Death Cab for Cutie — Lightness
Album: TransatlanticismAvg rating:
Your rating:
Total ratings: 1547
Length: 3:30
Plays (last 30 days): 3
share
tweet
There's a tear in the fabric
Of your favorite dress and I'm sneaking glances
Looking for the patterns in static
They start to make sense the longer I'm at it
Ivory lines lead
Woah, woah
Your heart is a river
That flows from your chest through every organ
Your brain is the dam
And I am the fish who can't reach the core
Ivory lines lead
Woah, woah
Oh, instincts are misleading
You shouldn't think what you're feeling
They don't tell you what you know you should want
''Ivory lines lead
Woah, woah''
Ivory lines lead
Woah, woah
Oh, instincts are misleading
You shouldn't think what you're feeling
They don't tell you what you know you should want
Ivory lines lead
Woah
Ivory lines lead
Woah
Of your favorite dress and I'm sneaking glances
Looking for the patterns in static
They start to make sense the longer I'm at it
Ivory lines lead
Woah, woah
Your heart is a river
That flows from your chest through every organ
Your brain is the dam
And I am the fish who can't reach the core
Ivory lines lead
Woah, woah
Oh, instincts are misleading
You shouldn't think what you're feeling
They don't tell you what you know you should want
''Ivory lines lead
Woah, woah''
Ivory lines lead
Woah, woah
Oh, instincts are misleading
You shouldn't think what you're feeling
They don't tell you what you know you should want
Ivory lines lead
Woah
Ivory lines lead
Woah
Comments (116)add comment
Beautiful music!
RadioDoc wrote:
A very large majority of pop music (which this is) is about the depressing and disappointing side of love. Most others manage to write songs which don't make it worse. Death Cab is just awful in their commercially-driven cynicism, and Ben Gibbard's voice is like razor blades on a dreary day, taunting you to slit your wrist.
2
I can't imagine listening to this song and thinking any part was "commercially-driven." Not the pace, lyrics or instrumentation. If someone doesn't like the music, to each their own. But what commercially driven pop music sounds anything at all like this?
A very large majority of pop music (which this is) is about the depressing and disappointing side of love. Most others manage to write songs which don't make it worse. Death Cab is just awful in their commercially-driven cynicism, and Ben Gibbard's voice is like razor blades on a dreary day, taunting you to slit your wrist.
2
I can't imagine listening to this song and thinking any part was "commercially-driven." Not the pace, lyrics or instrumentation. If someone doesn't like the music, to each their own. But what commercially driven pop music sounds anything at all like this?
theirongiant wrote:
You an' yer fancy book-learnin'!
For those arguing about the tempo: it's a slow 4/4 (approx 72 bpm) but the measures are probably written out with lots of eighth-note triplets — four groups of them to be precise. And there are hemiolas and syncopations sprinkled in for good effect. Hemiolas are indicated by two groups of three beats being spread across three groups of two beats, so the music feels like it's shifting between duple (two-beat) and triple (three-beat) meter. The second and third verses has lots of examples of this: Your heart is... your brain is... oh, instincts are mis...
Here is a short YouTube video demonstrating the quarter note, eighth note, and eighth- and sixteenth-note triplets. The base tempo is 60 bpm, a tad slower than the DCFC song.
You an' yer fancy book-learnin'!
All the arguing about tempo and time signature seems to be a forest-for-the-trees thing which misses the fact that this song is boring and bad.
sirtezza wrote:
depends where they pull me...
oowaho oowaho! I don't think so. Cheap hooks leave me cold.
oowaho oowaho! I don't think so. Cheap hooks leave me cold.
For those arguing about the tempo: it's a slow 4/4 (approx 72 bpm) but the measures are probably written out with lots of eighth-note triplets — four groups of them to be precise. And there are hemiolas and syncopations sprinkled in for good effect. Hemiolas are indicated by two groups of three beats being spread across three groups of two beats, so the music feels like it's shifting between duple (two-beat) and triple (three-beat) meter. The second and third verses has lots of examples of this: Your heart is... your brain is... oh, instincts are mis...
Here is a short YouTube video demonstrating the quarter note, eighth note, and eighth- and sixteenth-note triplets. The base tempo is 60 bpm, a tad slower than the DCFC song.
