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The Postal Service — The District Sleeps Alone Tonight
Album: Give Up
Avg rating:
6.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1018









Released: 2003
Length: 4:39
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Smeared black ink
Your palms are sweaty
And I'm barely listening
To last demands
I'm staring at the asphalt wondering
What's buried underneath

Where I am

I wear my badge
A vinyl sticker with big block letters
Adhering to my chest
That tells your new friends:
I am a visitor here; I am not permanent
And the only thing
Keeping me dry is

(Where I am)
You seem so out of context
In this gaudy apartment complex
A stranger with your door key
Explaining that I'm just visiting
And I am finally seeing
Why I was the one worth leaving
Why I was the one worth leaving

D.C. sleeps alone tonight

(Where I am)
You seem so out of context
In this gaudy apartment complex
A stranger with your door key
Explaining that I'm just visiting
And I am finally seeing
Why I was the one worth leaving
Why I was the one worth leaving

(Where I am)
The district sleeps alone tonight
After the bars turn out their lights
And send the autos swerving
Into the loneliest evening
And I am finally seeing
Why I was the one worth leaving
Why I was the one worth leaving
Why I was the one worth leaving
Why I was the one worth leaving
Comments (138)add comment
 FerretRob wrote:
zgrav wrote: I'm hearing Ben Folds Five..


Yes, it is Ben Gibbard.
 nicknt wrote:

I dont't think that Al Qaeda really likes The Postal Service and bands like Future Islands.
Maybe YOU are one of them ...


The Killers tho....
 zgrav wrote:

Is that the same male singer from Death Cab for Cutie? Must be, right? with homage to Pre-Fab Sprout as well.



You're not wrong on the first item, I'll leave the second as a matter of opinion. 
 tinypriest wrote:

Only one band per decade allowed to sound like Death Cab For Cutie, ok?


Hey.. pssst...  It's both Ben Gibbard ;--)

 zgrav wrote:
Is that the same male singer from Death Cab for Cutie? Must be, right? with homage to Pre-Fab Sprout as well.
 
I was so hearing Prefab Sprout on the vocals !!
Only one band per decade allowed to sound like Death Cab For Cutie, ok?
 phineas wrote:
veegez wrote:
Synth pop is back, baby!
Proving that the terrorists have already won....
 
I dont't think that Al Qaeda really likes The Postal Service and bands like Future Islands.
Maybe YOU are one of them ...
 rocco1207 wrote:
lee_sf wrote:
Heard the chorus, got interested, said to self "cool song." Then the bland verse lyrics came in and the song went pretty much nowhere. Read through the positive comments, didn't get it. Read through the lyrics looking for redeeming value... STILL didn't get it. That's a lotta work to confirm that it really is an underwhelming tune.
"Clark Gable" off of this record is a better song. These guys have a similar squirmy approach as Death Cab for Cutie.
 

Funny to hear this song, think "cool song," look it up, and see a reply to a comment I made 13 years ago. 
 andrewmi wrote:
OK, I'll give it a bump up since I'm actually in DC... sleeping alone tonight.
 

I am in DC sleeping alone to night
The keyboards sound like the Haunted Mansion music. Welcome foolish mortals.
Those photos of Ben Gibbard (left) and Jimmy Tamborello (right), isn't that the same guy in both photos?
I'm hearing The Notwist. Have a listen to the album Neon Golden (2002).
Not that I think that's an issue by the way, just like it.
I wonder why I hear so much of this album and Death Cab (and Jenny ), but never any Dntel?

I keep meaning to fix that.
This is the uninspiredest song I've heard for weeks. Had they left Auto-Tune alone, it might be at least bearable. No dynamics whatsoever. It's quite astonishing what people can get away with.

And three songs later comes Joan Osborne. What a relief! I guess she saved my brain from meltdown...
Is this the definition of cheezy? 
Bad delivery.
everytime i hear Ben Gibbard sing, the lyrics seem to refer to his marriage with Zooey, even if this is 5 years before hand.
back to the archives please
First play since 2011, cool!

As a DC resident I will not be sleeping alone tonight, although I did a couple days ago when my girlfriend was out of town. I actually rather enjoyed having the whole bed to myself...
wish they'd do a new album!

