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Death Cab for Cutie — I Will Possess Your Heart
Album: Narrow Stairs
Avg rating:
7.2

Your rating:
Total ratings: 4433









Released: 2008
Length: 8:22
Plays (last 30 days): 5
How I wish you could see the potential
The potential of you and me
It's like a book elegantly bound, but
In a language that you can't read just yet

You gotta spend some time, love
You gotta spend some time with me
And I know that you'll find love
I will possess your heart

You gotta spend some time, love
You gotta spend some time with me
And I know that you'll find love
I will possess your heart

There are days when outside your window
I see my reflection as I slowly pass
And I long for this mirrored perspective
When we'll be lovers, lovers at last

You gotta spend some time, love
You gotta spend some time with me
And I know that you'll find love
I will possess your heart

You gotta spend some time, love
You gotta spend some time with me
And I know that you'll find love
I will possess your heart
I will possess your heart
I will possess your heart

You reject my advances and desperate pleas
I won't let you let me down so easily
So easily

You gotta spend some time, love
You gotta spend some time with me
And I know that you'll find love
I will possess your heart

You gotta spend some time, love
You gotta spend some time with me
And I know that you'll find love
I will possess your heart

You gotta spend some time, love
You gotta spend some time with me
And I know that you'll find love
I will possess your heart
I will possess your heart
I will possess your heart
Comments (387)add comment
 jhorton wrote:

Record producer guy: Ok guys, we have, like ten minutes to fill on the new album, any ideas?

Singer guy: I have about twelve syllables that I am like, totally in love with, I could just sing them over and over for ten minutes.

Bass player guy: I have this little bass line that is exactly twelve beats long. I can easily play it for 10 minutes.

Singer guy: Excellent, let's wrap this thing up so I can go home and bang my super hot actress wife, Gwyneth.

Bass player guy: Er, dude, that's not your wife, that's the Coldplay guy.

Singer guy: Are you sure?

Bass player guy: Yep.

Singer guy: I am always getting us confused.

Bass Player: Everyone does.

Singer guy: Do you think I could fool Gwyneth?

Bass player guy: Prolly not. Maybe if you sing to her in the dark.

Singer guy: Somebody get my agent on the phone. 



I know it’s not the point but Gweneth ain’t that hot
 zerosomething wrote:

has everyone missed the fact this is the most stalker song ever. I’ve probably missed the comment about that 




  yeah, a bit late to the game with that. but you're right.

reminds me of john fowles book the collector.
 timmus wrote:

BRUCE DICKINSON: Alright, legends, we've got an eight-minute canyon to fill on our album. What do you got for me?

FRONTMAN: This is it, guys. “I Will Possess Your Heart.” I'm envisioning singing these words, each syllable dripping with emotion, echoing through an endless soundscape. Imagine, “I will possess your heart,” repeated, each time more haunting, more longing.

BASSIST: And my bass line, it's going to be like a heartbeat, throbbing under those words. Twelve beats, over and over, like an unending pulse.
 
DRUMMER: And I'll lay down a breathless, relentless beat.

BRUCE DICKINSON: That's the gold I'm looking for! But let's amplify it – I want reverb, a wall of sound so dense, it's like a dream.

FRONTMAN: OK Bruce, each repetition of “I will possess your heart” will grow in intensity. We'll layer the vocals, add reverb, create an immersive, shoegaze experience. The words will swirl around, envelop the listener in a sea of longing and obsession.

BRUCE DICKINSON: Yeah! That's what I'm talking about.  We'll create a soundscape so immersive, listeners will feel possessed!  Let's pour everything we've got into this. More intensity, more passion, and definitely more reverb!  Let's lay it down, baby!


and it works!
BRUCE DICKINSON: Alright, legends, we've got an eight-minute canyon to fill on our album. What do you got for me?

FRONTMAN: This is it, guys. “I Will Possess Your Heart.” I'm envisioning singing these words, each syllable dripping with emotion, echoing through an endless soundscape. Imagine, “I will possess your heart,” repeated, each time more haunting, more longing.

