Clark Gable
The Postal Service · Give Up (10th Anniversary Edition) [2013]
when it struck me
that I'd been waiting since birth to find a love that would look and sound
like a movie
so I changed my plans, I rented a camera and a van
and then I called you
I need you to pretend that we are in love again
and you agreed to
I want so badly to believe that there is truth
and love is real
and I want life in every word
to the extent that it's absurd
I grease the lens and frame the shot
using a friend as my stand-in
The script had called for rain, but it was clear that day
so we faked it
The marker snapped and I yelled, "quiet on the set!"
and then called, "action!"
I kissed you in a style Clark Gable would have admired
I thought it classic
I want so badly to believe that there is truth
and love is real
and I want life in every word to the extent
that it's absurd
I know you're wise beyond your years
but do you ever get the fear
that your perfect verse is just a lie
that you tell yourself to help you get by
that you tell yourself to help you get by...
Clark Gable
The Postal Service's 'Clark Gable' stands as a quintessential example of their maximalist pop sound, blending electronic textures with lush orchestration. Released on the 2013 anniversary edition of 'Give Up', the track exemplifies the band's signature style of layering multiple vocal harmonies over a driving, synth-heavy rhythm. The song reflects the group's deep engagement with the mid-2000s indie-pop revival, drawing inspiration from the maximalist production techniques of artists like The Shins and The Postal Service's own earlier work. Its intricate arrangement and soaring melodies capture the emotional intensity characteristic of their discography, serving as a highlight in the album's catalog of atmospheric and rhythmic pop compositions.

