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The Postal Service — Such Great Heights
Album: Give Up
Avg rating:
7.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1881









Released: 2003
Length: 4:17
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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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)
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!!
Posted 4 years ago by hugogdt    [ Reply ]
Image result for great height
Posted 4 years ago by jahgirl8    [ Reply ]
 camerashy wrote:
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...

Posted 5 years ago by DaidyBoy    [ Reply ]
 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
Posted 5 years ago by zinzarin    [ Reply ]
Great set this afternoon. Magic Bus (Fight Hunger)!
Posted 5 years ago by randb75307    [ Reply ]
 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

 

Posted 5 years ago by GingerandMe    [ Reply ]
Think of owl city when listening
Posted 5 years ago by t0m5k1    [ Reply ]
They do deliver the goods.
Posted 5 years ago by Rockit9    [ Reply ]
Didn't the 'Pet Shop Boys' do this song in the early 90's?
Posted 6 years ago by camerashy    [ Reply ]
I adore the Iron & Wine cover of this song. The quality of the song transcends the performance, here. 
Posted 8 years ago by Wilfrue    [ Reply ]
talk about LoFi. this is about as low as she goes.
Posted 8 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
That bass is making my living room resonate {#Laughing}
Posted 8 years ago by markybx    [ Reply ]
 stegokitty wrote:
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. 

 

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. 
Posted 9 years ago by AhhtheMusic    [ Reply ]
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. 
Posted 9 years ago by stegokitty    [ Reply ]
 kurtster wrote:
Is someone shuffling on sandpaper ?

 
or scratching on the turntable? {#Cheesygrin}
Posted 10 years ago by ShaunJ    [ Reply ]
What I love mostly about this one: it's positive and doleful at the same time. Iron & Wine emphasize only the melancholy...
Posted 10 years ago by Catecaneverall    [ Reply ]
I like this song but it gets a LOT of airplay on conventional radio. Almost too much.
Posted 10 years ago by dw    [ Reply ]
Tbh I dont like the breathy/close miked singing on the iron and wine version. This version gets a 7/8.
Posted 11 years ago by rtrt    [ Reply ]
this sounds like The Lightning Seeds without genius, or sugar without spice...
Posted 11 years ago by tutakea    [ Reply ]
Great song! I love both versions. 
Posted 11 years ago by Trip_Estes    [ Reply ]
Death Cab for Too Cutie. 
Posted 11 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
great lyrics - Iron & Wine cover is more my style
Posted 12 years ago by ycb661    [ Reply ]
great song on a dancefloor!
Posted 12 years ago by tomvela    [ Reply ]
Is someone shuffling on sandpaper ?
Posted 12 years ago by kurtster    [ Reply ]
{#Bounce} {#Sunny} {#Bounce}
Posted 13 years ago by aquadonia    [ Reply ]
Yuck! What happened to the GOOD friday night songs on RP?!{#Frustrated}

I promise I'll post something nice if they play a good song!
Posted 13 years ago by CasaE    [ Reply ]
 buddy wrote:
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?

Posted 14 years ago by adroc    [ Reply ]
20% of that song is WORLD-CLASS!

The rest,....is not!

Posted 14 years ago by Stingray    [ Reply ]
this is a cool song, I've never heard anyone sample a commercial before
Posted 14 years ago by Delawhere    [ Reply ]
 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.

Posted 14 years ago by ziggytrix    [ Reply ]
 RadioDoc wrote:
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.
 
I disagree with the sentiment, but have to give credit where it's due. You made me laugh. {#Lol}

Posted 14 years ago by ericconrad    [ Reply ]
excellent!!
Posted 14 years ago by simon-hk    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 14 years ago by RadioDoc    [ Reply ]
I love the Iron & Wine version of this. This version made my want to throw my speakers out the window.
Posted 14 years ago by dewhead    [ Reply ]
 buddy wrote:
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?

Posted 15 years ago by RadioDoc    [ Reply ]
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.

Posted 15 years ago by Stave    [ Reply ]
Uh, no thanks. Background sounds like sandpaper on the mic.
Posted 15 years ago by Dahlia_Gumbo    [ Reply ]
 Danimal174 wrote:
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.