BASSIST: And my bass line, it's going to be like a heartbeat, throbbing under those words. Twelve beats, over and over, like an unending pulse.
 
DRUMMER: And I'll lay down a breathless, relentless beat.

BRUCE DICKINSON: That's the gold I'm looking for! But let's amplify it – I want reverb, a wall of sound so dense, it's like a dream.

FRONTMAN: OK Bruce, each repetition of “I will possess your heart” will grow in intensity. We'll layer the vocals, add reverb, create an immersive, shoegaze experience. The words will swirl around, envelop the listener in a sea of longing and obsession.

BRUCE DICKINSON: Yeah! That's what I'm talking about.  We'll create a soundscape so immersive, listeners will feel possessed!  Let's pour everything we've got into this. More intensity, more passion, and definitely more reverb!  Let's lay it down, baby!
 zerosomething wrote:

has everyone missed the fact this is the most stalker song ever. I’ve probably missed the comment about that 



You super did. 
I love this tune. The lead in, the way the vocals come in and I love Ben's lyrics. He is a genius. So sorry all you haters. 
has everyone missed the fact this is the most stalker song ever. I’ve probably missed the comment about that 
How in the wahd, wahd world'o'sports [(c) Slim Pickens] did this ever achieve 7.2?
 Roguewarer wrote:
Dude… give it up …
she’s just not into you.
smh



Hard to believe that this has survived on the playlists for over 15 years. Worth keeping only for the comments.
It's unapologetic intro/song length is a welcome challenge. I personally like the trance of this. The stalker/obsessive subject must feel that this feeling is unending and continual...get it?
 Wisconsinrob wrote:

i swear this song is on every day.  


And it’s only playing once - it just takes all day to finish.
Why oh why did I not get to their concert sorta nearby this summer. 
Dude… give it up …
she’s just not into you.
smh
 jhorton wrote:

Record producer guy: Ok guys, we have, like ten minutes to fill on the new album, any ideas?

Singer guy: I have about twelve syllables that I am like, totally in love with, I could just sing them over and over for ten minutes.

Bass player guy: I have this little bass line that is exactly twelve beats long. I can easily play it for 10 minutes.

Singer guy: Excellent, let's wrap this thing up so I can go home and bang my super hot actress wife, Gwyneth.

Bass player guy: Er, dude, that's not your wife, that's the Coldplay guy.

Singer guy: Are you sure?

Bass player guy: Yep.

Singer guy: I am always getting us confused.

Bass Player: Everyone does.

Singer guy: Do you think I could fool Gwyneth?

Bass player guy: Prolly not. Maybe if you sing to her in the dark.

Singer guy: Somebody get my agent on the phone. 




 first time seeing this. brilliant! 

funny, i don't see any similarity to his voice and chris from coldplay. but, he did get hitched to zoey deschanel (excuse my spelling) for a minute, right? 
That bass intro gets me every time.
I just figured out how creepy can be sexy...
Like Waiting for Godot, will that cab ever come for Cutie?? Please Please no more Cutie.
 coldatlantic wrote:

Is there an RP posting hall of fame somewhere?


Now there is!  

RP Song Comment Hall of Fame
excellent song, one of their best for sure!
Exquisite.
Seriously, my Beloved RP? Are you still playing that song? Maybe you will play Nirvana, Rape Me, next? PLEASE, a little mercy.
This track's music perfectly encompasses the mood of the lyrics. Single-minded and sinister...
I love the long intro groove… it just cements the entire experience for me
2 X 10 points ., from Bosnia.. ou je
 jhorton wrote:

Record producer guy: Ok guys, we have, like ten minutes to fill on the new album, any ideas?

Singer guy: I have about twelve syllables that I am like, totally in love with, I could just sing them over and over for ten minutes.

Bass player guy: I have this little bass line that is exactly twelve beats long. I can easily play it for 10 minutes.

Singer guy: Excellent, let's wrap this thing up so I can go home and bang my super hot actress wife, Gwyneth.

