Teardrop Windows

Album: Former Lives (2012)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Washington state native Ben Gibbard pays tribute to Seattle's Smith Tower skyscraper on this track. "Ivory white but feeling kinda blue," he sings. "Because there's no one there to see the view. In 1962, the Needle made its big debut. And everybody forgot what it outgrew." The Smith Tower was the tallest building on the West Coast until 1962 when the Space Needle usurped it.
  • The song was released as the first single from Gibbard's debut solo album, Former Lives. The Death Cab For Cutie frontman told NME: "These songs span eight years, three relationships, living in two different places, drinking then not drinking. They're a side story, not a new chapter."
  • Speaking with The Guardian, Gibbard explained: "The song personifies the tower as this once great thing, crying metaphorically, and literally, because there are actual teardrop-shaped windows at the very top."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino EditionMusic Quiz

Whether he's splitting ears or burning Nazis, Quentin Tarantino uses memorable music in his films. See if you can match the song to the scene.

Gene Simmons of Kiss

Gene Simmons of KissSongwriter Interviews

The Kiss rocker covers a lot of ground in this interview, including why there are no Kiss collaborations, and why the Rock Hall has "become a sham."

Ian Gillan of Deep Purple

Ian Gillan of Deep PurpleSongwriter Interviews

Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan explains the "few red lights" in "Smoke On The Water" and talks about songs from their 2020 album Whoosh!

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"They're Playing My Song

The Prince-penned "Manic Monday" was the first song The Bangles heard coming from a car radio, but "Eternal Flame" is closest to Susanna's heart, perhaps because she sang it in "various states of undress."

U2

U2Fact or Fiction

How did The Edge get his name? Did they name a song after a Tolkien book? And who is "Angel of Harlem" about?

Art Alexakis of Everclear

Art Alexakis of EverclearSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer of Everclear, Art is also their primary songwriter.