The Postal Service — Such Great Heights
Album: Give UpAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 1881
Length: 4:17
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I am thinking it's a sign
That the freckles in our eyes
Are mirror images
And when we kiss they're perfectly aligned
And I have to speculate
That God Himself did make
Us into corresponding shapes
Like puzzle pieces from the clay
And true it may seem like a stretch
But it's thoughts like this that catch
My troubled head when you're away
And when I am missing you to death
And when you are out there on the road
For several weeks of shows
And when you scan the radio
I hope this song will guide you home
They will see us waving from such great heights
"Come down now" they'll say
But everything looks perfect from far away
"Come down now" but we'll stay
I tried my best to leave
This all on your machine
But the persistent beat
It sounded thin upon listening
And that frankly will not fly
You'll hear the shrillest highs
And lowest lows with the windows down
When this is guiding you home
They will see us waving from such great heights
"Come down now" they'll say
But everything looks perfect from far away
"Come down now" but we'll stay
They will see us waving from such great heights
"Come down now" they'll say
But everything looks perfect from far away
"Come down now" but we'll stay
(They will see us waving from such great heights)
(Come down now)
They will see us waving from such great heights
(Come down now)
That the freckles in our eyes
Are mirror images
And when we kiss they're perfectly aligned
And I have to speculate
That God Himself did make
Us into corresponding shapes
Like puzzle pieces from the clay
And true it may seem like a stretch
But it's thoughts like this that catch
My troubled head when you're away
And when I am missing you to death
And when you are out there on the road
For several weeks of shows
And when you scan the radio
I hope this song will guide you home
They will see us waving from such great heights
"Come down now" they'll say
But everything looks perfect from far away
"Come down now" but we'll stay
I tried my best to leave
This all on your machine
But the persistent beat
It sounded thin upon listening
And that frankly will not fly
You'll hear the shrillest highs
And lowest lows with the windows down
When this is guiding you home
They will see us waving from such great heights
"Come down now" they'll say
But everything looks perfect from far away
"Come down now" but we'll stay
They will see us waving from such great heights
"Come down now" they'll say
But everything looks perfect from far away
"Come down now" but we'll stay
(They will see us waving from such great heights)
(Come down now)
They will see us waving from such great heights
(Come down now)
Comments (331)add comment
Love RP, I got this song on a dedicated compilation and always though: "where did she get this fun stuff? Only on RP I heard it again. Thanks for thinking out of the box Bill & Rebeca!!
camerashy wrote:
They do drift uneasily into PSB territory, to their detriment I feel. I enjoy a lot of the DCFC material, but this is weak to my ears. Not reaching any great heights...
Didn't the 'Pet Shop Boys' do this song in the early 90's?
They do drift uneasily into PSB territory, to their detriment I feel. I enjoy a lot of the DCFC material, but this is weak to my ears. Not reaching any great heights...
RadioDoc wrote:
Amusingly, both this and the Iron and Wine version were released at the same time, with I&W being the B side of the Postal Service single. So which is the cover?
Per BMI
Songwriter/Composer:
Gibbard, Benjamin D
Tamborello, James Scott
Amusingly, both this and the Iron and Wine version were released at the same time, with I&W being the B side of the Postal Service single. So which is the cover?
Per BMI
Songwriter/Composer:
Gibbard, Benjamin D
Tamborello, James Scott
Great set this afternoon. Magic Bus (Fight Hunger)!
MJMJ wrote:
Postal Death for Cutie Cab Service
Death Cab for Postal Service
Cutie Cab for Postal Death Service
Death Service for Postal Cutie Cab
Hee Hee. Great song though.
The Whittaker's UK
Postal Death for Cutie Cab Service
Death Cab for Postal Service
Cutie Cab for Postal Death Service
Death Service for Postal Cutie Cab
Hee Hee. Great song though.
The Whittaker's UK
Think of owl city when listening
They do deliver the goods.
Didn't the 'Pet Shop Boys' do this song in the early 90's?
I adore the Iron & Wine cover of this song. The quality of the song transcends the performance, here.
talk about LoFi. this is about as low as she goes.
That bass is making my living room resonate 
stegokitty wrote:
Well, since Ben Gibbard started both the Postal Service (1st) and then Death Cab, it makes sense that they sound like they are relatives, you just have it reversed, Postal Service gave birth to Death.