Bass player guy: Er, dude, that's not your wife, that's the Coldplay guy.

Singer guy: Are you sure?

Bass player guy: Yep.

Singer guy: I am always getting us confused.

Bass Player: Everyone does.

Singer guy: Do you think I could fool Gwyneth?

Bass player guy: Prolly not. Maybe if you sing to her in the dark.

Singer guy: Somebody get my agent on the phone. 


LOL 
Fantastic imagination there, jhorton!
So far (July 28th 2022) there are seven easily offended down-voters with absolutely no sense of humor.
 Wonderloaf wrote:

shave 3 minutes off the intro and ya got sumthin there

don't bore us, get to the chorus



Counterpoint: the song is better without Ben Gibbard singing. Maybe the three minute shave-off should be the actual vocals, and then Death Cab makes bank off licensing the instrumental to every commercial and movie trailer under the sun.
The intro could be a little longer...
Tedious.
 TurtleMan wrote:


Spot on. The song is supposed to make the listener feel uncomfortable.


Well, Death Cab for Cutie usually makes me feel uncomfortable, so I guess mission accomplished!
This builds so well... subtle instrumentation adds... can't not like it. :-)
i swear this song is on every day.  
Great bass warm up exercise to play along with.  Kind of puts you in a trance if you can get through it without your hand cramping.

Sure thing, love.
Give me a call when the Asylum turns you loose. 



 LouseGrouse wrote:
I see people complaining about the creepiness of the song. but is that not the point of the song? Other bands have done songs from this obsessive perspective (like the Police's "I will be watching you") because it's interesting, and very sadly is a thing that happens in real life.
 
Personally I think the song is effective ion how it feels kinda hectic and persistent, and, ultimately, scary.
 
So yeah, that's my take. I may be mistaking people's observations of the creepiness with complaint, and if that's the case i apologise.
 
All the best,
 
Be nice to people.


Spot on. The song is supposed to make the listener feel uncomfortable.
 bkrans9 wrote:
I like DCC better when I don't have to listen to Ben Gibbard's reedy singing. 


Ooff--I wrote this before he started singing...
I like DCC better when I don't have to listen to Ben Gibbard's reedy singing. 
 jhorton wrote:

Record producer guy: Ok guys, we have, like ten minutes to fill on the new album, any ideas?

Singer guy: I have about twelve syllables that I am like, totally in love with, I could just sing them over and over for ten minutes.

Bass player guy: I have this little bass line that is exactly twelve beats long. I can easily play it for 10 minutes.

Singer guy: Excellent, let's wrap this thing up so I can go home and bang my super hot actress wife, Gwyneth.

Bass player guy: Er, dude, that's not your wife, that's the Coldplay guy.

Singer guy: Are you sure?

Bass player guy: Yep.

Singer guy: I am always getting us confused.

Bass Player: Everyone does.

Singer guy: Do you think I could fool Gwyneth?

Bass player guy: Prolly not. Maybe if you sing to her in the dark.

Singer guy: Somebody get my agent on the phone. 



Not sure why there's an assumption that this hilarious post must also, therefore, be dissing the band; it can be read that way but it doesn't need to be.

(Now, for those saying the song is kinda creepy or vaguely stalker-ish...  My dudes, it is absolutely those things!  But I like it -- and the fact that something semi-recent successfully [IMO] hits the song-lengths that were common on the deep tracks back in the 70s.  Traffic, Steppenwolf, etc., etc.)
 IndyDoug wrote:

Geddy Lee has to be impressed with the bass line. 



i like your use of sarcasm. 
go Rush!
Good song, but the intro is a little short.
 jhorton wrote:

Record producer guy: Ok guys, we have, like ten minutes to fill on the new album, any ideas?

Singer guy: I have about twelve syllables that I am like, totally in love with, I could just sing them over and over for ten minutes.

Bass player guy: I have this little bass line that is exactly twelve beats long. I can easily play it for 10 minutes.

