This song is about a one night stand. The most confusing part is the first verse; it's clear that the woman Gibbard is talking to at a party is a charming writer (she has a manuscript). I think the "crust of railroad earth" he's talking about is a pencil. After all, a pencils and railroad ties are both made of wood. Perhaps he's left uninspired because he disagrees with the edits made to the manuscript. (Though, if that's the case, one wonders why the pencil is what left him uninspired.) Or maybe it's because he doesn't understand them. (Her "advantage" would seem to be that she's more intelligent than he is.)
I imagine Gibbard sitting, leaning back on his hands on a deck or driveway (something concrete) before sitting up to talk to this girl. The part about hammering pillars is either a sexual reference, or else he's planning way into the future when they're married. ('White picket fences' are one understanding of the American Dream.)
Talk turns to the fact that all the couples at the party seem to have gone off to make out. They're smoking a cigarette. (You're right, fraeulein, that's a GREAT line. :-)
He's still trying to fight the urge, but it's a losing battle. I take "call-response"
to mean the answer to a call; she's receptive/interested in him too, so he's throwing caution to the wind.
Did he mention that they're drunk?
Now comes what I think is my favorite Death Cab lyric: "my best judgement signed its resignation." He decides to go for it, even though he knows it won't last beyond that evening.
They don't get married. The song ends with Gibbard kicking himself for rushing things. Who knows if things could have progressed had they held off; he makes it sound like she was out of his league anyway.
This is my second favorite song on "We Have the Facts..." after "Company Calls Epilogue"! So good.
the first verse is a reference to jack kerouac. railroad earth is a short story written by kerouac, and obviously the manuscript line is a further nod. ben often writes about him.
the first verse is a reference to jack kerouac. railroad earth is a short story written by kerouac, and obviously the manuscript line is a further nod. ben often writes about him.
This song is about a one night stand. The most confusing part is the first verse; it's clear that the woman Gibbard is talking to at a party is a charming writer (she has a manuscript). I think the "crust of railroad earth" he's talking about is a pencil. After all, a pencils and railroad ties are both made of wood. Perhaps he's left uninspired because he disagrees with the edits made to the manuscript. (Though, if that's the case, one wonders why the pencil is what left him uninspired.) Or maybe it's because he doesn't understand them. (Her "advantage" would seem to be that she's more intelligent than he is.)
I imagine Gibbard sitting, leaning back on his hands on a deck or driveway (something concrete) before sitting up to talk to this girl. The part about hammering pillars is either a sexual reference, or else he's planning way into the future when they're married. ('White picket fences' are one understanding of the American Dream.)
Talk turns to the fact that all the couples at the party seem to have gone off to make out. They're smoking a cigarette. (You're right, fraeulein, that's a GREAT line. :-)
He's still trying to fight the urge, but it's a losing battle. I take "call-response" to mean the answer to a call; she's receptive/interested in him too, so he's throwing caution to the wind.
Did he mention that they're drunk?
Now comes what I think is my favorite Death Cab lyric: "my best judgement signed its resignation." He decides to go for it, even though he knows it won't last beyond that evening.
They don't get married. The song ends with Gibbard kicking himself for rushing things. Who knows if things could have progressed had they held off; he makes it sound like she was out of his league anyway.
This is my second favorite song on "We Have the Facts..." after "Company Calls Epilogue"! So good.
the first verse is a reference to jack kerouac. railroad earth is a short story written by kerouac, and obviously the manuscript line is a further nod. ben often writes about him.
the first verse is a reference to jack kerouac. railroad earth is a short story written by kerouac, and obviously the manuscript line is a further nod. ben often writes about him.
I'm looking for this short story and cant find it anywhere. Do you happen to know where to get it?
I'm looking for this short story and cant find it anywhere. Do you happen to know where to get it?
thanks.
thanks.
@Coolray1819 Been a while since you asked, but in case you haven't found it, the story's called "October in the Railroad Earth."
@Coolray1819 Been a while since you asked, but in case you haven't found it, the story's called "October in the Railroad Earth."
Here's a PDF: http://790newmedia.wikispaces.com/file/view/KerouacRailroadEarth.pdf
Here's a PDF: http://790newmedia.wikispaces.com/file/view/KerouacRailroadEarth.pdf