Pretty good - 6 ... Sounds like Jimmy Eats World and Deathcab For Cutie had a baby, and called it The Postal Service.
Not bad, just not very original-sounding.
Not bad, just not very original-sounding.
Well, since Ben Gibbard started both the Postal Service (1st) and then Death Cab, it makes sense that they sound like they are relatives, you just have it reversed, Postal Service gave birth to Death.
Pretty good - 6 ... Sounds like Jimmy Eats World and Deathcab For Cutie had a baby, and called it The Postal Service.
Not bad, just not very original-sounding.
Not bad, just not very original-sounding.
kurtster wrote:
or scratching on the turntable?
Is someone shuffling on sandpaper ?
or scratching on the turntable?
What I love mostly about this one: it's positive and doleful at the same time. Iron & Wine emphasize only the melancholy...
I like this song but it gets a LOT of airplay on conventional radio. Almost too much.
Tbh I dont like the breathy/close miked singing on the iron and wine version. This version gets a 7/8.
this sounds like The Lightning Seeds without genius, or sugar without spice...
Great song! I love both versions.
Death Cab for Too Cutie.
great lyrics - Iron & Wine cover is more my style
great song on a dancefloor!
Is someone shuffling on sandpaper ?
Yuck! What happened to the GOOD friday night songs on RP?!
I promise I'll post something nice if they play a good song!
I promise I'll post something nice if they play a good song!
buddy wrote:
This one you're commenting on by The Postal Service is the original. Which poor cover are you referring to? I&W?
A really poor cover of a great song.
This one you're commenting on by The Postal Service is the original. Which poor cover are you referring to? I&W?
20% of that song is WORLD-CLASS!
The rest,....is not!
The rest,....is not!
this is a cool song, I've never heard anyone sample a commercial before
RadioDoc wrote:
Amusingly, both this and the Iron and Wine version were released at the same time, with I&W being the B side of the Postal Service single. So which is the cover?
The Iron & Wine version is the cover.
Amusingly, both this and the Iron and Wine version were released at the same time, with I&W being the B side of the Postal Service single. So which is the cover?
The Iron & Wine version is the cover.
RadioDoc wrote:
I disagree with the sentiment, but have to give credit where it's due. You made me laugh.
In some parallel universe, Ben Gibbard actually works for the Postal Service, preferably in a back room somewhere far away from recording equipment.
Right now I wish I lived there.
Right now I wish I lived there.
I disagree with the sentiment, but have to give credit where it's due. You made me laugh.
excellent!!
In some parallel universe, Ben Gibbard actually works for the Postal Service, preferably in a back room somewhere far away from recording equipment.
Right now I wish I lived there.
Right now I wish I lived there.
I love the Iron & Wine version of this. This version made my want to throw my speakers out the window.
buddy wrote:
Amusingly, both this and the Iron and Wine version were released at the same time, with I&W being the B side of the Postal Service single. So which is the cover?
A really poor cover of a great song.
Amusingly, both this and the Iron and Wine version were released at the same time, with I&W being the B side of the Postal Service single. So which is the cover?
No, Kaiser Permanente, I will not buy your crappy insurance!
Oh wait, this isn't a smug commercial. it's an actual song on RP. Well that's not so bad, I guess.
Oh wait, this isn't a smug commercial. it's an actual song on RP. Well that's not so bad, I guess.
Uh, no thanks. Background sounds like sandpaper on the mic.
Danimal174 wrote:
Nitpicky and misinformed. Not a great combo.
Check the album credits. Copied and pasted directly from DCFC's website.
One other comment...there are quite a few comments below about Iron & Wine's "cover" of this song...he (Sam Beam, force behind Iron & Wine) wrote this song, then The Postal Service covered it, so his version isn't a cover...it's the original.
Sorry, just being nitpicky.
Sorry, just being nitpicky.
Nitpicky and misinformed. Not a great combo.
Check the album credits. Copied and pasted directly from DCFC's website.