Still prefer Death Cab for Cutie, but this isn't bad.
I don't think I've heard one song yet by this group that I like.  {#Rolleyes}
 DoctorHooey wrote:
They should take their own advice, as presented in the album title. DCFC I can deal with, and that took me a while. This just screams of bedroom side project in all the bad ways.
 
Update - these guys have grown on me a lot. I hereby rescind my previous snark.
Hit or miss band with me, this is one of songs I like!{#Clap}
 Vollkaracho wrote:
I don't know what all of you have against The Postal Servie. I like it alot.
 
Yeah, I listen to this during the commute.  Nothing wrong with it at all.  Diff'rent strokes, I guess.
I don't know what all of you have against The Postal Servie. I like it alot.
 rdo wrote:

If The Postal Service and Snow Patrol got together in a collaboration, then I think they could actually succeed in boring the world to death.

 
The Postal Patrol

or

Snow Service?

Sounds so much like the Notwist....
May I suggest a 5... and I totally agree with you.
 
Mandible wrote:
I have no idea how to rate this. I like it, but at the same time don't really ever want to listen to it. I'm conflicted.
 


I have no idea how to rate this. I like it, but at the same time don't really ever want to listen to it. I'm conflicted.
 rdo wrote:

If The Postal Service and Snow Patrol got together in a collaboration, then I think they could actually succeed in boring the world to death.


 

I think we would all kill ourselves first...
 pinklife wrote:
 Gregorama wrote:
Did anybody else notice that the new UPS ad on TV features the Postal Service's Such Great Heights?

Must be an inside joke...


Which version of "Such Great Heights" came first, Iron & Wine's or Postal Service's?  I must know...{#Curtain}
 

I think The Postal Service wrote it but Iron & Wine recorded it first. Not sure how that happened, but that's what I heard.

 pinklife wrote:
 Gregorama wrote:
Did anybody else notice that the new UPS ad on TV features the Postal Service's Such Great Heights?

Must be an inside joke...


Which version of "Such Great Heights" came first, Iron & Wine's or Postal Service's?  I must know...{#Curtain}
 
...the Postal Service.

If The Postal Service and Snow Patrol got together in a collaboration, then I think they could actually succeed in boring the world to death.


 jagdriver wrote:
Meh
 

Ahem
Meh
 Gregorama wrote:
Did anybody else notice that the new UPS ad on TV features the Postal Service's Such Great Heights?

Must be an inside joke...


Which version of "Such Great Heights" came first, Iron & Wine's or Postal Service's?  I must know...{#Curtain}
 RadioDoc wrote:
Well, I guess there has to be something at the low end of the quality bell curve.  This is it.
 

What? You need q-tips sir!
Well, I guess there has to be something at the low end of the quality bell curve.  This is it.
 wade44 wrote:
This sounds like the guy from Ben Folds Five. Is it Ben?
 
and a bit of The Flaming Lips as well...{#Good-vibes}
OK, I'll give it a bump up since I'm actually in DC... sleeping alone tonight.
aquadonia wrote:
Nope. it's the guy from Death Cab For Cutie. ;o)