Singer guy: Excellent, let's wrap this thing up so I can go home and bang my super hot actress wife, Gwyneth.

Bass player guy: Er, dude, that's not your wife, that's the Coldplay guy.

Singer guy: Are you sure?

Bass player guy: Yep.

Singer guy: I am always getting us confused.

Bass Player: Everyone does.

Singer guy: Do you think I could fool Gwyneth?

Bass player guy: Prolly not. Maybe if you sing to her in the dark.

Singer guy: Somebody get my agent on the phone. 


trance inducing ... but in that trance I now wonder ...
What about Drummer Guy?
What about Keyboard Guy?
WHAT ABOUT RECORDING BOARD (BORED?) GUY?
... so many rabbit roles ...
 coldatlantic wrote:

Is there an RP posting hall of fame somewhere?


everytime this song comes on, i open this comments page just to read this dialog again.  i must've read this about 20 times.  still funny to me.
It's as if he's reciting these lyrics to a woman who is bound and gagged in his basement. Really creepy stuff here. Really creepy.
 snider100 wrote:

I loooooove the slow wind up to this song.



it is effective in that it conjures up the image of a stalker. the obsessive creepy lyrics then seal the deal. 
intro sounds like Junior High band practice
Geddy Lee has to be impressed with the bass line. 
 MassivRuss wrote:

This song is about fking stalking. 



What's your opinion on "I Don't Like Mondays?"
A poor man's Orchestral Manoeuvres in The Dark
Listen to Architecture and Morality
 snider100 wrote:

I loooooove the slow wind up to this song.



the build on this is amazing.  i could take another 10 minutes of it.  i'm going to learn bass guitar.
I loooooove the slow wind up to this song.
great groove on this tune…
 Proclivities wrote:

 I guess this post somehow relates to this song, but is there really a song with a "B#" chord?  


Your post reminds me of a barber shop quartet called the B Sharps.  
I am not sure why, but I never tire of this...maybe its just so cool!
 jonahboo wrote:

This generation's "Freebird"...........




What's next, Kanye Waste is this generations Frank Sinatra? :-D :-D
This generation's "Freebird"...........
Very repetitive and grated on me the first listen. Liking it a bit more now.
 jhorton wrote:

Record producer guy: Ok guys, we have, like ten minutes to fill on the new album, any ideas?

Singer guy: I have about twelve syllables that I am like, totally in love with, I could just sing them over and over for ten minutes.

Bass player guy: I have this little bass line that is exactly twelve beats long. I can easily play it for 10 minutes.

Singer guy: Excellent, let's wrap this thing up so I can go home and bang my super hot actress wife, Gwyneth.

Bass player guy: Er, dude, that's not your wife, that's the Coldplay guy.

Singer guy: Are you sure?

Bass player guy: Yep.

Singer guy: I am always getting us confused.

Bass Player: Everyone does.

Singer guy: Do you think I could fool Gwyneth?

Bass player guy: Prolly not. Maybe if you sing to her in the dark.

Singer guy: Somebody get my agent on the phone. 



And you wrote it all while the song was playing, congrats!
This song is about fking stalking. 
This song......just brilliant.  Amazing music, very clever lyrics, and that bass hook!
Bill, great segue from "The Long Road" (Dead Man Walking soundtrack) to this.  
  
HORRIBLE!  I'm so disappointed!  Off key and out of time, and sounds like someone who's in a lot of pain.
 Laptopdog wrote:
Years ago I made a video of an edit of the final showdown of the characters in Steven Speilberg's early film Duel with Dennis Weaver on a lonely mountain road being pursued by a crazy semi truck driver. I used this song as the soundtrack. It was amazing how well it worked, with the plodding bass line for the climb up the mountain, which stops when the singing starts and the car began careening down the mountain. I put it up on YouTube, but they took it down. I guess it violated the band or the movie copyright. It was fun while it lasted.
 
