A veteran of the small club circuit, particularly in and around his native New York City, Hest recorded and issued his first three albums on his own. Incomplete (1999), a collection of six songs, was originally intended as a demo to circulate among club owners to help secure performing engagements. Incomplete began selling well at shows, and led to the production of two more full-length albums, Come Home (2001) and Story after Story (2003). Hest's first commercial release from a national record label, Someone to Tell, was released by Columbia Records in 2004.
Fade
Ari Hest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Taken my legs and wrapped them around me so my head can't come down
Just when I thought I had enough, the storm gets even more rough
A la la laa... And I'm just living day by day
Am I this man who understands what my passions decree
Or better yet, am I the one who should be living this dream
All I know is that I'm stuck, but I'm bound to find some luck
A hidden love, confidence, or a friend in the night
And I sleep light, not so tight, I'm afraid the bed bugs may bite me
Up and down my skin, and deep within, these foes have a grin
And they keep smiling all along while I creep on through this day
In Ari Hest's song "Fade," the lyrics reflect the struggles of an individual who is trying to find success and meaning in their life. The opening lines, "And by the way, the comedy has come and taken me on/Taken my legs and wrapped them around me so my head can't come down," suggest that the individual is feeling overwhelmed and unable to escape the constant pressures they face. The metaphor of the comedy being a force that has taken over the individual's body adds to the sense of helplessness they are experiencing.
The song continues with the individual reflecting on their identity and whether they are truly living the life they want. They question whether they are "the one who should be living this dream" and feel stuck with the uncertainty of their future. Despite these struggles, the individual is determined to keep going and refuses to "fade away".
The chorus of the song reflects the individual's resilience and their willingness to face each new day. They are searching for something to anchor them and help them through their struggles, be it "a hidden love, confidence, or a friend in the night".
Overall, "Fade" is a powerful and introspective song that reflects the struggles that many people face when trying to find their place in the world. The lyrics are honest and relatable, and the melody is beautiful and haunting.
Line by Line Meaning
And by the way, the comedy, has come and taken me on
The humor in life has a hold on me and affects me in various ways
Taken my legs and wrapped them around me so my head can't come down
I am unable to escape from the hold of humor and the effects it has on me
Just when I thought I had enough, the storm gets even more rough
When I feel like I've had enough, life keeps throwing more challenging situations my way
A la la laa... And I'm just living day by day
Despite the challenges, I continue to live my life one day at a time
Am I this man who understands what my passions decree
Do I truly understand and pursue the things that I am passionate about?
Or better yet, am I the one who should be living this dream
Is this the life I truly want and am meant to live?
All I know is that I'm stuck, but I'm bound to find some luck
Although I feel stuck, I have faith that luck will come my way eventually
Another day still awaits so I won't, I won't fade away
I will persevere and not lose hope despite the challenges I face
A hidden love, confidence, or a friend in the night
The comfort and support of love, confidence, or a friend can be helpful in difficult times
And I sleep light, not so tight, I'm afraid the bed bugs may bite me
I am unable to rest well due to the fear of the unknown and the unexpected
Up and down my skin, and deep within, these foes have a grin
I feel the effects of my fears both physically and mentally, and they seem to revel in it
And they keep smiling all along while I creep on through this day
Despite my struggles, my fears continue to follow me throughout the day
Contributed by Layla T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.