Here is a short YouTube video demonstrating the quarter note, eighth note, and eighth- and sixteenth-note triplets. The base tempo is 60 bpm, a tad slower than the DCFC song.
theirongiant wrote:
And annoying 100%
For anyone wondering: it’s the sound of a cuckoo clock slowed down about 30%.
And annoying 100%
6/8 with some 4/4 groove leanings :)
CoYoT51 wrote:
I would say it is in 6/8
It is a 4|4 tune or a 6|4 one?
I would say it is in 6/8
It is a 4|4 tune or a 6|4 one?
I love the way this song leads in... if you didn't know the song, it would make you wonder what to expect next.
For anyone wondering: it’s the sound of a cuckoo clock slowed down about 30%.
I liked the song but kept going into the kitchen thinking my microwave was beeping telling me my lunch was ready.
At the risk of repeating myself, wonderful cover art. Lots of crows out here.
Meaningful. Love it!
Pazzat wrote:
apd wrote:
isn't it also the title of a Beatles song? (Or the same song, perhaps?)
It's not a Beatles song. The Bonzos are seen performing the song in the "Magical Mystery Tour" film; the song was written by Neil Innes (later of Monty Python) and Viv Stanshall.
It's taken straight from the title of a Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band song, on that band's 1967 album 'Gorilla'.
apd wrote:
isn't it also the title of a Beatles song? (Or the same song, perhaps?)
It's not a Beatles song. The Bonzos are seen performing the song in the "Magical Mystery Tour" film; the song was written by Neil Innes (later of Monty Python) and Viv Stanshall.
Pazzat wrote:
isn't it also the title of a Beatles song? (Or the same song, perhaps?)
It's taken straight from the title of a Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band song, on that band's 1967 album 'Gorilla'.
isn't it also the title of a Beatles song? (Or the same song, perhaps?)
RadioDoc wrote:
A very large majority of pop music (which this is) is about the depressing and disappointing side of love. Most others manage to write songs which don't make it worse. Death Cab is just awful in their commercially-driven cynicism, and Ben Gibbard's voice is like razor blades on a dreary day, taunting you to slit your wrist.
2
Commercially driven cynicism? Yeah, most other bands manage to put the depressing stuff into a neat little package and present it to the public who is so conditioned 'not' to delve too deeply into the raw, deep emotion swirling around inside of them. God forbid more people delving into their abyss, from whence they may not return. Prozac, number one prescribed drug in America. 8 - just for not 'conforming.'
A very large majority of pop music (which this is) is about the depressing and disappointing side of love. Most others manage to write songs which don't make it worse. Death Cab is just awful in their commercially-driven cynicism, and Ben Gibbard's voice is like razor blades on a dreary day, taunting you to slit your wrist.
2
Commercially driven cynicism? Yeah, most other bands manage to put the depressing stuff into a neat little package and present it to the public who is so conditioned 'not' to delve too deeply into the raw, deep emotion swirling around inside of them. God forbid more people delving into their abyss, from whence they may not return. Prozac, number one prescribed drug in America. 8 - just for not 'conforming.'
someone shoot that mourning dove please?
gntlemanartist wrote:
A very large majority of pop music (which this is) is about the depressing and disappointing side of love. Most others manage to write songs which don't make it worse. Death Cab is just awful in their commercially-driven cynicism, and Ben Gibbard's voice is like razor blades on a dreary day, taunting you to slit your wrist.
2
A lot of DCFC songs are about the depressing and disappointing side of love. A little something for the ennui in all of us. 
A very large majority of pop music (which this is) is about the depressing and disappointing side of love. Most others manage to write songs which don't make it worse. Death Cab is just awful in their commercially-driven cynicism, and Ben Gibbard's voice is like razor blades on a dreary day, taunting you to slit your wrist.
2
Captain_D0D00 wrote:
Meth lab whore duty.
This song killed all hope I had for this and any other off shoot bands, just on principle.
Meth lab whore duty.
electronicshaman wrote:
I love that feedback sounding bird
makes me think of an abandoned kids playground
like a creepy swing
Funny, I thought it was one of my dogs outside whining to get in. Had to get up and go check!
