Lyrics, Meaning, and Impending Disappointments.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at 10:41AM There is a point in the record making process that always frustrates me. It is the point when the label approaches me and asks me to do a song by song explanation of the lyrics. I have a gut level hatred of this request. Mostly, I find myself making things up. I write down a few phrases and add in a bit of church language, and maybe some buzz words about faith and God and love... but I resist the urge to completely describe, what is still evolving. What I mean is, songs get written and they get recorded, and most of the time, an artist doesn't have the luxury of knowing what the songs are about until years and years after they have lived and woven themselves into other people's stories.
Songs are living things. They don't sit still. They don't assume a shape and stay that way for very long. Songs grow, and they change, and they make sense of a moment with acute precision and then the next moment, they are irrelevant to the same moment. Songs are conversations and stories that are shrapnel from life experiences that are still working their way through our veins and into our hearts all the while, scheming their effects on you and me.
I don't really know what my songs are about. I have an idea what I mean to write about, but I don't write songs in a vacuum. I don't write songs in a linear space where I can pause life and remove its ability to influence the words I use on the page. Songs are impressionable things. And sometimes I don't even know that a song I am writing is being hijacked by the spaces between what I know and have words to describe and the feelings and ideas that are not bound to words or symbols yet. And now after nearly twenty years of songwriting, I have decided, by my own urging, and by the suggestion of a friend, to re-examine the lyrics I have written over the last two decades.
I thought, perhaps, I would start at the beginning and just work my way through. It would be a bit of a timeline of thoughts and spaces that made more sense of how my mind works and how the world has changed... but I somehow think the structure of this method would choke some of the life out of this examination.
I thought about opening up the vault of lyrics and just finding the ones that inspire me. But somehow this also seems to only make sense of a current moment and a current mood, and how a lyric strikes me in this point of history.
So... I think I will leave it to you. Is there a lyric that you have wondered about? I ask this question knowing that some of the lyrics I have written, and the meanings that I have attached to them are far less important than the meanings you may have. Understand that there is great risk involved in this re-examination of words. We may all be disappointed.. I also find that a single line in a song sends me feverishly writing about some version of my life that has been waiting to be clarified. Some songs are windows into long and deep conversations. And hopefully we will get to those.
I do have an ulterior motive. I have often wondered what a book of lyric explanations would be like. I still don't know. Maybe this will help me capture a vision for such a book. And maybe it will confirm that books about such things are not necessary or overly self-important.
I suppose the best way to do this is to simply start. I will start at the beginning, before Jars of Clay. And I will wait to read your comments and each day...(it is an improbability but..) I will write about a different lyric and provide cause for someones impending disappointment. :)
Concrete For Kittens (recorded by Plumb)
I grew up listening to rock n roll. My musical education began with the stadium churning canons of Queen, and the Who, and evolved, (if I can even use that term) to hair bands like Def Leppard and Van Halen, and further in to, Progressive music kings, Rush and YES. In the late 80’s I found an alternate universe of music. A friend gave me a CD of Depeche Mode’s, “Black Celebration.” It was a gateway record into the world of moody synthesizers and deep crooners. I began listening to Peter Murphy, and found my way to New Order, and Nitzer Eb, and Siouxie and the Banshees, and Front 242. I was a teenager, and although Skid Row and Guns & Roses had their language for teen-angst, I found myself resonating more with the darker, brooding tones of The Psychedelic Furs, and Joy Division. It wasn’t just the angst that appealed to me. There was something about gothic synth-pop and its use of religious metaphor that seemed grandiose, cold and a bit ironic. It was the kind of mystic driven music that struck a nerve in me. The first song I wrote in college was highly influenced by those kinds of bands. I recorded the demo of it in a small closet studio at college. The original song began with the sound of a child’s toy... “A cat says....” I would manipulate the speed of the toy and make the cat sound as if it were dying, and then a Pink Floyd-esque laugh would take over... The song resurfaced 4 years later as a track on the first Plumb record. The name was truncated to, “Concrete.” The lyrics were mostly about doubt and the kind of belief and false conviction that arises when a person never addresses the deepest questions of God and faith. I am not sure where the original version is anymore. The only copy I had was on a cassette tape that was washed out to sea after the May flooding of Nashville in 2010. It may be for the best. The David Gahan vocal style I used embarrassingly betrayed how influenced I was by Depeche Mode.
The lyrics definitely show hints of what would be a defining element to the music of Jars of Clay: A bent toward the melancholy, and a need to express matters of faith with utter humanity woven in.
