You Moved Away

Album: Thank You For Today (2018)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The Chicago-born artist Derek Erdman is known primarily for his vibrantly colored paintings, his contributions to Seattle's alternative newspaper, The Stranger, and his alter ego Rap Master Maurice. Regarding the latter, clients pay a $17 fee for him to call a target and deliver a rap.

    Erdman returned to his native Chicago in September 2017 after many years as a loveably anarchic presence in Seattle. The move was a huge disappointment to Death Cab for Cutie frontman, Seattle native Ben Gibbard. He wrote this song about the city's loss of the eccentric artist.

    "He's just a wonderful, joyous human being, this totally sardonic and irreverent prankster, and his sense of humor became very much a part of the city," Gibbard told The Independent. "We weren't super close, but his apartment was on the walk to our local co-op, where we do our grocery shopping. I'd look into his window, and the walls were always covered in his artwork, really colorful, gorgeous stuff. It was so comforting to see that, and know that he was in the back doing something crazy, or making something beautiful. When he left, it had a profound effect on me, because his spirit is something that we're losing in Seattle by the day. There's fewer apartments filled with art, and more and more filled with Amazon badges."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Art Alexakis of Everclear

Art Alexakis of EverclearSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer of Everclear, Art is also their primary songwriter.

La La Brooks of The Crystals

La La Brooks of The CrystalsSong Writing

The lead singer on "Da Doo Ron Ron" and "Then He Kissed Me," La La explains how and why Phil Spector replaced The Crystals with Darlene Love on "He's A Rebel."

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About Transgenderism

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About TransgenderismSong Writing

A history of songs dealing with transgender issues, featuring Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Morrissey and Green Day.

Lajon Witherspoon of Sevendust

Lajon Witherspoon of SevendustSongwriter Interviews

The Sevendust frontman talks about the group's songwriting process, and how trips to the Murder Bar helped forge their latest album.

Jon Anderson of Yes

Jon Anderson of YesSongwriter Interviews

From the lake in "Roundabout" to Sister Bluebird in "Starship Trooper," Jon Anderson talks about how nature and spirituality play into his lyrics for Yes.

Angelo Moore of Fishbone

Angelo Moore of FishboneSongwriter Interviews

Fishbone has always enjoyed much more acclaim than popularity - Angelo might know why.