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 | The Postal Service - Such Great Heights - EP

Back to Related Bands
Back to Discography

Tracklisting

  1. Such Great Heights
  2. Theres Never Enough Time
  3. We Will Become Silhouettes
  4. 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.



Posted 15 years ago by ziggytrix    [ Reply ]
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.{#Puke}
Posted 15 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 15 years ago by Danimal174    [ Reply ]
 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.
Posted 15 years ago by Danimal174    [ Reply ]
 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.

Posted 15 years ago by Carl    [ Reply ]
Finally just listened to the lyrics...very nice.
Posted 15 years ago by scraig    [ Reply ]
 redstorm wrote:
Does anyone else find it funny/ironic that The Postal Service is used in the UPS/whiteboard TV ad's? {#Ask}
 
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.
Posted 15 years ago by ginger    [ Reply ]
 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.

Posted 15 years ago by RadioDoc    [ Reply ]
 jenakle wrote:
 Shimmer wrote:
Iron & Wine's cover of this song will open your eyes.
 


i concur
I hate this version
 
{#Yes}

Posted 15 years ago by RadioDoc    [ Reply ]
What can brown do for you?
Posted 15 years ago by lovemydog    [ Reply ]
Does anyone else find it funny/ironic that The Postal Service is used in the UPS/whiteboard TV ad's? {#Ask}
Posted 15 years ago by redstorm    [ Reply ]
love all the versions, and I think they all have merit - this is my favorite though!  {#Roflol}
Posted 15 years ago by bindi    [ Reply ]
i am havin great heights
Posted 15 years ago by lambret    [ Reply ]
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!
Posted 15 years ago by rjoslyn    [ Reply ]
 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.

Posted 15 years ago by Shimmer    [ Reply ]
 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.

Posted 15 years ago by Shimmer    [ Reply ]
 Shimmer wrote:
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.

Posted 15 years ago by darrenwwwa    [ Reply ]
 Shimmer wrote:
Iron & Wine's cover of this song will open your eyes.
 




i concur
I hate this version
Posted 15 years ago by jenakle    [ Reply ]
 Shimmer wrote:
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!

Posted 15 years ago by darrenwwwa    [ Reply ]
All of the crappy 80s synthesizer music, but without the hair. I guess there might be something good about this song. {#Sick}
Posted 15 years ago by Mugro    [ Reply ]
Iron & Wine's cover of this song will open your eyes.
Posted 15 years ago by Shimmer    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 15 years ago by keesbriggs    [ Reply ]
 realsleep wrote:


     Indeed—- hence the "postal service"..... get it? get it?

 

{#Eh}     {#Doh}
Posted 15 years ago by trekhead    [ Reply ]
Gives the post office a bad name.
Posted 15 years ago by Papernapkin    [ Reply ]
NO!!!!!

the postal service sucks here too!!! {#Beat}
Posted 15 years ago by xs9095    [ Reply ]
 gutboy wrote:
???
is this why my unemployment check is late?
 

still waiting

Posted 15 years ago by gutboy    [ Reply ]
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?
Posted 15 years ago by oilydwarf    [ Reply ]
One of my favorite songs!!

When are they releasing a new cd...!!

Posted 15 years ago by flapser    [ Reply ]
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?
Posted 16 years ago by faehnledj    [ Reply ]
 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.
Posted 16 years ago by posworld    [ Reply ]
Ironic that UPS chose to use this song in their commericals although it is sung by a group named after their chief competitor.

Posted 16 years ago by wade44    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 16 years ago by mbailey    [ Reply ]
Did you ever wonder why they sound so much like Death Cab? Because this group s Ben Gibbard's side project.
Posted 16 years ago by hippiechick    [ Reply ]
{#Bounce}
Posted 16 years ago by jkhandy    [ Reply ]
{#Propeller}
Posted 16 years ago by spiritual76    [ Reply ]
still loving it
Posted 16 years ago by Nadine    [ Reply ]

Postal Death for Cutie Cab Service

Death Cab for Postal Service

Cutie Cab for Postal Death Service

Death Service for Postal Cutie Cab


Posted 16 years ago by MJMJ    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 16 years ago by teadye    [ Reply ]
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.

Posted 16 years ago by DELTA__9__FOOLS    [ Reply ]
4
Posted 16 years ago by Stingray    [ Reply ]
 bmcgrath wrote:
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?