I love that feedback sounding bird
makes me think of an abandoned kids playground
like a creepy swing
veegez wrote:
Death Cab For Cutie.
Yes, I like the name.
It's taken straight from the title of a Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band song, on that band's 1967 album 'Gorilla'.
omg this song is played out...please let it sleep for a couple of decades before playing again
Mari wrote:
The feedback-like sound is a critter, and if I lived in the US, I'd know which critter, I'd hazzard a guess at some sort of cuckoo, a bird at any rate? I love it, as I do birds in general, and I am one, so I should know ... 
...
It's some kind of dove-mourning dove maybe
...
Now I see what all the fuss is about.
maybe it's b/c im from Seattle but i love this album. Ben Gibbard is a good singer and they're very creative throughout.
The feedback-like sound is a critter, and if I lived in the US, I'd know which critter, I'd hazzard a guess at some sort of cuckoo, a bird at any rate? I love it, as I do birds in general, and I am one, so I should know ... ...
FloridaBear wrote:
...
FloridaBear wrote:This song would be tolerable--barely--if it weren't for that annoying feedback-like sound all the way through. What's the point of that? It drives me crazy! I almost always mute this song...yuck.
I don't know what it is, but I just adore his voice. Something about it just totally absorbs me, something so lovely about it. Say whatever you want about the lyrics, I honestly haven't paid enough attention to DCFC yet to know (but I LOVE the Postal Service),but even just zoning out at work and hearing the sounds without hearing the words is great. 
This song would be tolerable--barely--if it weren't for that annoying feedback-like sound all the way through. What's the point of that? It drives me crazy! I almost always mute this song...yuck.
Digging the drum beat. Funky.
lovetractor24 wrote:
Did anyone catch them on SNL...it was really bad. No, I mean, really, really bad. I love this cd though.
I don't really know the band, so I thought they just WERE terrible period after SNL.
Did anyone catch them on SNL...it was really bad. No, I mean, really, really bad. I love this cd though.
meloman wrote:
One of the most listless songs ever.
That's part of the idea. A lot of DCFC songs are about the depressing and disappointing side of love. A little something for the ennui in all of us.
too lite for me.
Is he saying Wa-oh, or Whoa? I'm saying whoa! Let's take another cab, this guy's on something... 
I found this amazing album in a used CD store for 5 bucks.
Oh god, the tedium. One of the most listless songs ever.
foppy-knight wrote:
This song is okay. If you really want to get a taste of how good this group can be, check out their new tune, "When soul meets body."
I like 'em both!
I can't explain why I like this song. I just do. It sticks in my head (in a good way) and I find myself humming it.
beelzebubba wrote:
BORING.......
Can you say "The Choir"? Anyone?
Love this CD, it had to grow on me though, my friend left it at my house, at the time it was just released, but i had no clue who they were. I popped it in, and was like wow this is diferent,, but like i said it grew on me and is now one of my favorites to listen to on long rides back and forth from college. Death Cab is a staple in my cd collection now.
This song is okay. If you really want to get a taste of how good this group can be, check out their new tune, "When soul meets body."
What, Cutie's not dead yet?!!!! Someone speed up that cab kill this thing! 
very downtempo portishead like beat, don't know that I'd listened to this cut before. not sure what to think
Midnightrambler wrote:
Sounds like Damien Rice.
Really?
Tux wrote:
Just for the record, I use Tux as reference to the Linux penguin, not to the clothe some people see as fancy. I don't like dressing up at all.
I thought you were referring to Tennessee Tuxedo, as in "Chumly? Tennessee Tuxedo will not fail!"
Death Cab has definitely done better. This is one of their weaker songs. Information Travels Faster, Debate Exposes Doubt, Photobooth, President of What, Expo '86, Why You'd Want to Live Here - THESE are songs that really make DCFC what they are.
This isn't. :D
I think they made this song up as they went along. Thump a drum, insert annoying note phrase now and again, wash, rinse, repeat.
Olympus_mons wrote: i concur...
mmmmmmmmmmmm, Death Cab for Cutie
i concur...