"Concrete for Kittens" aka “Concrete”
More than a superstition
When put in my position
Temptations and opinions
This heart's not my possession
Hold tight to your convictions
Hypocrites in all directions
Cling to the things your father taught us
Confess your sins to the One who bought us
Do you feel all alone?
Faith has always kept you strong
If you could see my fear
Should I believe or should I doubt
I believe
In the things that you never told me
I believe
In the things that you never showed me
I believe
I know my fears control me
I believe
In the things that you never told me
Aggressive passive inhibitions
Collapse before an indecision
Do I run or do I stay
When all I do may fall away
From lack of faith in what I trust
When all I measure turns to dust
When all I know decays in vain
And I am left alone again
Do you feel all alone?
Faith has always kept you strong
If you could see my fear
Should I believe or should I doubt
As I kneel in sanctuary
Crosses all around to haunt me
Architecture so divine
Bread, the body
Blood, the wine.
Reader Comments (42)
I would love to know about "Love Song for a Savior." Who is "she?" Why will "she" learn to trust Him someday? Does the fact that she thanks Jesus for the "daises and the roses" mean she has a simple faith? What is going on in this song?
Dan,
One song I've always been drawn to is "Whatever She Wants". There's this haunted feel to the lyrics, almost an inner pain brimming to the surface. The opening line has always captured my attention the most because it's a very ironic statement..
"All her wants to fill a need. She wants to save you with her bandages after she makes you bleed."
What was the intent behind that? I have my theories but would like to know where it came from.
I've always really appreciated the fact that even if I couldn't explain what a Jars of Clay lyric means I have an intuitive understanding of it in my gut.
Finally!! I can ask what some of these lyrics mean! however, I have bunch of songs/lyrics of Jars that I'm confused about :D But for now, what does "Boy on a String" mean? It's one of my favorites and I have a feeling there's a deep meaning but I can't grasp it. It sounds like the boy is being controlled and he can't help it or have any say in the matter. Also, he's being abused and used and he wants freedom from those strings but it's as if they soon become the definition of his own identity. It's like in Shawshank Redemption where Red says that the prison bars are first your enemies, then they become tolerable, and then they finally become our friends who we depend on. I interpret "boy on a string" as a boy who is split between being controlled with everyone's attention on him, and not being controlled with no attention on him. It's like how we pose or put on masks to please people while all the while knowing we're fake. We are in a sense "controlled" by them in that we long for their approval. Am I on the right track?
I could write so much more questions and inquiries for other songs, but I'll stop before I start. I prefer to wallow in mystery sometimes :D God Bless!
I love the song Light Gives Heat and I was wondering about the chorus: "Burning crosses from your fears", and "You treat me like I'm blind, Setting fires around houses on the hills". I was wondering whose perspective you are writing from and so forth in those lyrics.
The only question I have is why the name "Liquid"?
i am working on a book to commemorate ten years of an annual mixtape i've been making by getting people to write about the songs that are featured, three of which are "i need you," "good monsters," and "don't stop." if you felt inclined to dovetail this project with mine by tackling one of those, i'd be thrilled, and of course my opinion of you wouldn't be diminished if you had neither the time nor the inclination to participate in mine. shoot me an email if you're interested, and thanks for the blog.
Okay, two questions because these stay with me probably more than any other songs.
First: Frail. I know that it's like the first song that you guys wrote, but the chorus "If I was not so weak, if I was not cold, if I was not so scared of being broken growing old, I would be, frail."
Second: Dig. "To the sea, I crawl on my knees," or just the whole song.is the song allegorical, what was going on during the time of this writing?"
Josh, Dig is actually a cover of an Adam Again song. They recorded it as part of a tribute album that I don't believe ever came to fruition.
First, yes, there is a copy of Concrete for Kittens out there--I had copies of pretty much any studio work my floor-mates produced from those days...from Charlie on his wind-synth to early instrumental versions of the song that later became "You Hear My Plea." Joe Silvey and I years ago attempted to compile these into a decent, cleaned up collection we were going to call "JOC--Lo-Fi and Underground." I passed off the recordings, and I'm pretty sure Joe still has them somewhere--our project fell to the wayside... Tim Sandifer helped by putting together some liner pictures too.
If you recall, you had a bit of help *ahem* on one of the verses--the one about 'aggresive-passive inhibitions.' I'm pretty sure that's my heavy handed word-smithing.
I also seem to remember the process of recording that song was a big deal--the Wah pedal being used on the drum track was pretty radical for the time.
