There was, “a lot of preachin’, a lot of prayin’ & a lot of piano playin’.” That best describes Anderson’s early years as a Southern Baptist Pastor’s grandson. Add the sweet sound of a gospel singing father, coupled with the big dreams that only a small town will inspire and you get a young man full of emotion, depth, curiosity, and song. Although profoundly influenced by the sounds of his childhood, Anderson East knew early on that his musical landscape was much broader than his conservative upbringing and embarked on a pursuit that would encompass both reverence and rebellion. With lyrics exploring timeless and thought provoking subjects, vocals that both soothe and mend the most human urges to love, hate, cry and lose control, and a palette of musical instruments best described in the art world as mixed media, Anderson East offers the listener something new to the ear yet familiar to the spirit. Bearing an unforgettable voice that allows you to explore the rich emotions of his music, Anderson’s vocals range from soulful cries to haunting whispers, and paint a vivid picture of his lyrics. Described as taking only the best qualities from Otis Redding, Ray LaMontagne, Ryan Adams, and John Mayer, Anderson’s voice is a lovely blend of unique inflection and delivery that creates a sound of its own.
After independently releasing the well-received EP Fire Demos in 2010, followed by Transitive Property in 2011, a new project was born: the double LP, Flowers of the Broken Hearted. A musical endeavor that explores the human condition of heartbreak through love lived and love lost. With a two LP canvas, Anderson explores his dynamic musical range, offering the listener two independently unique sounds, yet one universal theme.
Embarking on the first half, Anderson set out for Los Angeles and into the studio with co-producer Chris Seefried (Counting Crows, Fitz & the Tantrums), alongside a prized cast of individuals including Grammy award winning engineer Seth A. Horan, and an array of acclaimed musicians including Charles Gillingham & David Immergluck (members of the Counting Crows), Rob Wasserman (Lou Reed), Waddy Wachtel (Stevie Nicks), Don Heffington (Bob Dylan), Noel Scaggs (Fitz & the Tantrums) and Justine Bennett.
The second half of Flowers, recorded back in Nashville, is a modern, darker, more contemplative side of Anderson, a dualistically fulfilling contrast to the more classic Americana/Soul side of the album. Joining East is drummer Evan Hutching, bassist Tim Marks, and cellist Matt Nelson, as well as guest vocalist such as Callie and Phoebe Cryar (The Vespers), Natalie Prass and other gifted Nashville artists.
Flowers of the Broken Hearted is due to be released Summer 2012.
Josephine
Anderson East Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To that cold and dark December
I am missing someone but I don't know who
Now I'm standing alone and I'm trying to remember
Sometimes I wonder how I ever started loving you
Noontime wind can you blow
For me one more time
Where the midnight moon shines so bright
Nearly pulled us up to Heaven
By the strings of our heart
Take me back Josephine
To that cold and dark December
I am missing someone but I don't know who
Now I'm standing alone and I'm trying to remember
Sometimes I wonder how I ever started loving you
Morning sun shine on me
Come light inside my window
And rest on my brow
Kiss my eyes when I sleep
And carry me back home
If my dreams will allow
Take me back Josephine
To that cold and dark December
I am missing someone but I don't know who
Now I'm standing alone and I'm trying to remember
Sometimes I wonder how I ever started loving you
Take me back Josephine
To that cold and dark December
I am missing someone but I don't know who
Now I'm standing alone and I'm trying to remember
Sometimes I wonder how I ever started loving you
Someone help me understand why I'm still loving you
The lyrics of Anderson East's song "Josephine" convey a sense of longing, nostalgia, and confusion in love. The singer, Josephine, serves as a symbol of a past love or a place where memories were formed. The song is set in a cold and dark December, emphasizing the somber atmosphere and the feeling of being lost without a clear understanding of who or what is truly missed.
The lyrics suggest that the singer is standing alone, trying to remember and make sense of their emotions. They express wonder at how they ever started loving Josephine, indicating a sense of doubt and questioning the reasons behind their feelings. The mention of a noontime wind and a morning sun symbolizes a desire for a fresh start or a return to the beginning, where the love was once vibrant and illuminated their lives. The singer longs for the dreams to guide them back home, perhaps indicating a hope for clarity or understanding.
Overall, the song captures the bittersweet experience of reminiscing about a past love, grappling with memories, and trying to make sense of complicated emotions. It explores the universal theme of questioning the reasons behind love and the longing for clarity in matters of the heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Take me back Josephine
I long to return to a time when I was with Josephine
To that cold and dark December
To a specific time in the past when it was cold and dark, possibly symbolizing a difficult period
I am missing someone but I don't know who
I feel a sense of longing for someone, but I cannot identify who it is
Now I'm standing alone and I'm trying to remember
Currently, I find myself alone, reflecting on my memories and attempting to recall certain details
Sometimes I wonder how I ever started loving you
Occasionally, I question how I fell in love with you in the first place
Noontime wind can you blow
I ask the wind to blow during midday
For me one more time
Grant me the favor of blowing for one more time
And take me on back to the start
Transport me back to the beginning of our relationship
Where the midnight moon shines so bright
Referring to a time when the moon was bright and illuminated
Nearly pulled us up to Heaven
Our love and connection brought us to a state of bliss and happiness
By the strings of our heart
Indicating that our love was the driving force that elevated us
Morning sun shine on me
I request the morning sun to shine upon me
Come light inside my window
Illuminate my surroundings by entering through my window
And rest on my brow
Allow the sunlight to gently touch my forehead
Kiss my eyes when I sleep
Symbolically representing the morning sun's presence even when I am asleep
And carry me back home
Bring me back to where I feel safe and comfortable
If my dreams will allow
If my dreams permit or allow for this journey back home
Someone help me understand why I'm still loving you
I am seeking assistance in comprehending why I continue to have feelings of love for you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Brandi M. Carlile, Timothy Jay Hanseroth
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sarah Harkins
One of the most powerful performances I've ever seen!
Har'soa
Anderson East and Brandi Carlil form a beautiful vocal duet.🤗👍🏼 Thanks for sharing.🙏🏼
Carolina R.
👏🏼👏🏽👏🏿👏🏾👏🏻👏🏼👏🏽👏🏿👏🏾👏🏻
Rot Hotborski
My two favorite not-so-famous-as-they-deserve artists together...absolutely love it...thanks for sharing, this is brilliant
Shaun Stuto
I was there (just to the right of the view), and this was one of the single greatest performances I've ever witnessed.
Calvin Sullivan
not sure if you guys gives a shit but if you're bored like me atm then you can stream pretty much all the latest series on instaflixxer. Have been watching with my gf these days xD
Marcus Hezekiah
@Calvin Sullivan definitely, have been watching on InstaFlixxer for since november myself :)
Ruby Austin
They interact like they've known each other a long time with mutual love and respect💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘I love Anderson East
Carolina R.
YES 👏🏼👏🏽👏🏾
Alex Zhang
I have to say the pianist is amazing