Sounds like Damien Rice.
beelzebubba wrote:
BORING.......
mmmmmmmmmmmm, Death Cab for Cutie
Vee-eye-eye-eye.
is this the Pet Shop Boys? 8-<
What, Cutie's not dead yet?! Forget the death cab. It's time for some C-4! 
DMay wrote:
Tux, it's too bad you have bad taste in music and thus your opinion on what is "good" is inconsequential and holds absolutely no significance. Where as my opinion is supreme and exemplified through my taste in good music, such as bands like Death Cab for Cutie.
Don't know if a statement like that would hold in court.
It's your word against mine, and be both are absolutely sure we're right.
I would completely reverse your statement.
Have a happy Christmas anyway.
This is OK, but The Postal Service is really where its at!
BORING.......
This song bites.
Tux, it's too bad you have bad taste in music and thus your opinion on what is "good" is inconsequential and holds absolutely no significance. Where as my opinion is supreme and exemplified through my taste in good music, such as bands like Death Cab for Cutie.
phineas wrote:
We actually agree on quite a bit of material, Tuxedo. I just don't get quite so twisted about the bands I don't like as you do about, say, oh for instance, U2!
Just for the record, I use Tux as reference to the Linux penguin, not to the clothe some people see as fancy. I don't like dressing up at all.
mrselfdestruct wrote:
Fair enough. I like em though.
As I said in an earlier post, I'm definitely in the minority on this band.
phineas wrote:
Wrongo, Mrs. Elf Destruct ---- I really don't like them. The frequency of my posts re: DCforC is in direct proportion to the inexcplicable frequency of their airtime on RP.
Fair enough. I like em though.
The frequency of my posts re: DCforC is in direct proportion to the inexcplicable frequency of their airtime on RP.Tux wrote:
Neither do I. One of the few bands phineas and I agree on :p
We actually agree on quite a bit of material, Tuxedo. I just don't get quite so twisted about the bands I don't like as you do about, say, oh for instance, U2!
mrselfdestruct wrote: The frequency of my posts re: DCforC is in direct proportion to the inexplicable frequency of their airtime on RP.
Okay! We get it! You don't like them! God!
Wrongo, Mrs. Elf Destruct ---- I really don't like them. The frequency of my posts re: DCforC is in direct proportion to the inexplicable frequency of their airtime on RP.
mrselfdestruct wrote:
Okay! We get it! You don't like them! God!
Neither do I. One of the few bands phineas and I agree on :p
Platypus wrote:
great album from a great band.
i love the extremely mellow, almost meditative vibe of this music.
grows on me more with each listen.
Yeah, she do kinda grow on you, don't she? 7.
phineas wrote:
Why? Shoot them.
RP really does impede my life. I didn't want to leave my desk and the music for lunch until this somg came on. Whew.
Walking down the street, spot a prostitute... and you get "Oooh, a ho!"
This is a fine disc. Period.
phineas wrote:
Why? Shoot them.
phineas wrote:
Don't get your hopes up.
phineas wrote:
It's amazing to me that all of you can be so wrong about this song and band! I hate them!
Okay! We get it! You don't like them! God!
great album from a great band.
i love the extremely mellow, almost meditative vibe of this music.
grows on me more with each listen.
I'm writing some code and listening to RP with my headphones on. Suddenly, my wife takes off the headphones and tells me to shut up.
It seems I've been singing "Ooo wah hoh" over and over without noticing it.
Grrrrr... This song blows.
Patrick wrote:
Shoot me.
Why? Shoot them.
serenity5 wrote:
I've heard good things about this band, but this song didn't impress me. I look forward to hearing more by them, though.
Don't get your hopes up.
Shoot me.
I've heard good things about this band, but this song didn't impress me. I look forward to hearing more by them, though.
bakedjake wrote:
the band's name is pretty cool.
Supposedly, they are named for a song by this band:
https://rateyourmusic.com/view_albums/artist_id_is_4582
But I can't confirm that.
What I can confirm is that this band is cool. Kind of like Ben Folds meets Pavement meets Harvey Danger.
