Album: Narrow Stairs (2008)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Frontman Ben Gibbard discussed this track with VH1 News: "I wanted to create this character that's going through the motions, not really sure of why they're necessarily doing it because it's just the thing that they have to do at this point and it's expected that they're going to be doing this. It's not necessarily a story about any particular person in my life; it's as much an amalgam of a lot of different elements of how we move forward with our lives and what's expected of us and how we transition into those places."
  • This takes inspiration from the classic novel Wuthering Heights (1847) by Emily Bronte. "Cath" is Catherine Earnshaw, who marries Edgar, a "well-intentioned" man of prominent social status despite being in love with the lower-class ruffian Heathcliff. The music video, directed by Autumn de Wilde, is set during the wedding ceremony, with Beth Riesgraf playing Cath, the bride, and Lukas Haas playing the unwanted guest, Heathcliff.
  • This peaked at #10 on the Modern Rock chart.
  • This was used in the MTV reality series The Hills in the 2008 episode "Boys Make Girls Cry."

Comments: 3

  • Ian from Ragama, Sri Lanka (ceylon)Even the video to this one shows a girl in an alter waiting for the groom..
  • Alex from Pompton Plains, Njthis is my favorite song on narrow stairs. ben's lyrics on this one really hit home especially the line, "and your heart what dying fast and you didn't know what to do" brilliant. this is a truly amazing song.
  • Loren from Duluth, MnWhen I heard this song it made me think of a woman who hurried thru her love life because she thought if she got much older it would be to late. Especially with the lyrics:

    "Cath, it seems that you live in someone else's dream
    In a hand-me-down wedding dress
    Where the things that could have been all repressed
    But you said your vows, and you closed the door
    On so many men who would have loved you more"
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Hawksley Workman

Hawksley WorkmanSongwriter Interviews

One of Canada's most popular and eclectic performers, Hawksley tells stories about his oldest songs, his plentiful side projects, and the ways that he keeps his songwriting fresh.

Graham Nash

Graham NashSongwriter Interviews

Graham Nash tells the stories behind some of his famous songs and photos, and is asked about "yacht rock" for the first time.

Colbie Caillat

Colbie CaillatSongwriter Interviews

Since emerging from MySpace with her hit "Bubbly," Colbie has become a top songwriter, even crafting a hit with Taylor Swift.

Harold Brown of War

Harold Brown of WarSongwriter Interviews

A founding member of the band War, Harold gives a first-person account of one of the most important periods in music history.

Richard Marx

Richard MarxSongwriter Interviews

Richard explains how Joe Walsh kickstarted his career, and why he chose Hazard, Nebraska for a hit.

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie Combination

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie CombinationSong Writing

In 1986, a Stephen King novella was made into a movie, with a classic song serving as title, soundtrack and tone.