox), Brian Betancourt (Bass), Matt “The Duck” Clark (Drums) and Jamie Levinson (Drums). With a certain joie de vive, playfulness and charm White Rabbits thematically evoke the more decadent and bygone era of days spent on the green, old cinemas “Tourist Trap”, tragic mothers “Navy Wives”, and restrained, but no less awkward domestic disputes, with the first single, “The Plot.”
Added to their arsenal are 3 part vocal harmonies that texture the album throughout. White Rabbits even showcase the occasional group chant, best exampled on Fort Nightly’s opening track “Kid On My Shoulders”. White Rabbits’ penchant for more tropical excursions such as on “I Used To Complain Now I Don’t”, featuring the horns of Beirut’s (Jon Natchez), are, at times, reminiscent of The Specials or Madness.
Their sets have gained the band a large and growing audience and led them to share bills with Peter Bjorn & John, The Fiery Furnaces, The Walkmen, Richard Swift and others.
Dinner Party
White Rabbits Lyrics
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The ceiling shakes when he makes his way down the stairs
The lights go out, put a finger to your mouth
There is nothing we can get away within this house
Would be so hard
Would break your heart
Would waste your time
All our friends are doing fine
And there is a dinner party right across the hall
And I hear neighbors laughing through the kitchen wall
And I hear the sound of a plate crash to the ground
When I turn the table on its side, it'll shake the house
Would be so hard
Would break your heart
Would waste your time
I know it?s a diamond mine
All our friends are doing fine
So I won't ask again
Somebody might bemoan me, screaming in these rooms
You keep your mouth shut if you know what is good for you
The lights go out, I can hear bad things around
There is nothing we can get away within this house
Would be so hard
Will break your heart
Will waste your time
I know it?s a diamond mine
All our friends are doing fine
So I won't ask again
The lyrics of "Dinner Party" by White Rabbits are open to interpretation, but it appears to be about feeling trapped in a situation or environment that is suffocating and repressive. The first verse describes someone above the singer getting up from their chair, causing the ceiling to shake, which creates a sense of heaviness and tension. The lights go out, and there is a sense of secrecy and caution in the air. The chorus describes what the singer believes to be the situation that they find themselves in, a "diamond mine" that would be too hard and break your heart.
The second verse describes a dinner party happening across the hall, a moment of levity and celebration that is entirely separate from the singer's experience in their own space. The singer hears the sounds of laughter and a plate crashing, which could be interpreted as a moment of release and breaking free from the constrictions of the house. However, there is a sense of danger implied in the lines "When I turn the table on its side, it'll shake the house," suggesting that any attempt to disrupt the status quo could have disastrous consequences.
The song ends with the singer refusing to ask for escape again, feeling that any attempt to resist would be futile. Overall, "Dinner Party" creates a sense of claustrophobia and unease, with the repetitive melody and lyrics painting a picture of a situation that seems inescapable.
Line by Line Meaning
Somebody right above me gets up from her chair
The singer hears someone getting up from a room directly above them.
The ceiling shakes when he makes his way down the stairs
The person moving about causes the ceiling to shake.
The lights go out, put a finger to your mouth
The lights turn off and they urge someone to be quiet.
There is nothing we can get away within this house
They feel trapped and unable to escape the situation in the house.
Would be so hard
Something would be difficult to do.
Would break your heart
Something would be emotionally devastating.
Would waste your time
Something would be a pointless use of time.
I know it?s a diamond mine
They acknowledge that the situation is valuable, but difficult to navigate.
All our friends are doing fine
Despite their struggles, everyone else seems to be doing well.
And there is a dinner party right across the hall
There is a party happening nearby.
And I hear neighbors laughing through the kitchen wall
They can hear the joy and laughter of their neighbors through the wall.
And I hear the sound of a plate crash to the ground
They hear the sound of something breaking nearby.
When I turn the table on its side, it'll shake the house
The singer feels like even a small action could have a significant impact.
So I won't ask again
They have decided not to say or do anything further about the situation.
Somebody might bemoan me, screaming in these rooms
The singer fears someone may become upset or angry if they speak up.
You keep your mouth shut if you know what is good for you
There is a sense of fear or threat regarding speaking up.
Will break your heart
Something will be emotionally devastating.
I know it?s a diamond mine
They acknowledge that the situation is valuable, but difficult to navigate.
Will waste your time
Something will be a pointless use of time.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ADAM KENT RUSSELL, ALEXANDER JOSEPH EVEN, GREGORY THOMAS ROBERTS, JAMIE ADAM LEVINSON, MATTHEW PRESCOTT CLARK, STEPHEN DANIEL PATTERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind