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Darlingside — The Catbird Seat
Album: Pilot Machines
Avg rating:
7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1524









Released: 2010
Length: 4:35
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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Here I am now
It took some time to come around
Sometimes I think it took me down
Sometimes I think

In the catbird seat
The only trees were on my street
The only step was at my door
Into a city I stood for

Here I have been
This view with a room and a stupid grin
Not fit to choose which shoes to fit in
Not fit to choose

Here I have found
That you can sink on solid ground
And words like that don't make a sound
When something looks sturdy

In the catbird seat
The only shoes were on my feet
In them I walked Mass Avenue
Street-wise and see-through

*By you I swore
By the light or the way you wore it
Now instead I swear I'm over it

In the catbird's seat
The only dreams were in my sleep
And all the things I ever owned
Were in boxes I borrowed
Comments (77)add comment
beautiful song…
Posted 1 year ago by tm    [ Reply ]
Despite my “7” rating, this is a very addition to the rotation.
Posted 1 year ago by pbouchar    [ Reply ]
Had just looked up Nashville's Catbird Seat today! - where I had my anniversary dinner back in 2017 
Posted 1 year ago by NinthGate    [ Reply ]
The Catbird Seat sounds lonely.
Posted 2 years ago by itsme_bygolly    [ Reply ]
This band is the definition of outstanding!

Saw them live in a small, very humble venue in Ann Arbor, MI a few years ago and — while I was familiar with their music — hearing/seeing it performed live was Breathtaking!!

Got a chance to chat them up after the show—they were gracious and kind gentlemen. 
Their harmonies , arrangements, and performance are tight. Don’t pass up a chance to see them live! Trust me.

oh!! — and it’s only fair to say:

THANKS TO RP FOR INTRODUCING ME TO DARLINGSIDE!!

Posted 2 years ago by Roguewarer    [ Reply ]
Good album name. I did. 
Posted 2 years ago by mach-hog    [ Reply ]
m_logie wrote:
Enjoying the ambigram on the album cover

 cc_rider wrote:

Learned something new today. Cool.
c.

me too, this is my word for the day 1/26/22
Posted 2 years ago by eyke    [ Reply ]
 scrubbrush wrote:

Beautiful song. Instant 10 for me.

they are an inetersting group of guys... wat6ch this performance if you like the song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUkJ6bdrEeA

 



Their 'Tiny Desk' is pretty great too...  NPR Tiny Desk - Darlingside
Posted 2 years ago by ramsay    [ Reply ]
Here's to you, Red Barber. 
Posted 2 years ago by Grammarcop    [ Reply ]
thanks for playing Darlingside, one of my favourite bands, yay
Posted 3 years ago by cloudymcloudface    [ Reply ]
 Jamus wrote:

It does make me smile - reminds me of my Russian Blue he-cat, smokey. 
 
Look after the king of R n R please 
Posted 3 years ago by 69Grace_M    [ Reply ]
everytime I here this I have to raise my rating. some of the best vocal harmonies going back to 60s. yes, I'm an guy.
Posted 3 years ago by jimtyrrell    [ Reply ]
Really a gorgeous song.
Posted 3 years ago by tinypriest    [ Reply ]
 Ghiaap wrote:
 Stephen_Phillips wrote:
Silly I know but I hope this makes you smile...

Catbird
 
 
Love it!

 
It does make me smile - reminds me of my Russian Blue he-cat, smokey. 
Posted 4 years ago by Jamus    [ Reply ]
Another RP moment!
Never heard of this band, hearing Death Cab for Cutie and Badly Drawn Boy ...LOVE IT Thanks RP/Bill_G
Posted 4 years ago by t0m5k1    [ Reply ]
Speaks volumes ... 🙏
Posted 4 years ago by Matt_Maurer    [ Reply ]
Always such a lovely combo of instruments and voices. And I'm a harsh critic of the "all that and the kitchen sink too" kinda bands. Haven't ever really recovered from Peter Buck mauling some mandolin. But that was a long time ago. In a galaxy far far away. 
Posted 4 years ago by Grayson    [ Reply ]
Was lucky to be in the same town where they were playing. Stopped in for a look and was blown away. Excellent live show and very family friendly. 
Posted 4 years ago by gatorade    [ Reply ]
 Stephen_Phillips wrote:
Silly I know but I hope this makes you smile...

Catbird
 
 
Love it!

Posted 4 years ago by Ghiaap    [ Reply ]
 m_logie wrote:
Enjoying the ambigram on the album cover
 
Learned something new today. Cool.
c.
Posted 4 years ago by cc_rider    [ Reply ]
Cool note from an interview on a Williams College site:

Where does the name Darlingside come from?

DS: It’s an adaptation of the phrase “kill your darlings,” a proverb in the literary community which refers to the process of allowing your work to evolve through a willingness to edit out even your favorite bits. Our songwriting teacher at Williams, Bernice Lewis, used to say it often, and “Darlingside” became a friendly play on the “-cide” suffix in words like “homicide” or “fratricide.”