Oh, now this is a big deal, for both you and all of us asking the questions. I'm with some of the others in that I prefer the mystery and also the ability to draw things from it that apply to me at different times (it often turns out that explained "understanding" takes away that breathtaking-innate-I-know-what-you're-talking-about quality, if that makes sense). But, there ARE times that I just wonder what you were thinking when you wrote a song. Anyway, to begin with, I do have a question that I've had ever since I first listened to "Valley Song" and then later "I Need You". What is "the fatal cut"? Both songs mention hiding/covering it, and I've always been puzzled by those lines. Thanks for being awesome. :-)
Not sure if this fits as a lyric explanation question, but I've often wondered what you're saying (if anything) between 3.30-3.40 of Scenic Route.
Not knowing doesn't stop it being one of my favourites :)
I also wondered what "He" was about. I'm not sure what the rest is about, abuse maybe? But happy to be in confusion till I get to: "he loves you, he sees you, he knows you, protects you, he needs you, he holds you...." etc etc part.
One of my favorite Jars lyrics is "You are the shelter from the rain and the rain to wash me away".
It reminds me of the dichotomy that is life, God, love, faith, etc. People always have to make everything in to an either/or when so much is actually both/and (or something in between). This lyric has got to be one of the most succinct and beautiful reminders of this idea. It reminds me not to be afraid of the rain (i.e. afraid of God, or life and it's difficulties).
Thanks for writing, for being honest and for not being afraid!
@kiwi jark, i'm pretty sure that seemingly mumbled part in Scenic Route is backwards masking..which proves that Jars of Clay is satanic...
but i've also wondered what they were saying too...so maybe i'm in the boat..?
What about this line from Lesser Things:
"If the wind should shake this house apart/ Cradle hits the ground with a broken heart/ Will we say we never knew a thing/ While we pray to the god of the Lesser Things"?
Beautiful imagery, but I have only vague hints at what you're getting at.
Secondly (I know I'm cheating!), can you go over what thoughts were running through your mind when you wrote this line from Oh My God:
"Turn a phrase and 'rise again'? Or fake your death and only tell your closest friends?"
Is this something you've personally wrestled through: what if Jesus faked his death and "only [told his] closest friends"? What makes you believe in the resurrection anyway?
~Derek
One of your most meaningful songs to me has always been "The Edge of Water". It always made me feel 2 things at once: the longing for the coming of God's kingdom, and the anticipation of falling in love. I suppose those things ought to be somehow correlated. Anyway, I played it for my soon to be wife just before I told her I loved her for the first time. What were you feeling when you wrote those lyrics?
Also, as a shout out to your band-mates, the banjo in that song always makes me feel hopeful, like the sun is about to rise and all will soon be well. I imagine that'd also be a fascinating conversation: how you set music to meaningful lyrics - or is it the other way around?
I love the song "Fly". For me at least, it captured the journey we went through as we lost my dad to cancer. It captured the essence the emotional evolution you go through as you watch the disease take your loved one. We can let him go without letting go of him. The lyric that really spoke to me was "I saw a host of silent angels waiting on their own." My dad's last words were "O glory, aren't they beautiful." I know he was talking about the silent angels.
That was a dark time for me spiritually as I tried to reconcile my faith (or so I thought) with the pain and sorrow my family was going thru. "Silence" was another song that spoke to me but more for what wasn't said. It gave no illusion to the idea that we will always get the answers.
I've always loved Jars for their lyrics - they do more than scratch the surface of faith. They point me in a direction that helps me see what faith looks like in real life. When I came through that dark period, I realized I didn't have the faith I thought I did going in, but the faith I have coming out is much more real. Thanks guys.
To be completely honest here Dan, I've never really been that concerned about what your lyrics mean to you. When I listen to music, any music, it's all about what the lyrics mean to me. Is that selfish? It's like when I look at paintings. I never really wonder about the artist's motives for the painting. I just look at it and feel what the art says to me. I mean obviously when you write songs they mean something to you and there is are stories behind them, probably interesting stories too. But at the end of the day, I glean from your songs what speaks to me at a particular time or situation I am enduring or enjoying. I never really think why did he write that or who did he write it for or what did he mean by that. Perhaps I should. I don't know. Until now I just figured that if you put it out there, I buy it and it's mine to do with as I please! Bit shallow maybe?
OK so now that you have me thinking about this...what I would be interested to know is have you ever written and published lyrics in the past about something that you now feel differently about? (Hope that makes sense).
All the best to you and yours!!