Dmay wrote:
Simply amazing, I bought Transatlanticism a couple weeks ago, and Friday I went and bought "The Postal Service - Give Up"
I agree, they are great. I heard The Postal Service a year or so before Death Cab, so i am kinda partial to them, but I just started listening to Death Cab lately and am really enjoying them. Kudos.
alanb wrote:
The interesting, oddball background loop with that weird coo-coo sound is what makes this song. It really adds a lot of character... I love the way it goes past the end of the song, too
Sounds to me like a horny mourning dove. 8-<
This is a GREAT pop band...Love the drum work on this tune
philarktos wrote: "ooh wah hoh !" 
:nodhead: 
You a ho!
:nodhead: Wow, I was just looking over today's playlist to see if Death Cab had been played today, and sadly they hadn't been. But much to my suprise, right as I turned on RP Bill's closing out Elvis Costello and announces Death Cab for Cutie!
BILL
BILL The interesting, oddball background loop with that weird coo-coo sound is what makes this song. It really adds a lot of character... I love the way it goes past the end of the song, too
tictocsailor wrote:
.... why is it played so often? Is it just me, or does it seem like there is more repetition on the station these days?
Seems that way to me too.
It's amazing to me that all of you can be so wrong about this song and band! I hate them!
(Now take it easy ---> its only a joke! Well, except the part about me hating them.)
Sometimes when RP is playing in the background, I will hear a song that really grabs my attention and I will take a look at the playlist to see what it is.
"DCFC" consistantly makes me check out what song is playing
veegez wrote:
Death Cab For Cutie.
Yes, I like the name.
Good name indeed. Never heard of them but I must check them out.
philarktos wrote: "ooh wah hoh !" :nodhead:
Personally, I like the "bum bum" parts in "Sound of Settling" more.
:nodhead: Simply amazing, I bought Transatlanticism a couple weeks ago, and Friday I went and bought "The Postal Service - Give Up" and the night before that I bought the other 3 major releases of Death Cab, and the All-Time Quarterback album. The latter 4 all cost me 40 bucks, shipping included. Well worth it, I can't wait to get those four in :)
this album is excellent. i think it needs to be heard in entirety to get the most out of the songs. there's a lot of emotion in the album, so if that scares you maybe it's not your thing. a couple songs are hard to listen to, even for an emotionally inert person such as myself. i think that's saying something for the songwriting.
the music is excellent, and the lyrics are amazing as well. this could have easily disentegrated into a maudlin cheese-fest, but gibbard keeps it from going in that direction.
philarktos wrote: "ooh wah hoh !" :nodhead:
This should be the name of the song, it's the most memorable thing in it.
:nodhead: I like this ok .. it is the kind of music I come to Paradise for. But why is it played so often? Is it just me, or does it seem like there is more repetition on the station these days?
I'm the fish that can't reach the corn...oohh I get it now!
bakedjake wrote:
the band's name is pretty cool.
I like the tune. But the band name does not do much for me.
Not like anybody asked me :P
I hear this way too often in Paradise.
you a ho?
Ben Gibbard (singer and main brain of Death Cab) has an oddly puctuated, little-known side project known as All-Time !Quarterback!. Despite ultra-low-fi recording techiniques and the fact that Gibbard performs most of the songs using children's instruments, there are some outstanding pop songs here - emphasizing excellent melodies rather than technical prowess or complexity.
philarktos wrote: "ooh wah hoh !" :nodhead:
Isn't it marvelous? It makes me smile. 
:nodhead: It makes me smile.
Death Cab For Cutie.
Yes, I like the name.
The band's name is awful; the music is better. It takes too long to get from one phrase to the next; the lyrics I can make out are not threatening but are sort of inane. I might better listen to other tracks from this group, though, before hardening an opinion. Right now it seems pabulum.
nice .. yay for Seattle scene ..
not bad....
this song bores me. hmph.
Yawn. Not worth changing the station for.
:nodhead:
This is awesome! I recently bought the Postal Service cd and I guess now I will have to go get this, too!
utopiapark wrote:
When I first heard this I thought it sounded like The Postal Service guy. It is! Cool.
It is the guy from The Postal Service, Ben Gibbard I believe.
I like this song . . . They're playing here in Austin next week with Nada Surf. Looking forward to that. When I first heard this I thought it sounded like The Postal Service guy. It is! Cool.
the band's name is pretty cool.