The Postal Service - Such Great Heights
Sub Pop Records
January 2003
Buy the CD | 
| Tracklisting
- Such Great Heights
- Theres Never Enough Time
- We Will Become Silhouettes
- Such Great Heights - Iron & Wine
Credits
The Postal Service are Jimmy Tamborello and Benjamin Gibbard. All songs written by Jimmy Tamborello and Benjamin Gibbard / Dying Songs (BMI) / Fake Songs (BMI). Songs 1 & 2 recorded and produced by the Postal Service at Dying Songs (L.A.) and Computerworld (Seattle). Guitars on Song 2 recorded by Chris Walla at the Hall of Justice, Spring 2002. Song 3 recorded and produced by James Mercer 12/2002 (Portland, Oregon). Song 4 recorded and produced by Sam Beam 11/2002 (Miami, Florida).
Song 1 from the forthcoming album "Give Up" (sp595).
Art by: Kozyndan.
Whats funny is I used to work for UPS and now I work for NCR supporting the Postal Service. Oh yea, Iron and Wine good; postal service remake bad.
One other comment...there are quite a few comments below about Iron & Wine's "cover" of this song...he (Sam Beam, force behind Iron & Wine) wrote this song, then The Postal Service covered it, so his version isn't a cover...it's the original.
Sorry, just being nitpicky.
Sorry, just being nitpicky.
ginger wrote:
Yeah, I had thought about that too. And I know we need one more person to weigh in on this like we need a collective hole in the head, but I give this version a 2 and Iron and Wine's a 9.
I agree completely. Love the I&W version, and could definitely do without this one. The little guitar "solo" (not much of a solo, but, still) is pretty cool, but that's about it for this version, for me.
Yeah, I had thought about that too. And I know we need one more person to weigh in on this like we need a collective hole in the head, but I give this version a 2 and Iron and Wine's a 9.
I agree completely. Love the I&W version, and could definitely do without this one. The little guitar "solo" (not much of a solo, but, still) is pretty cool, but that's about it for this version, for me.
ginger wrote:
Yeah, I had thought about that too. And I know we need one more person to weigh in on this like we need a collective hole in the head, but I give this version a 2 and Iron and Wine's a 9.
Just listened to each of them and they're like two different songs! I like them both.
Yeah, I had thought about that too. And I know we need one more person to weigh in on this like we need a collective hole in the head, but I give this version a 2 and Iron and Wine's a 9.
Just listened to each of them and they're like two different songs! I like them both.
Finally just listened to the lyrics...very nice.
redstorm wrote:
Yeah, I had thought about that too. And I know we need one more person to weigh in on this like we need a collective hole in the head, but I give this version a 2 and Iron and Wine's a 9.
Does anyone else find it funny/ironic that The Postal Service is used in the UPS/whiteboard TV ad's? 
Yeah, I had thought about that too. And I know we need one more person to weigh in on this like we need a collective hole in the head, but I give this version a 2 and Iron and Wine's a 9.
MJMJ wrote:
Postal Death for Cutie Cab Service
Death Cab for Postal Service
Cutie Cab for Postal Death Service
Death Service for Postal Cutie Cab
All of the above. Stick them in a brown box, load them in a brown truck and take them far away from here.
Postal Death for Cutie Cab Service
Death Cab for Postal Service
Cutie Cab for Postal Death Service
Death Service for Postal Cutie Cab
All of the above. Stick them in a brown box, load them in a brown truck and take them far away from here.
jenakle wrote:
Shimmer wrote:
i concur
I hate this version
Iron & Wine's cover of this song will open your eyes.
i concur
I hate this version
What can brown do for you?
Does anyone else find it funny/ironic that The Postal Service is used in the UPS/whiteboard TV ad's?
love all the versions, and I think they all have merit - this is my favorite though! 
i am havin great heights
i don't think i could choose between the postal service and iron & wine on this one...they're both great. depends on your mood.
james mercer of the shins also plays some supreme postal service covers. not sure where i got my hands on the recording, but it's one of my favorites!
james mercer of the shins also plays some supreme postal service covers. not sure where i got my hands on the recording, but it's one of my favorites!
darrenwwwa wrote:
Their cover of this song is even better than this? Wow. I must hear that!
Play it without expectations and I think you'll be impressed. You have to forget you've ever heard this version first.
Their cover of this song is even better than this? Wow. I must hear that!
Play it without expectations and I think you'll be impressed. You have to forget you've ever heard this version first.
darrenwwwa wrote:
It is a good cover, but becuase it is so slow it looses the happy energy that the Postal Service's version has.