I'd love to hear the story behind "Even Angels Cry" ... 'i saw a woman with ribbons in her hair, old and lonely, so beautiful i had to stop and stare...' every time i play that song, i wonder who this woman is? Is she someone you met or saw in Africa? And what's her story?
And also, "Don't Stop" ... the lyrics in that song are really interesting, i just wonder what inspired them.
And by the way ... if you ever decide to write a book of lyric explanations (or anything else), i would totally buy it!!!
I find it interesting that you hate the song-by-song explanation but your reasons make sense, I guess I just never thought of it that way. I understand the artistic side of it and not wanting to limit it to a particular meaning, however as a fan I can think of a few albums where I loved them before but after reading the song-by-song stories, I understood them so much more and had such a greater appreciation for that piece of art.
Dan,
I LOVE the chance to examine an author's intention and the complications of how that can change (especially with songwriting) as you invite the audience to participate in that meaning by allowing their own experiences to color the song. This is a well-put blog. No surprises there though.
A couple of my favorite songs of yours (of which I am not entirely sure what they mean, but that does not keep them from being some of my favorites, in fact, maybe it even adds to my liking them) are the Valley Song, Silence, and Scenic Route (gosh, I LOVE that song).
I hope you keep this little series up. Or at least long enough to see those songs examined. ;P
I remember wondering - for a long time - what "Constantine" meant, but then you told me, and the answer was far simpler than I anticipated. And, in finally knowing, I made a decision to "embrace the mystery," for something about that lyric drives me deeper into the song every time.
When I bought the first album, I remember getting online and seeing that JarsofClay.com had really thoughtful, biblically sound ideas behind all of the songs on the first album. Then, the second album had less textually based explanations. Then, the third album, even less. Being young and not wanting to be swept away by the braggarts of "unChristian Christian music," I chose to fast from Jars of Clay for a whole year and devote myself to figure out what a Christian artist are actually responsible to do when he/she relates to and writes a song.
In the end, my fast didn't stick beyond four or so months because I realized that, as much as I deeply appreciated the Biblical refinement of the first album, the second and third made far more sense to my heart - and were equally as effective to stir on my faith. Why? Because they weren't trying to be scripture, but they were trying to more the depth of truth-meets-life-meets-faith-meets-horror-meets-delight. That's what I've appreciated along the way with Jars of Clay and is the reason why I have such high regard for you all: the way you speak about your faith makes sense to me.
If you did a line-by-line analysis, I'm not sure I'd read any of it, though I might do a cross reference here and there. As a fan, I think I'd be far more amazed by a type of Jars of Clay art-esque book where all (or gobs of) the lyrics are hand written, and where you all pour out your reflections on what it means to be a Christian artist in the world. Younger Christians could benefit from that sort of thing because, as much as I will be sad to see Jars of Clay tour their last tour, I am much more passionate at seeing you all shape the worldview of others so that the next band that touches its generation can pick up where you left off, having deep insights to rest upon...
For all of the life that has brought you to write what you did - for the lyrics I've read and sung and for the lyrics that I never will get a chance to see, I am so grateful for what you do.
I've always wondered what the meaning was behind scenic route. i always read it as a song about a relationship that wanted so badly to flash forward into the future but came to the realization that the beauty of it all was in the journey. there was no rush because everything that ever was or ever will be was in the long drive. and also to echo a few people here..was always curious to what was being said in the background towards the end of the song. was actually gonna ask you that at the next meet and greet but ill ask now haha.
I have been a fan for a long time. I would love to hear the meaning or story behind the songs. So many of them have had such a deep impact on my life.
The song "Portrait of Apology" has been one I have always wanted to know the meaning behind. Over the years since Much Afraid has come out, that song has meant many different things to me. Still one of my favorites.
Another that I would love to hear the story behind would be "Work" from the Good Monsters album.
Oh wow, this blog is like a birthday present because you've been my favorite lyricist since I was 16. I have almost too many questions, but here are two:
"Oh My God": I think I understand "You take away my firm belief and graft my soul upon your grief," but I'd love to hear you discuss it. However, I don't understand the following line: "Weddings, boats, and alibis." Why boats?
"Scenic Route": I'm so glad others are asking about Scenic Route. What were you originally singing in the backward masking part of the song? My guess is that it's from an earlier part of the song, because I think the guy wants to "rewind" the relationship, delay its ending. Also, I just want to say that "Scenic Route" is one of my favorite songs, full stop, and I spent a few months listening to it on repeat. It reminds me of Arcade Fire!