| Jump, Little Children – Only Son Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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This took me a few minutes to figure out, but generally the song seems to be a warning about following in the footsteps and repeating the mistakes of one's father. Then, it hit me... I think this song is about Jeff Buckley (at least loosely based upon the circumstances of his birth, life, and death). The line, "I'm telling you not to go where the wide water flows," was the big giveaway. I looked up his bio on wikipedia and many of the details fit with the song, such as taking his father's family name ("like a hammer in his hand") and the fact that there's some speculation that both father and son died from drug ODs. The church bell ringing could be signifying a funeral. I have no idea what the New Orleans hotel is about. Maybe it could be connected to Tim Buckley (Jeff's father?). I don't know enough about either of them to say for certain. I'm sure Jay Clifford has been inspired by Buckley as he often sings Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" during concerts which Buckley popularized and Jump was moving into the world of rock at about the same time Buckley became a star. I'd be curious to know if anyone has heard the story behind the song at a Jump show. I could be dead wrong here. Here's the wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Buckley |
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| Jump, Little Children – The House Our Father Knew Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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I think, more precisely, this song seems to be about an abusive grandfather and history of violence in a family especially against the song-writer's father, although I can't say for certain and neither Virith nor Rizo were helpful with giving us the definitive meaning of this specific song. The song seems to be condemning the "grandfather" individual to an afterlife whether in heaven (golden wings) or hell (leaden shoes) spent in the house where the abuse/anger took place against the song-writer's father. This song reminds me of my own family's history. The image it invokes in my mind is the character Jenny's childhood home from the film "Forest Gump" as well as the house in Hell from the film "What Dreams May Come". Objectively speaking, a cycle of violence that moves through the generations seems to be indicated, however, the extent to which it has continued beyond the "grandfather" spoken to in the song is unclear. Perhaps being "pulled by the sound" could mean that, generally speaking, it's a very easy cycle to fall back into and the house of violence spoken of in the song metaphorically becomes a "home" that one inherits and can't leave as easily as one might wish to. The bridge for this song is very powerful with some great harmony. One of my favorites by Jump. |
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| Jump, Little Children – Broken Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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the lyrics here are wrong and one of my favorites is fairly hard to hear clearly in part due to Jay's lack of articulation. Using sound-enhancers it's easier much much easier to pick out, "fine with the birthing of malice, fine with degeneration, fine with the careless common stranger's reserve." Makes much more sense than the "curve of karma." lol "Callous" might also work instead of "careless," but then the line loses a bit of its literary meaning. the "careless common stranger's reserve" is just a masterful piece of song-writing. In essence it refers to what one might stereotypically find on a busy New York City sidewalk with heavy pedestrian traffic... just a general feeling of isolation in a sea of other people and a sort of automatic unwillingness to engage others. It includes two sets of what might be seen as oxymorons: careless -- reserve common -- stranger beginning with the word "reserve"... from dictionary.com... 1) Something kept back or saved for future use or a special purpose. 2) The keeping of one's feelings, thoughts, or affairs to oneself. 3) Self-restraint in expression; reticence: “One feels it everywhere, a quality of reserve, something held back” (Rollene W. Saal). 4) Lack of enthusiasm; skeptical caution. Using these definitions it's very difficult to see how "reserve" could ever be "careless." Reserve seems to be something you can only apply in a very specific or exact way -- that act of "holding back." (hence, the reason one might see it as an oxymoron) But, indeed, it's something that people quite often do in a careless way without even thinking about it when among strangers ("if I don't look at them... maybe they won't look at me...."). It's something people do without hesitation. "Common" and "stranger" can be construed as oxymorons as well. "Common," is something that everyone experiences. From dictionary.com... Common (1) Belonging equally to or shared equally by two or more; joint: common interests. (2) Of or relating to the community as a whole; public: for the common good. See Usage Note at mutual. (3) Widespread; prevalent. Stranger: n : anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found [syn: alien, unknown] Common (there all the time, normal, regular, you have some sort of solid connection, etc.) v. Stranger (foreign, strange, unusual, no basis for understanding, etc.) But, it's true... typically, everyday (in urban areas at least), strangers and being a stranger amongst a group of people you don't know is a common and normalized experience. It's also quite normal for strangers to maintain a distance -- a reserve -- and they do so not in a careful exacting manner, but they act that way with every other person who crosses their path. careless common stranger's reserve. Now those are lyrics! lol |
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| Jump, Little Children – Requiem Lyrics | 19 years ago |
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This one always seemed to me to be about the national anthem (or anthems generally) and the need to ensure that our symbols, songs, mottos, etc. don't lose their meaning and become hackneyed due to apathy, cynicism, misuse, political manipulation, etc. Instead of a song that is meant to inspire one to great heights, an anthem can (and ours, perhaps, has) become a requiem -- a song for and about the dead. This can be extended to the things our anthem represents... freedom, the beauty of our country, the future. Do they exist anymore? The singer (Jay) rejects this "requiem" that the anthem has become and yearns for something meaningful... what the song/anthem used to be. It's up to you (yes, you) to not let the past pass away and simply "sing along," both literally and figuratively. Rather it's up to you to give our anthem (and other songs, symbols, mottos, etc.) meaning again and make it something other than a requiem. It's up to you to live an inspired life. "The stars" have always been a inspired destination for human beings, whether as a metaphor or the literal stars. The song seems to suggest that perhaps humanity's light will dim and eventually be snuffed out beneath the stars. On the other hand, one can also see "them" (us) above the stars as well. People cannot achieve such heights alone, though. They need encouragement. They need visionaries. They don't need requiems. Either outcome is possible. It's up to you to decide which one comes to pass. |
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