Posted 16 years ago by realsleep    [ Reply ]
Like this song, except for the buzzy percussion that makes me think a wire is loose on my speakers. Tres irritating.
Posted 16 years ago by LaurieinTucson    [ Reply ]
Seems I heard the beginning of this tune in the UPS commercial.  You know, the one with the guy drawing on the white board...
Posted 16 years ago by bmcgrath    [ Reply ]
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
Posted 16 years ago by Snorfalorpagus    [ Reply ]
 djengs wrote:
I figured this was Death Cab...Surprise!

 

Almost ... lead singer is Ben Gibbard of DCfC.
Posted 16 years ago by rtrudeau    [ Reply ]
I figured this was Death Cab...Surprise!
Posted 16 years ago by djengs    [ Reply ]
9 -> 10 Instant classic (well, I guess not instant enough for me to give it a 10 the first time)
Posted 16 years ago by zarvok    [ Reply ]
the artist and album names cracked us up here as our local post office is a big, hostile, disorganized useless mess!
Posted 16 years ago by Gednabb    [ Reply ]
NICEEE
Posted 16 years ago by oscar_driver    [ Reply ]
The opening sounds like a video game.
Posted 16 years ago by MsJudi    [ Reply ]
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 ...
Posted 16 years ago by gutboy    [ Reply ]
Iron and Wine version is sooo much better
Posted 16 years ago by bhudevi    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 16 years ago by Ag3nt0rang3    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 16 years ago by AMH    [ Reply ]
I really dislike this version
Posted 16 years ago by jenakle    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 16 years ago by realsleep    [ Reply ]
Ugh. Sappy schlock. Make it stop.
Posted 16 years ago by miahfost    [ Reply ]
Darkmatter wrote:
No, but this one is.
pretty cool. Thanks!
Posted 16 years ago by rachlan    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 16 years ago by meloman    [ Reply ]
this is terrible!!! ogkh!
Posted 16 years ago by monemose    [ Reply ]
I hate Hate HaTe HATE HATE it! (Sorry, but that had to get out.)
Posted 16 years ago by nu-GFX    [ Reply ]
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...
Posted 16 years ago by tupicetti    [ Reply ]
fluorophore wrote:
Curious that they chose a Postal Service song.
:) That never even occurred to me.
Posted 16 years ago by zaknafein    [ Reply ]
Darkmatter wrote:
No, but this one is.
That was awesome! I just wish that I could hear the guitar "choir".
Posted 16 years ago by smilestoomuch    [ Reply ]
Yamson wrote:
So what can Brown do for you?
Curious that they chose a Postal Service song.
Posted 16 years ago by fluorophore    [ Reply ]
please do not compare this to depeche mode. they were friggin mozart compared to this
Posted 16 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 16 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 16 years ago by Darkmatter    [ Reply ]
Is the beginning of this used in UPS commercials? The ones with the guy (with Jackson Browne hair) being clever on the whiteboard? Ironic.
Posted 16 years ago by Jack_Jefferson    [ Reply ]
it just makes me happy
Posted 16 years ago by mrrmt    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 16 years ago by IMGoph    [ Reply ]
too much electronic.terrible.
Posted 16 years ago by mefrombrazil    [ Reply ]
??? is this why my unemployment check is late?
Posted 16 years ago by gutboy    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 16 years ago by sub-arctic    [ Reply ]
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?
Posted 16 years ago by FluorideFreeMN    [ Reply ]
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?
Posted 17 years ago by IMGoph    [ Reply ]
This is one of those rare times that a cover version beats the original. Doesn't happen often.
Posted 17 years ago by chasech5    [ Reply ]
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 :)
Posted 17 years ago by greyfin10    [ Reply ]
I often listen to this song while drawing potential shipping routes on a white board.
Posted 17 years ago by steve_san_carlos    [ Reply ]
"and that, frankly, will not fly" classic
Posted 17 years ago by lophrequa    [ Reply ]
Posted 17 years ago by aquadonia    [ Reply ]
Make. It. Stop.
Posted 17 years ago by Odyzzeuz    [ Reply ]
Classic... LOVE these guys.
Posted 17 years ago by kelly652    [ Reply ]