Okay, so this is the reason it sounded like a Death Cab For Cutie {#Drummer}

The title is so attractive, as the cover photo. Nicely done!
jim1964 wrote:
good song from a pretty good album.
that's a fair statement
Stars?
good song from a pretty good album.
wade44 wrote:
This sounds like the guy from Ben Folds Five. Is it Ben?
It's Ben! Ben Gibbard though, not Ben Folds.
wade44 wrote:
This sounds like the guy from Ben Folds Five. Is it Ben?
Nope. it's the guy from Death Cab For Cutie. ;o)
This sounds like the guy from Ben Folds Five. Is it Ben?
rocco1207 wrote:
"Clark Gable" off of this record is a better song. These guys have a similar squirmy approach as Death Cab for Cutie.
maybe cause it's the singer of DCFC.....
lee_sf wrote:
Heard the chorus, got interested, said to self "cool song." Then the bland verse lyrics came in and the song went pretty much nowhere. Read through the positive comments, didn't get it. Read through the lyrics looking for redeeming value... STILL didn't get it. That's a lotta work to confirm that it really is an underwhelming tune.
"Clark Gable" off of this record is a better song. These guys have a similar squirmy approach as Death Cab for Cutie.
Heard the chorus, got interested, said to self "cool song." Then the bland verse lyrics came in and the song went pretty much nowhere. Read through the positive comments, didn't get it. Read through the lyrics looking for redeeming value... STILL didn't get it. That's a lotta work to confirm that it really is an underwhelming tune.
phineas wrote:
Proving that the terrorists have already won....
Oh noes!!! Terrorists with a love for glitch-pop! Inform the authorities! No man, woman or child is safe!
They should take their own advice, as presented in the album title. DCFC I can deal with, and that took me a while. This just screams of bedroom side project in all the bad ways.
Jimmy Tamborello is so great at putting all those sounds together.
Yep, definitely worth leaving...
radiojunkie wrote:
I do not like it. I am not going postal. Return to sender. Does not get my stamp of approval. Not worth any more smart remarks.
Just the right amount. And: The drill n'bass rhythum is annoying.
I like it.
Mindscrape wrote:
I didn't realize that was what the terrorists wanted.
Well, they are masterminds after all....
love this, thank you
phineas wrote:
Proving that the terrorists have already won....
I didn't realize that was what the terrorists wanted.
veegez wrote:
Synth pop is back, baby!
Proving that the terrorists have already won....
Did anybody else notice that the new UPS ad on TV features the Postal Service's Such Great Heights? Must be an inside joke...
mattc296 wrote:
Very surprised that this got rated as Most Excellent by most. I hate to be negative, but that is way overrated in my opinion.
That's why I gave it 3
reallllly forced rhyming
Death Cab for Cutie? Postal Service? Modest Mouse? Who cares, they all sound the same; generic and boring. They're not particularly clever and don't stand out. I don't get the adulation these bands are receiving. Sorry.
As much as I wanted to hate this song on my first listen (because it for some reason reminded me of the cursed 90's song "I Love You Always Forever"), I discovered that I actually liked the song by the time I was done hearing it. Postal Service and Joseph Arthur have that effect on me... Props for including it in the list, RadioParadise!
it's our official song! :)
Cheesey drum track is like fingernails on a chalk board...
Very surprised that this got rated as Most Excellent by most. I hate to be negative, but that is way overrated in my opinion.
froglady wrote:
I like it. thats it.
I like it. thats it.
Jeez, everyone - chill! This is a great song! And The Shins before it were terrific too! So everyone calm down! There are many exclamation points in this post!
my roomie insisted that it was even less than marginal... i tried to press for marginal as the offbeat timing made my hand jerk and hit enter.
Odyzzeuz wrote:
Pure unadulterated agony.
amen
Shimmer wrote:
Someone please help me with the lyrics. They seem to be about Washington, DC, but I can't tell what the point is. Anyone?
My take is this: Its a breakup song:
Smeared black ink. Your palms are sweaty, and I'm barely listening to last demands.
He is making some kind of analogy about how lonely a city (Washington D.C. in this case) is once everyone has gone home:
The District sleeps alone tonight after the bars turn out their lights. (Where I am) And send the autos swerving into the loneliest evening. (Where I am)
And he is acknowledging that he deserves to be dumped:
And I am finally seeing why I was the one worth leaving. why I was the one worth leaving. why I was the one worth leaving. why I was the one worth leaving.
All of this wrapped in a Pop candy shell.
cdcassaw wrote:
I think representing this band with Such Great Heights would be MORE than sufficient for this station...
I'll take all the Ben Gibbard you can dish out.
I think representing this band with Such Great Heights would be MORE than sufficient for this station...
laozilover wrote:
That's odd, I thought it was Sufjan Stevens at first.
Its Death Cab!!!!
Pure unadulterated agony.
FerretRob wrote:
I'm hearing Ben Folds Five..
That's odd, I thought it was Sufjan Stevens at first.
muskrat-toast wrote:
