D.B. Cooper by Gooseberry

A fun, boppy song that celebrates the key skill that the Baby Boomer generation excels at more than any other generation. That skill is not wealth accumulation (though, they did that well too!), but rather self-mythologizing. Everything, from the Summer of Love, to The Beatles, to Vietnam, seemingly every major cultural tenet of import revolves around this one generation. The story of D.B. Cooper falls squarely into that ilk. Folks who know the name will get a kick out of it, but ultimately this song is about the stories we tell ourselves. With enough repetition, we internalize and believe these lies, which in turn become the truths that we tell others. In time, these fabrications suddenly become the basis for an entire life. I only hope that Millennials & Gen Zers are half as successful at this art when it comes time for us to dominate the media landscape. This song’s main verse melody spans three measures as a complete phrase, rather than two, which creates the off-kilter feeling, letting us know that something isn’t quite right about what we’re being told.

Brooklyn-based trio Gooseberry, formed in 2019, melds alternative rock, grunge, and blues to craft their distinctive sound. Comprising Asa Daniels (guitar, vocals), Evin Rossington (drums), and Will Hammond (bass), the band has racked up millions of streams and has garnered praise from editorial stalwarts Galore, Under the Radar, and more. They've become integral to NYC's music scene, headlining venues like Bowery Ballroom, as well as supporting notable touring acts such as Ringo Starr, BabyJake, and Tanner Usrey. They have also played major festivals, including Bourbon & Beyond and Hogs For The Cause. In September 2024, Gooseberry released their debut full-length album, All My Friends Are Cattle. The record has already been streamed 2.5M+ times and counting. This debut showcased the expansive distance that the band can cover, from punch-you-in-the-mouth punk rock to lyrically-driven singer-songwriter to atmospheric prog rock. Glide declared that “Gooseberry is positioned to have a significant role in the modern rock scene.” Now boasting 70K+ monthly listeners and major festival appearances under their belt, Gooseberry has been hard at work on their eagerly anticipated sophomore LP. With a new record on the way and tours taking them all over the US, Canada, and Europe, 2026 is shaping up to be their biggest year to date.

Lyrics:
I’ve been eating lots of books
Hoping it would make my style novel
I’ve been hanging out with crooks
They diversify my portfolio
Just be careful where you look
Because you just might get what you’re looking for
Now it’s time for the hook
God forbid we stay in the verse

Let me tell you my false secrets
Rewrite my own history
And just between the two of us
I’m D.B.

I was feeling kinda low so I walked to the top of my submarine
Drank up hope from the fountain of youth
Spat it out like Listerine
Placed a call to my god and ended up chatting with his secretary
Let the blind lead the blind
What’s the problem?
There ain’t that much to see

Let me tell you my false secrets
Rewrite my own history
Just between the two of us
I’m D.B.

Oh no
None of it made much sense
Adolescent innocence
For it I paid full price
Plus the tax and tip
And what did I get for it?
A little sleight of hand
Does that make me a man?

I’ve been eating lots of books
Hoping it would make my style novel
What’s a copy of a copy of a river?
It’s a tributary

Let me tell you my false secrets
Rewrite my own history
Just between the two of us
I’m D.B.
I’m D.B.
I’m D.B.
I’m D.B.
Cooper