Holyoke MA-born myself, although 40+ years since I lived there; still plenty of relatives in the area.
Posted 4 years ago by Solanus    [ Reply ]
 m_logie wrote:
Enjoying the ambigram on the album cover
 
I remember Angel album covers having their name as an ambigram. I might have drawn a copy to impress a girl named Angel. 

Posted 5 years ago by 2MD4J1F    [ Reply ]
 Proclivities wrote:

I think the second bowed instrument is a cello. It does sound cool though; nice arrangement and production all around; good guitar sound. The typography for their logo/band name on the album cover is pretty cool; it would read the same if it were turned 180 degrees.  I believe it's called an "ambigram".
 
strings
Posted 5 years ago by RabbitEars    [ Reply ]
Enjoying the ambigram on the album cover
Posted 5 years ago by m_logie    [ Reply ]
I like Darlingside.
Posted 5 years ago by mrtuba9    [ Reply ]
 Proclivities wrote:

I think the second bowed instrument is a cello. It does sound cool though; nice arrangement and production all around; good guitar sound. The typography for their logo/band name on the album cover is pretty cool; it would read the same if it were turned 180 degrees.  I believe it's called an "ambigram".
 
I would guess viola. 
Posted 5 years ago by NeuroGeek    [ Reply ]
 Stephen_Phillips wrote:
Silly I know but I hope this makes you smile...

Catbird
 
 

Nice, tasty too ... yum yum
Posted 5 years ago by arserocket    [ Reply ]
 Stephen_Phillips wrote:
Silly I know but I hope this makes you smile...

Catbird
 
 

My favorite bird. (The song in May & June is endlessly fascinating.)

Now with more favorite. thanks.

Posted 5 years ago by MassivRuss    [ Reply ]
Their harmonies are in the Crosby Stills Nash category. I love this band. Great live shows.
Posted 6 years ago by jimtyrrell    [ Reply ]
 Stephen_Phillips wrote:
Silly I know but I hope this makes you smile...

Catbird
 
 
It did. Funny, but also quite talented and kind of arresting and a bit weird, too. Definitely captured my attention. 
Posted 6 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
2010? Didn't realize they'd been around that long.
Nice stuff.
Posted 6 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
Silly I know but I hope this makes you smile...

Catbird
 
Posted 6 years ago by Stephen_Phillips    [ Reply ]
Kind of Death Cab for Cutie-ish.  I like it. {#Music}
Posted 6 years ago by skooba    [ Reply ]
 unclehud wrote:
Nice double-tracked (or dueling) violins.

 
I think the second bowed instrument is a cello. It does sound cool though; nice arrangement and production all around; good guitar sound. The typography for their logo/band name on the album cover is pretty cool; it would read the same if it were turned 180 degrees.  I believe it's called an "ambigram".
Posted 7 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
Sounds like your new Imagine dragons or One republic.
Posted 7 years ago by alcolp96277    [ Reply ]
Love the harmonizing!
Posted 7 years ago by the_jake    [ Reply ]
My Darling boys!  I *love* them!
Posted 8 years ago by Travelfan160    [ Reply ]
Does anyone recall the name of that beautiful lake photo with the red sand hill along the far bank?
Posted 8 years ago by Steve2016    [ Reply ]
Good song. Plus they're from Northampton, Massachusetts! Great place to be born!
Posted 8 years ago by JasonfromFrance    [ Reply ]
I saw these guys open for Patty Griffin the other night, the crowd gave them a standing ovation
Posted 9 years ago by jim1964    [ Reply ]
I seriously think that this might be one of my favorite songs of all times. It just hits all the right spots.
Posted 9 years ago by scrubbrush    [ Reply ]
 robertheston wrote:
I thought is was Snow Patrol for a minute there....

 
Me too.
Posted 10 years ago by Stephenater    [ Reply ]

 

Viola sounds nice...

And I agree with guy from Germany....

It's nice down here by beaches in North Florida as well...

RP fits very well in a calm balanced day or evening


Posted 10 years ago by AndyJ    [ Reply ]
What a nice set for a summer everning here in Europe!
Posted 10 years ago by helgigermany    [ Reply ]
I thought is was Snow Patrol for a minute there....
Posted 10 years ago by robertheston    [ Reply ]
Beautiful song. Instant 10 for me.

they are an inetersting group of guys... wat6ch this performance if you like the song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUkJ6bdrEeA

 
Posted 10 years ago by scrubbrush    [ Reply ]
Another great young band embracing a beautiful acoustic sound.
Posted 10 years ago by jhorton    [ Reply ]
{#Bananapiano}
Posted 10 years ago by Peter_Bradshaw    [ Reply ]
The strings seem very Ra Ra Riot-ish.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asY08yquddo
Posted 10 years ago by more-more-more    [ Reply ]
yes good stuff
Posted 10 years ago by Giselle62    [ Reply ]
Possibly  my favorite "new" song in the past year (new to me... made in 2010? i need to hear more from these guys). I YouTubed a video of them performing at some radio station. Great to watch how they incorporate the strings.
Posted 10 years ago by scrubbrush    [ Reply ]
Liking the ambigram on their album cover.
Also, liking the music. 
Posted 11 years ago by m_logie    [ Reply ]

Everybody in my mushrooming multitude of churches be tearing up the pea patch...  we be sitting in the catbird seat...  love this song...
 