Yup - I think your copyright 'guess' would be correct
 lizardking wrote:

I just went 7 to 8 today based on the perfect-length intro....I don't think the song would have been as creepy without the long intro.  The video is great too!  LLRP!!
 

i'm going from 7>>6
 BCarn wrote:

Sounds like your resume!
But seriously folks...clearly you're not a DCFC fan. But since Bill doesn't consult you for the music list, just sit back and enjoy the musical variation that makes RP a cut above all other radio stations.
 

still horrible, repetitive, and lacking much merit...no, i am not a fanatic...
Maybe she's just not that into you...
it's insistent, plodding, driven, driving... obsessed,,, like the singer of the song. As a bass player I can say I love playing on tunes like this that require you to LOCK in and just groove with the drummer.


I wondered about the name but never was curious enough to nail down where it came from. Thanks, although not much of a fan, I like to know about bands, renown and obscure.

 
memoryboxer wrote:
After years of musing about how odd a band name was for a non-Goth band it finally occurred to me to look up it's origin. I was rather surprised to discover Death Cab for Cutie was originally a song title - by the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band. Didn't see that coming. I've heard/owned a fair amount of the Bonzo's music over the years but obviously missed THAT one!
 


Please make it stop already !!
6 minute intro... 2:22 singing....NICE!
what is the latest obsession with these guys?
Desperate cardiac surgeon.
I really love this kind of progressive rock. Drums and guitar reminds me Steve Shelley and Thurston Moore after their punk experimental period. I've heard they played with Death Cab for Cuties... Is that true ? (really possible from all experimental fields of Sonic Youth)
It's all about the bass ...repetitive though it may be. 

Great tune. One of DCFC best.
Great intro
 BCarn wrote:

Sounds like your resume!
But seriously folks...clearly you're not a DCFC fan. But since Bill doesn't consult you for the music list, just sit back and enjoy the musical variation that makes RP a cut above all other radio stations.
 
Good grief,
i MIGHT NOT LIKE YOUR MUSICAL TASTES, but that does not justify a personal attack.

as to my resume, Google me.

Dr. Strangelove
DCFC at their best. One of my top 50 songs of the 21st century.
 BCarn wrote:

Sounds like your resume!
But seriously folks...clearly you're not a DCFC fan. But since Bill doesn't consult you for the music list, just sit back and enjoy the musical variation that makes RP a cut above all other radio stations.
 

Or just skip it. 
You'd be relatively pleased if you came up with this in an improvised jam. Not blown away. It'd need quite a bit of work before you bothered recording it.
I saw them at the Hollywood Bowl and this song under the stars was magical.  If you aren't a DCFC fan I guess I understand why you don't like it but for us fans, they possess our hearts. Just move on.  
 DocStrangelove wrote:
horrible, boring, repetitive, creative failure.

please delete this from rotation.
 
Sounds like your resume!
But seriously folks...clearly you're not a DCFC fan. But since Bill doesn't consult you for the music list, just sit back and enjoy the musical variation that makes RP a cut above all other radio stations.
 jonahboo wrote:

holy shit really?

you can play 3 Beatles songs during that dirge
 
Really.  Not only is your opinion not universal, but many people have ... let's say "different" attention spans.
I just caught them a couple weeks ago and they stretched this out into an even longer jam, which I absolutely loved.
didn't hurt that it was a gorgeous night under the stars 
 dwhayslett wrote:

"Us" is not bored.
 
holy shit really?

you can play 3 Beatles songs during that dirge
 jonahboo wrote:
shave 3 minutes off the intro and ya got sumthin there

don't bore us, get to the chorus
 
"Us" is not bored.
After years of musing about how odd a band name was for a non-Goth band it finally occurred to me to look up it's origin. I was rather surprised to discover Death Cab for Cutie was originally a song title - by the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band. Didn't see that coming. I've heard/owned a fair amount of the Bonzo's music over the years but obviously missed THAT one!
Good stuff Bill!
Amazing.
 jonahboo wrote:
shave 3 minutes off the intro and ya got sumthin there

don't bore us, get to the chorus
 
I just went 7 to 8 today based on the perfect-length intro....I don't think the song would have been as creepy without the long intro.  The video is great too!  LLRP!!
 Stratocaster wrote:
Love DCFC. Hate this song. Repetitive drivel. Nowhere near their best work.
 
