Piecing together the title of the song as well as the lyrics, I think the song is about gibbard's first year at college. If you take the lyrics very literally, the first stanza is him being pissed off about how cold the attic is. He's paying his rent in full, he's asked for heat from the landlord, and they just won't fix it. His only explanation is there's ghosts in the walls. (like the myth of cold spells when ghosts are nearby). So after they fuck up trying to fix the heat, they lay the smack down and say hey, i'm not payin rent til that heat is fixed.. i'd rather sleep in a damn winter coat.
The chorus is simply about him playing shows to make money to pay rent, and how entertaining people at shows is his best way to come up with dough (first defense).
He decides college is more like prison, and enrolling is a "four-year offense" (like a sentence for a criminal) if you are devoted enough to stick it out and get a degree. His "invitation" was his admittance to the university, but he didn't really fit in and wasn't cut out for college (he knew he wasn't really invited.. he would never do well). So, like many people, he said fuck it and took up alcohol/drug habits and just played shows for money. The chemicals will pass through your system, but the spilt drinks will and throw up will be soaked up by the carpet. He thought college would get him success and a promising future, but failed relationships and pressing for rent led to binge drinking and what not (broken hearts and addictions).
In the end, college isn't for ben, and he's playing shows just to pay his rent.
a.) What a freakin' amazing song. The hooks are sick. And the baseline is addicting, almost Pinback, but less-mechanical and more melodic.
b.) Granted I have no knowledge of Ben Gibbard's life, your interpretation seems pretty spot-on and makes me appreciate the song that much more. Thanks man.
a.) What a freakin' amazing song. The hooks are sick. And the baseline is addicting, almost Pinback, but less-mechanical and more melodic.
b.) Granted I have no knowledge of Ben Gibbard's life, your interpretation seems pretty spot-on and makes me appreciate the song that much more. Thanks man.
@savestheday3785 I agree with most of you're interpretation mate,but i think with thw chorus " Promises of payments were upon your shoulders" is him telling his land lord that he can't make the payments but i promise to pay them . and with the "first defense" i think its referring to the land lords incompetence to provide proper accommodation and he is "entertaining" by bull shit stories people like that usually tell to distract from their slack work,
@savestheday3785 I agree with most of you're interpretation mate,but i think with thw chorus " Promises of payments were upon your shoulders" is him telling his land lord that he can't make the payments but i promise to pay them . and with the "first defense" i think its referring to the land lords incompetence to provide proper accommodation and he is "entertaining" by bull shit stories people like that usually tell to distract from their slack work,
Piecing together the title of the song as well as the lyrics, I think the song is about gibbard's first year at college. If you take the lyrics very literally, the first stanza is him being pissed off about how cold the attic is. He's paying his rent in full, he's asked for heat from the landlord, and they just won't fix it. His only explanation is there's ghosts in the walls. (like the myth of cold spells when ghosts are nearby). So after they fuck up trying to fix the heat, they lay the smack down and say hey, i'm not payin rent til that heat is fixed.. i'd rather sleep in a damn winter coat.
The chorus is simply about him playing shows to make money to pay rent, and how entertaining people at shows is his best way to come up with dough (first defense).
He decides college is more like prison, and enrolling is a "four-year offense" (like a sentence for a criminal) if you are devoted enough to stick it out and get a degree. His "invitation" was his admittance to the university, but he didn't really fit in and wasn't cut out for college (he knew he wasn't really invited.. he would never do well). So, like many people, he said fuck it and took up alcohol/drug habits and just played shows for money. The chemicals will pass through your system, but the spilt drinks will and throw up will be soaked up by the carpet. He thought college would get him success and a promising future, but failed relationships and pressing for rent led to binge drinking and what not (broken hearts and addictions).
In the end, college isn't for ben, and he's playing shows just to pay his rent.
a.) What a freakin' amazing song. The hooks are sick. And the baseline is addicting, almost Pinback, but less-mechanical and more melodic. b.) Granted I have no knowledge of Ben Gibbard's life, your interpretation seems pretty spot-on and makes me appreciate the song that much more. Thanks man.
a.) What a freakin' amazing song. The hooks are sick. And the baseline is addicting, almost Pinback, but less-mechanical and more melodic. b.) Granted I have no knowledge of Ben Gibbard's life, your interpretation seems pretty spot-on and makes me appreciate the song that much more. Thanks man.
@savestheday3785 I agree with most of you're interpretation mate,but i think with thw chorus " Promises of payments were upon your shoulders" is him telling his land lord that he can't make the payments but i promise to pay them . and with the "first defense" i think its referring to the land lords incompetence to provide proper accommodation and he is "entertaining" by bull shit stories people like that usually tell to distract from their slack work,
@savestheday3785 I agree with most of you're interpretation mate,but i think with thw chorus " Promises of payments were upon your shoulders" is him telling his land lord that he can't make the payments but i promise to pay them . and with the "first defense" i think its referring to the land lords incompetence to provide proper accommodation and he is "entertaining" by bull shit stories people like that usually tell to distract from their slack work,