i hear this song and i just have to take a moment and vommit all over the place. horrible!
Thanks for sharing. You misspelled 'vomit'.
i hear this song and i just have to take a moment and vommit all over the place. horrible!
Shimmer wrote:
Someone please help me with the lyrics. They seem to be about Washington, DC, but I can't tell what the point is. Anyone?
"I was the one who's leaving..." ? That's all I got...
Someone please help me with the lyrics. They seem to be about Washington, DC, but I can't tell what the point is. Anyone?
This was the song that got me hooked on Postal Service and it's still my favourite I think.
wondertoofar wrote:
Could there be a less creative name for a band? How boring.
It's called that because the songs were written by postal correspondence between the two members. :P
Could there be a less creative name for a band? How boring.
Total Death Cab soundalike. Could this be the same singer? ***Never mind, finally found the references below. The same guy, indeed.
rosedraws wrote:
Shins... then Postal Service... awesome.
And again, Postal Service after The Shins, great songs!
Sounds like they used a Super NES to record it or the bass fader was turned to 0.
Hell yeah ... Here's your intelligent eclectic rock! Nice play Bill!!!
Shins... then Postal Service... awesome.
a surprisingly wonderful song
Love it, love it, love it. And, I can't say that about a lot of things these days. But, this is one tune that I heard and had to go out and get the CD - which is also worth listening to.
love this song. this band is growing on me. something about the music, the voices, the lyrics are really compelling.
gandalfbmg wrote:
These last three comments nailed it. If you don't like it, you're not listening hard enough to the lyrics. They alone are worth a 6-7.
can you explain the lyrics to me?
Most definitely one of my favorites off Give Up. This tune affects me emotionally whenever I hear it, which is surprising because I've heard it alot. My heart especially sinks every single time it gets to the "DC sleeps alone tonight" part. The paced progression of this song is perfect, in my opinion. A splendid modern pop song worthy of a solid 8.
jbtidwell wrote:
The district sleeps alone tonight after the bars turn out their lights And send the autos swerving into the loneliest evening And I am finally seeing Why I was the one worth leaving whew!
These last three comments nailed it. If you don't like it, you're not listening hard enough to the lyrics. They alone are worth a 6-7.
That drum track is almost sarcastic :) great chorus, I like the backup singing, like it when it picks up, like it in general :) The other stuff on the Cd is pretty good too.
A Ben Folds sensitivity and craftiness of lyrics, pretty and infectious melodies, a diggable groove. So glad RP turned me onto this stuff.
I think the lyrics are really what helped win me over to this album, and I'm not usually a lyrics person. I loved the music already, but the words are so cleverly (but not presumptuously) written - like they were crafted. So excellent, I can't help but give this song a 10.
The district sleeps alone tonight after the bars turn out their lights And send the autos swerving into the loneliest evening And I am finally seeing Why I was the one worth leaving whew!
I rather like this - and it's a very cool video, too...
I do not like it. I am not going postal. Return to sender. Does not get my stamp of approval. Not worth any more smart remarks.
I've heard a lot of hype about this band but this is the first of their songs I've heard. my initial impression: ugh
Not as good as the next song.
I just got the album today I guess I'm kinda late to the party
Stick with it. The drum track gets overtaken by the little jangly guitar line, and the song hits a nice groove. The lyrics and singing are so tender. This song is sublime.
Ironically, the DA does too.
zgrav wrote:
Is that the same male singer from Death Cab for Cutie? Must be, right?
Yup. I wondered the same thing.. From All Music: "Postal Service is an electronica-meets-indie-rock supergroup featuring Jimmy Tamborello of Dntel and Figurine and Death Cab for Cutie's Ben Gibbard."
KevinM wrote:
You can (legally) download this track (FREE) here
Well, no one would pay for this, would they?
rockasaurus wrote:
I once had a drum machine. It was fun. But I didn't make people listen to it.
You can (legally) download this track (FREE) here
zgrav wrote:
Is that the same male singer from Death Cab for Cutie? Must be, right? with homage to Pre-Fab Sprout as well.
I'm hearing Ben Folds Five..
Is that the same male singer from Death Cab for Cutie? Must be, right? with homage to Pre-Fab Sprout as well.
Roverfish wrote:
Careful, this monkey kicks back. And, for the record, when they're not slashing their wrists, DM is back together. Continued, solid stuff from PS.
Kick me monkey!! Can I clean up your poo too?
JokesandJokesandJokes wrote:
Depeche Mode needs to get back together, do better than their last few albums, and kick whiny little monkeys like this in the ass!
Careful, this monkey kicks back. And, for the record, when they're not slashing their wrists, DM is back together. Continued, solid stuff from PS.
Depeche Mode needs to get back together, do better than their last few albums, and kick whiny little monkeys like this in the ass!