Both are good, but I prefer the original.
But the slow tempo fit the words and music better. Much like Gary Jules' version of Mad World. They should've saved that happy energy for a different song.
It is a good cover, but becuase it is so slow it looses the happy energy that the Postal Service's version has.
Both are good, but I prefer the original.
But the slow tempo fit the words and music better. Much like Gary Jules' version of Mad World. They should've saved that happy energy for a different song.
Shimmer wrote:
It is a good cover, but becuase it is so slow it looses the happy energy that the Postal Service's version has.
Both are good, but I prefer the original.
Iron & Wine's cover of this song will open your eyes.
It is a good cover, but becuase it is so slow it looses the happy energy that the Postal Service's version has.
Both are good, but I prefer the original.
Shimmer wrote:
i concur
I hate this version
Iron & Wine's cover of this song will open your eyes.
i concur
I hate this version
Shimmer wrote:
Their cover of this song is even better than this? Wow. I must hear that!
Iron & Wine's cover of this song will open your eyes.
Their cover of this song is even better than this? Wow. I must hear that!
All of the crappy 80s synthesizer music, but without the hair. I guess there might be something good about this song. 
Iron & Wine's cover of this song will open your eyes.
This song makes me, a perfectly secure and contented person, want to slit my wrists. Soulless garbage crapped out of a 1/4" keyboard jack.
realsleep wrote:
Indeed—- hence the "postal service"..... get it? get it?
Indeed—- hence the "postal service"..... get it? get it?
Gives the post office a bad name.
NO!!!!!
the postal service sucks here too!!!
the postal service sucks here too!!!
gutboy wrote:
still waiting
???
is this why my unemployment check is late?
is this why my unemployment check is late?
still waiting
First heard this on a 'Virgin Recommends 10' compilation CD apparently put together by Virgin employees for their favourite new bands. It had some great bands of which this was one. Anyone know if Virgin still do the compilations?
One of my favorite songs!!
When are they releasing a new cd...!!
When are they releasing a new cd...!!
I would play this song in the car LOUD when it first came out. At the end my daughter (I think three at the time) would say "Again Daddy!" So I would have to repeat the track. Ahh, memories. I wonder if in 20 years she'll hear this song on the oldies station and go back to that time, as I do with songs my parents played on road trips?
MJMJ wrote:
Postal Death for Cutie Cab Service
Death Cab for Postal Service
Cutie Cab for Postal Death Service
Death Service for Postal Cutie Cab
Love it.
Postal Death for Cutie Cab Service
Death Cab for Postal Service
Cutie Cab for Postal Death Service
Death Service for Postal Cutie Cab
Love it.
Ironic that UPS chose to use this song in their commericals although it is sung by a group named after their chief competitor.
A cooler hipper college-age friend of mine described Postal Service in this way: They're Death Cab with computer beeps and drum machines. Not bad, I think. Though even that may be more difference than what I can hear.
Did you ever wonder why they sound so much like Death Cab? Because this group s Ben Gibbard's side project.
still loving it
Postal Death for Cutie Cab Service
Death Cab for Postal Service
Cutie Cab for Postal Death Service
Death Service for Postal Cutie Cab
Reminds me of Jello Pudding Cups, Precious Moments collectibles and smiley faces. The fuzzy bass does nothing to add texture or interest, just sounds incongruous. Bleh. Featureless and boring.
Just as over rated as Death Cab For Cutie. It makes me glad I don't have to deal with everyone jocking them anymore as was the case during high school.
4
bmcgrath wrote:
Indeed—- hence the "postal service"..... get it? get it?
Seems I heard the beginning of this tune in the UPS commercial. You know, the one with the guy drawing on the white board...
Indeed—- hence the "postal service"..... get it? get it?
Like this song, except for the buzzy percussion that makes me think a wire is loose on my speakers. Tres irritating.
Seems I heard the beginning of this tune in the UPS commercial. You know, the one with the guy drawing on the white board...
I hope for a second album, however increasingly unlikely it seems.
I came across this the other day. It made me smile enough to post it here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgzP_ZqHVns
djengs wrote:
Almost ... lead singer is Ben Gibbard of DCfC.
I figured this was Death Cab...Surprise!
