The General

Dispatch is a New England band made up of Brad Corrigan, Pete Heimbold, and Chad Urmston. Their music displayed the trio's three-part harmonies and college-friendly mix of acoustic pop, folk, reggae, and funk. Many people can easily compare them to The Barenaked Ladies. However, on July 31, 2004, Dispatch played a final show has a "thank you" to their fans for supporting them throughout their eight years together. The members of the band have all gone on to a solo career.

The song "The General" is about a general who was considered a legend in his time. The song is a narrative about his accomplishments. In the first verse, it is explained why he was liked, "that likened him to all the stories he told of past battles, won and lost." Throughout the second verse, it is said that he received many medals of bravery. However, he was injured along the way causing him to grow a beard to cover his scars. In the third verse and so-on it explains what the general did to earn his good name. The eve of the great battle he tossed in his sleep. When he left his tent all of the men stood before him. They stood "tall with their chests in the air, with courage in their blood and a fire in their stare. The old general told them to go home. The point of view switches in the chorus to the generals view. "I have discovered that this fight is not worth fighting," he says. However, he believes it is not worth fighting for the soldiers because he says, "I have seen their mothers and I will no other to follow me where I'm going." This means that he does not want anyone following him into the war because of the worry and fear of their mothers. He then tels them, "Take a shower, shine your shoes, you got no time to lose. You are young men you must me living. Go now you are forgiven." He is telling them that time goes by fast and there isn't enough time to waste it. The last line in the chorus is the general telling everyone they are forgiven for leaving. The point of view switches back to the narrator for the final versus. The men stood with their guns, not knowing what to do with their orders. One reason the general was considered a legend is seen in the lines, "The general said he would do his own duty bout would not extend it not further. The men could go as they pleased." He would fight on his own to keep the others safe. However, not one man moved and then one by one they stepped back and not a word was said. The general was left with nothing but the echo of his own words in his head as he prepared to fight.