Posted 11 years ago by Lazarus    [ Reply ]
{#Yes}
Posted 11 years ago by rdo    [ Reply ]
 docuplate wrote:
The 'catbird' seat is kinda like the best seat in the house, sorta like where you'll be 'sitting pretty'.  Thus named because the gray catbird (one of my favorite North American migratory songbirds) has a habit of sitting high up in a thicket on a summer day making its meow-like calls....  This thought and this beautiful song by Darlingside make me smile big.

 
Thanks Doc!  (I mean docuplate!)  I love strolling thru the comments for fabulous info such as this, you are providing a lazy fella like me with brilliant little nature-doc nuggets 
Posted 11 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
Love the violin on this!
Posted 11 years ago by handyrae    [ Reply ]
 unclehud wrote:
Nice double-tracked (or dueling) violins.

 
i agree. i like this more every time i hear it.
Posted 11 years ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
 RedGuitar wrote:

Wait for it.  RP plays all kinds of music, not just rock.  But rock they will.

  Ok now son hurry along unless you are late for school, have a nice day... Cass.John, Michelle & Denny


Posted 11 years ago by Toke    [ Reply ]
 Stingray wrote:

I switched to RP about 2 hours ago. What I heard so far: whiners, girls and slowcoachers!

Nothing with drive, nothing with esprit and certainly no rock!

RP feeding on Mom and Paps!



 
Wait for it.  RP plays all kinds of music, not just rock.  But rock they will.
Posted 11 years ago by RedGuitar    [ Reply ]
Nice double-tracked (or dueling) violins.
Posted 11 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]


The famous short story by James Thurber called "The Catbird Seat" is about a dude who pretends to be something that he is not...

we be dancing...  love it...
 
Posted 11 years ago by Lazarus    [ Reply ]
Love love love these guys!  If you're ever in Massachusetts and they're playing, I highly recommend attending.
Posted 11 years ago by Travelfan160    [ Reply ]

I switched to RP about 2 hours ago. What I heard so far: whiners, girls and slowcoachers!

Nothing with drive, nothing with esprit and certainly no rock!

RP feeding on Mom and Paps!


Posted 11 years ago by Stingray    [ Reply ]

..."sitting in the catbird seat" means sitting pretty, like a batter with three balls and no strikes on him...

this song is cool... dig it...


Posted 11 years ago by Lazarus    [ Reply ]
 jimys wrote:
I don't know what a catbird is or what they sit in, but I know what a violin is and this one is very nice.
 

Posted 11 years ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
Gotta love those bands from Northampton, MA....Darlingside, Winterpills, Paul Rocha, and on and on...........
Posted 11 years ago by dcal6666    [ Reply ]
I don't know what a catbird is or what they sit in, but I know what a violin is and this one is very nice.
Posted 11 years ago by jimys    [ Reply ]
 fuzzy wrote:
Sounds like Jars of Clay.
 

I guess i better check out Jars of Clay too, 'cause this is fantatstic.
Posted 12 years ago by scrubbrush    [ Reply ]
Me diggy dat!
Posted 12 years ago by meinthecorner    [ Reply ]
Very nice!
Posted 12 years ago by vanmas    [ Reply ]
Wow!  I just heard these guys at a house concert last weekend.  Thanks for showcasing them Bill!  Well done!
Posted 12 years ago by Travelfan160    [ Reply ]
"Darlingside traces its diverse sound to an eclectic array of musical origins: Harris picked up the cello at age six, and appeared twice on NPR with his classical piano trio. Auyon spent a year-long travel fellowship studying the traditional music and instruments of Brazil, Turkey and Ireland. Don toured nationally as a boy alto, and later worked as a singer-songwriter on sunset boat cruises in Maine. Dave began singing and arranging music in college, then spent two years learning guitar as a street musician in Boston and abroad. Sam took up drums at the age of seven and developed an intricate style that draws on his rock, celtic, and jazz backgrounds. Together, the five close friends are a powerhouse of vocal, instrumental, songwriting and performing talent." - https://www.darlingside.com/about/
Posted 12 years ago by scraig    [ Reply ]
 smackiepipe wrote:
Lead singer for Snow Patrol jams with The Decemberists or Union Station?
 
Good call. 7 on first listen.
Posted 12 years ago by scraig    [ Reply ]

Tis very good, am brewing a batch of brew in my kitchen....and this tune hits the spot....cheers!


Posted 12 years ago by Larry_Rosenow    [ Reply ]

approved!


Posted 12 years ago by soulcollision    [ Reply ]
Lead singer for Snow Patrol jams with The Decemberists or Union Station?
Posted 12 years ago by smackiepipe    [ Reply ]
so far, i dig this.
Posted 12 years ago by lily34    [ Reply ]