Lee grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Cherry Hill, New Jersey, USA. He has been quoted as saying that he is fortunate to have seen different sides of life in America. Lee enrolled at the University of South Carolina in 1995. He began to play guitar and write songs seriously while he studied English. After graduating with an English degree, Lee moved back to Philadelphia to teach elementary school. He later made the tough decision to stop teaching in order to pursue a career in music. Shortly thereafter, he released a self-produced EP that featured five of his original songs, which did extremely well in Philadelphia and created a buzz. Norah Jones was the person who finally gave Lee his big breakthrough when she asked him to open for her 2004 tour. Lee then went on to produce his self-titled debut album. In March and April of 2005 Lee opened for the tour that Merle Haggard and Bob Dylan were both embarking on, all 3 performers were extremely well received by critics as the tour went by, with Dylan receiving some of his strongest reviews in years. On October 3, 2006, Lee released his second album, "Supply & Demand" to critical and commercial acclaim.
At the age of only 27, Amos Lee has enjoyed notable success with his debut album and looks to have a promising future in the music business. His favorite artists and sources of inspiration include Stevie Wonder, Neil Young, John Prine, Bill Withers, and James Taylor.
Jails And Bombs
Amos Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're starting to get used to how it feels
The taste of blood that's in your mouth
There's still somehow it always heals
Don't know how you keep on getting up
From all those ghostly blows
And all that pain that lingers
Deep down in the darkness where it grows
I know how hard it is
To keep your head up kid
To keep your head up
Kid
And there you sit on high
All tucked away and locked up in the clouds
Waiting for someone to finally
Come along and take you out
Into this bitter world
That also often treated you so cruel
When they turn away
You know that they will say that you're a fool
[Chorus: x2]
I know how hard it is
To keep your head up kid
And so patiently
You waited for a love to come along
Take you out into this bitter world
So often done you wrong
There you sit alone
And there you shed a solitary tear
Listening to a song
You think that no one else would ever hear
[Chorus: x2]
Keep your head up
Keep your head up
Keep your head up
Keep your head up
The Amos Lee song "Jails and Bombs" is a commentary on the struggle of being beaten down by life and trying to rise above it. The opening lines set the tone, describing a feeling of becoming accustomed to the pain and violence that life throws one's way. Yet, through it all, the singer insists that there is a way out: a path that requires keeping one's head up and persevering.
The song touches on themes of loneliness, rejection, and heartbreak, particularly in the second verse, where the singer describes waiting for love to come and take them away from the misery of constant disappointment. Through it all, however, the message remains clear: keep moving forward, keep your head up, and keep fighting for a better life.
Overall, "Jails and Bombs" is a powerful song of resilience and determination in the face of struggle and adversity. It speaks to the human struggle of trying to rise above in difficult circumstances and encourages listeners to remain steadfast in their pursuit of happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
Been kicked around so long
You've been pushed down and oppressed for an extended period.
You're starting to get used to how it feels
You've experienced this so frequently that it no longer feels unusual.
The taste of blood that's in your mouth
You've suffered physical damage which has resulted in blood in your mouth.
There's still somehow it always heals
Despite the injuries, you manage to recover and come back to normal.
Don't know how you keep on getting up
You don't understand how you recovered from the beatings and injuries.
From all those ghostly blows
The attacks on you seem to have no direct source, making them 'ghostly.'
And all that pain that lingers
The physical and emotional pain remains, even after the attacks have ended.
Deep down in the darkness where it grows
The pain is residing in a deep, dark place inside of you where it grows and persists.
I know how hard it is
The artist understands how difficult it is for you.
To keep your head up kid
To remain optimistic amidst your struggles.
And there you sit on high
You're in a position of superiority, but still face difficulties.
All tucked away and locked up in the clouds
Despite being in a position of power, you're isolated and cut off from the world.
Waiting for someone to finally
You're waiting to be rescued or saved by someone.
Come along and take you out
To be removed from your current situation.
Into this bitter world
The world is harsh and unforgiving, with challenges and difficulties.
That also often treated you so cruel
The world has mistreated you on multiple occasions.
When they turn away
When people ignore or reject you.
You know that they will say that you're a fool
People will belittle or insult you for your struggles and mistakes.
Keep your head up
Stay optimistic and hopeful.
Keep your head up
Remain mentally strong and persevere.
Keep your head up
Stay positive and look towards a better future.
Keep your head up
Don't let your struggles bring you down.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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