And that's the beauty of RP. Not Top 40 shyte.  We get the "real" stuff.
shave 3 minutes off the intro and ya got sumthin there

don't bore us, get to the chorus
Repetitious, boring, dull!  Did I mention repetitious? 
 naomin wrote:
He's awfully confident.
 

Confidence is key
He's awfully confident.
sounds like a repetitious looping of daniel lanois or something. bass line is dull. 
Straight 10 to my ears
 BCarn wrote:
Good band. I always discover bands about 10 years late.
 
Considering they're from Bellingham, I'm surprised that you or I failed to discover them until 'late' - this one's a 7 for me, I have some of their tunes higher and some lower, Long Live RP!!
Good band. I always discover bands about 10 years late.
Love DCFC. Hate this song. Repetitive drivel. Nowhere near their best work.
Sucker for that bass line...
Until you've seen these guys live, you will never truly know music genius.  This band just never fails to amaze.  
love this band, and they're family now
My boy and I saw this live a few weeks back and it was tremendous.  Shame the venue couldn't cope with the bass output cos the whole structure was buzzing.  I bet they needed a few replacement light bulbs.
I'm french, and I love this webite and particulary this music, I'm so happy with this beautiful day, the sunshine is really great for my skin !! 
Saw them live earlier this month, they put on a great show, and great to see them.


Proclivities wrote:
I guess this post somehow relates to this song, but is there really a song with a "B#" chord?

 
BillG wrote:

Yeah. It uses only the white keys on the piano. In major.
 

More properly called C major. Didn't see the context of the original B# reference, but I suspect that was a joke.
Sweet transition Bill. BGs to the Death Cab. Again only hear on RP. No typo.
 fatcatjb wrote:
cool song...but these lyrics? Is it just me?
 
Hard to tell.  "...but these lyrics?" could mean any number of things.  Or none.
Make it stop. Please!
So great, like the music video also !!                          
I second that…
 

DocStrangelove wrote:
tuneless, repetitive, annoying
bury this one
 

Years ago I made a video of an edit of the final showdown of the characters in Steven Speilberg's early film Duel with Dennis Weaver on a lonely mountain road being pursued by a crazy semi truck driver. I used this song as the soundtrack. It was amazing how well it worked, with the plodding bass line for the climb up the mountain, which stops when the singing starts and the car began careening down the mountain. I put it up on YouTube, but they took it down. I guess it violated the band or the movie copyright. It was fun while it lasted.
I'd follow this with the Monkees' "Me and Magdalena," which is also by Gibbard.
 ziggytrix wrote:

Stalker songs dressed up as love songs is a tradition.

No worse than The Police's Every Breath You Take.

Or The Toadies' Tyler (which is really amazing to hear delusional fans defend as "totally not about a stalker").
 
I see the merit in all your comparisons, but I don't think this is "dressed up" in the same disguise as other such tunes...
"There are days when outside your window
I see my reflection as I slowly pass
And I long for this mirrored perspective
When we'll be lovers, lovers at last"

"You reject my advances and desperate pleas
I won't let you let me down so easily"

DC4C lays it right out with stalker rationale stated up front.
 fatcatjb wrote:
cool song...but these lyrics? Is it just me?
 
Stalker songs dressed up as love songs is a tradition.

No worse than The Police's Every Breath You Take.

Or The Toadies' Tyler (which is really amazing to hear delusional fans defend as "totally not about a stalker").
cool song...but these lyrics? Is it just me?
 spammer wrote:


Eeek! Sounds like Nils Lofgren singing without the great guitar.In other words,extremely painful to listen to.

 
{#Think}      {#Yes}
 DocStrangelove wrote:
tuneless, repetitive, annoying
bury this one
 Agreed - bin it.

Is this the most often played son on rp?
this song is the definition of monotony. I get better music on hold to my insurance company.