Nothing Better by The Postal Service

Album: Give Up (2003)

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Songfacts®:

This song takes the form of a duet between The Postal Service frontwood Ben Gibbard and the singer Jen Wood, who were dating at the time. In the song, he's desperately trying to keep her from leaving him, telling her there could be nothing better than "making you my bride and slowly growing old together." She feels quite differently:

I've prepared a lecture on why I have to leave
So please, back away and let me go

Although they were a real-life couple, the story in the song is embellished. "The idea just kind of crossed my mind of like, Well, you know, Jen and I are dating and we enjoy playing music together, so why don't I write this as a duet and then Jen can sing it," Gibbard told Life Of The Record. "She can sing the retort."
The song was inspired by the 1981 Human League song "Don't You Want Me," a classic he-said, she-said duet that Gibbard loves.
The Postal Service lasted just one album, but they did reunite to tour from time to time. That album, Give Up, includes another song Jen Wood sang on, "Such Great Heights," but most of the female vocals on the album are by Jenny Lewis.
There's not much crossover between Postal Service fans and hockey fans, but hockey types will notice the flaw in these lines:

And I will block the door like a goalie tending the net
In the third quarter of a tied game

You see, hockey doesn't have quarters, they have periods. Gibbard chalks it up to "artistic license."

Comments: 13

Mark from Firecracker, NdKaryn from Canada. I agree with you BUT.... time will tell if they do get back together.
Holden from Salt Lake City, UtThe District Sleeps Alone Tonight is about Gibbard's girlfriend moving to DC.
Jojo from San Jose, CaAnyone else notice how he says in the first verse "like a goalie tending the net in the third quarter". What sport is he talking about?

It seems like he's making a hockey reference, but hockey games have 3 period, not quarters. Soccer has halves, not quarters.

It could be lacrosse, or just a mistake...I mean how many songs have lacrosse references?
Vince from Salisbury, Md"The District sleeps alone tonight" is a reference to Washington, D.C. (District of Columbia) where one of the band members lives. The other lives in Seattle, and they mail tracks back and forth, hence the band's name...
Niri from Chicago, IlI'd like to know more about district sleeps alone tonight I assume it's a bout a car crash based on the first line. But I don't know if it's true and I want to know more anyone like to post the song and start the info? please? Ilove the postal service but just now I found out this guy went on to DCFC! I didn'y know that thanks good to know! where did the female vocalist go?
Josh from Woodlawn, IlYeah, that's Jenny Lewis. There have been rumor of her involvement with both Postal Service memebers.
Marissa from Simsbury, Ctthe woman on the song is jenny lewis. as folks said she's in rilo kiley and also jenny lewis with the watson twins.
Jort from Borgloon, BelgiumThe girl singing is Jen Wood.
She had soms good songs, check her out...
Jerry from Palm Harbor, FlThe girl who sings w/ the Deathcab guy (on a number of the tracks) is the lead singer for Rilo Kiley
Tom from Harrogate, Englandi don't know who i perfer the postal service or death cab for a cutie but i suggest that you listen to them both cause there both great
Megan from Columbus, OhI love this song. Did you guys know the lead singer of the postal service is also the lead singer of deathcab for cutie?
Tom from Harrogate, Englandi think that the girl seems to be quite depressed about the whole ordeal and thinks that i't would be better for them both to just split up and try to get on with there lives.
Karyn from Canadai love this song .
i feel bad for the guy , i really think he loves her and wants her back . and i think the girl should reconsider her decision and go back out with him . my best friend thinks the other way, she thinks that the girl must have a good reason to leave him and that she should leave . we always argue haha

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