Almost ... lead singer is Ben Gibbard of DCfC.
I figured this was Death Cab...Surprise!
9 -> 10
Instant classic
(well, I guess not instant enough for me to give it a 10 the first time)
the artist and album names cracked us up here as our local post office is a big, hostile, disorganized useless mess! 
NICEEE
The opening sounds like a video game.
Nice lead guitar. Lifted straight from "My First Guitar Book"
I half expect the keyboard player to break into "From a Wigwam"
bum bum bum bum bum bum bum bum bum bum bum bum bum ...
Iron and Wine version is sooo much better
Bah, I think this is a great song. Bought the album, it's great too. No excuses, no apologies, and clearly I'm not the only one.
realsleep wrote:
I understand why people don't like this song, but I really really like it despite myself. I didn't want to like it. I tried to hate it.
But I like it.... I must admit it.
Thank you for writing that. It broke the streak of negative comments.
I really dislike this version
I understand why people don't like this song, but I really really like it despite myself. I didn't want to like it. I tried to hate it.
But I like it.... I must admit it.
Ugh. Sappy schlock. Make it stop.
Darkmatter wrote:
Thanks!
No, but this one is. 
pretty cool. Thanks!
A year and a half later and this junk is still in rotation? Has the dearth of good music reached such a critically low level that we must be subjected to this schlock? And that rating of 7.2?? This is like Bush's 2004 win in Ohio; someone's hacked into the computer that counts the votes, I swear to god.
this is terrible!!! ogkh!
I hate Hate HaTe HATE HATE it!
(Sorry, but that had to get out.)
thewiseking wrote:
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh
its teletubbies time
i'm tellin you. put an 8 year old in front of the mac and let em play with garage band. they will create better stuff than this within a day or two.
Jack_Jefferson wrote:Is the beginning of this used in UPS commercials? The ones with the guy (with Jackson Browne hair) being clever on the whiteboard?
Ironic.
It's been used in a Kaiser Permanente ad some years ago, I guess these dudes are making some good money, hu?. Certainly it is ironic as many of the fellow RP listeners think this is a very light and bad tune; so, put your kids (from toddlers to teens) in front of your macs to play with garage band, who knows it may turn that they make you millionaires...
fluorophore wrote:
Curious that they chose a Postal Service song.
:) That never even occurred to me.
Darkmatter wrote:
No, but this one is.
That was awesome! I just wish that I could hear the guitar "choir".
Yamson wrote:
So what can Brown do for you?
Curious that they chose a Postal Service song.
please do not compare this to depeche mode.
they were friggin mozart compared to this
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh
its teletubbies time
i'm tellin you. put an 8 year old in front of the mac and let em play with garage band. they will create better stuff than this within a day or two.
IMGoph wrote:
this isn't a cover version. or do you mean that the iron and wine version is better?
No, but this one is.
Is the beginning of this used in UPS commercials? The ones with the guy (with Jackson Browne hair) being clever on the whiteboard?
Ironic.
it just makes me happy
FluorideFreeMN wrote:
huh? This is a cover?
no, the iron and wine version of this is a cover. the postal service version is the original.
too much electronic.terrible.
???
is this why my unemployment check is late?
chasech5 wrote:
This is one of those rare times that a cover version beats the original.
IMGoph wrote:this isn't a cover version. or do you mean that the iron and wine version is better?
Well, if chasech5 means that he's right. The Iron & Wine version is way better.
IMGoph wrote:
this isn't a cover version. or do you mean that the iron and wine version is better?
huh? This is a cover?
chasech5 wrote:
This is one of those rare times that a cover version beats the original. Doesn't happen often.
this isn't a cover version. or do you mean that the iron and wine version is better?
This is one of those rare times that a cover version beats the original. Doesn't happen often.
Nothing specific to pick a bone with here other than the realization that every opinion is so unique. I would have never expected this quote for this song. Color me surprised.
Odyzzeuz wrote:
Make. It. Stop.
For myself... I really really like this. I do :)
Edit: Looking further down it becomes even more interesting... lots of pros and lots of cons. And its not like this is Neil Young or something :)
I often listen to this song while drawing potential shipping routes on a white board.
"and that, frankly, will not fly"
classic
Make. It. Stop.
Classic... LOVE these guys.