After gaining some recognition in local circles in Jacksonville, Florida and competing at Scribble Jam, Astronautalis self-released his debut album, You and Yer Good Ideas, in 2003. He eventually signed with Fighting Records and the record was re-released in 2005, followed by his second album, The Mighty Ocean and Nine Dark Theaters, in 2006. He released the third album, Pomegranate, on Eyeball Records in 2008. In winter 2009, he toured with the Canadian indie rock band Tegan and Sara through Europe, and supported them again through the spring of 2010 in Australia. His fourth album, This Is Our Science, was released on Fake Four Inc in 2011.
Astronautalis has been described as "if Beck were a decade or so younger and had grown up more heavily immersed in hip-hop," with his rapping style noted for "blending styles of indie rock, electro, and talkin’ blues" with hip-hop. He has described himself as "historical fiction hip-hop."
During live performances, he often performs a freestyle rap based on topics chosen by members of his audience
Thomas Jefferson
Astronautalis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You could never connect the copper cast with the mold
You could never guess, you could never guess
You could never guess where I come from, no
Every mile I drive, further down this road
Tears a little more off of my bones
And you could never guess, you could never guess
The first thing they was taught, was how to load and lock
Take that aim and shot, embrace the pain of shoulder blade taking stock
Watch em drop, pull the bolt back, load another up till the clip goes "pop"
Till you sweep your block, and you can hear a pin drop
In a place that's more comfortable with "POP! POP! POP! POP!"
The first thing they learned, was how to plant that carbine in the earth
Prop that helmet on the stock, hang them dog tags from the lock
Say your prayers and mark the spot
Where the body's interred then turn, taciturn
And talk that walk, taste that salt
Sprinkle a little bit of lye in the earth, don't cry when it hurts
'Cause you ain't done yet son, spill a little bit more blood
Everybody knows what comes from the warm wet red mud
Best I believe, when you fall to your knees
You're gonna cry, you'll pray for peace
And they gonna plant them seeds of the winter wheat
And the Georgia peach watered up with your red rum
Every song I sing cuts a little bit more
You could never connect the copper cast with the mold
You could never guess, you could never guess
You could never guess where I come from, no
Every mile I drive, further down this road
Tears a little more off of my bones
And you could never guess, you could never guess
You could never guess where I come from, no
I know he would've loved this, but he had to die to give it
I melted down his musket, turned it to a tool
Tilling like a fool to see where his blood went
See if I can grow something beautiful above it
Standing guard above my garden till the seeds take root
Taking shade under the trees with the sweet grapefruit
I'll take my yield and his old boots till the leaves shake loose
I will die in these fields, but my seeds will move
The ox and yoke know every note I hum
Written in the grass by the midday sun
The lamp lit ahead of me with the earth between my feet
I'll sing a song into the breeze, let it fold the wheat
Every song I sing cuts a little bit more
You could never connect the copper cast with the mold
You could never guess, you could never guess
You could never guess where I come from, no
Every mile I drive, further down this road
Tears a little more off of my bones
And you could never guess, you could never guess
You could never guess where I come from, no
Every song I sing cuts a little bit more
You could never connect the copper cast with the mold
You could never guess, you could never guess
You could never guess where I come from, no
Every mile I drive, further down this road
Tears a little more off of my bones
And you could never guess, you could never guess
You could never guess where I come from, no
The song "Thomas Jefferson" by Astronautalis is a poignant commentary on the heavy toll that war and violence can take on a person's mind, body, and soul. The lyrics convey a sense of disconnection and alienation from one's own identity and the world at large. The phrase "Every song I sing cuts a little bit more" is a recurring motif that speaks to the artist's sense of personal sacrifice and pain in sharing his experiences with the listener.
The reference to "copper cast" and "mold" in the opening lines suggests that the artist feels like an outsider, perhaps due to his experiences in war or as a soldier. The idea that "you could never guess where I come from" underscores this sense of isolation and distance. As the song progresses, we hear more explicit references to the violence and trauma that can result from warfare. The lines "The first thing they were taught, was how to load and lock...pull the bolt back, load another up till the clip goes 'pop'" paint a stark picture of the training and dehumanization that soldiers must undergo.
However, there is also a sense of hope and resilience in the song. The artist turns to gardening as a way of finding solace and connection to his past, specifically through the memory of someone who has died. The repetition of the line "I will die in these fields, but my seeds will move" suggests that even though the artist may be physically present in a place of trauma and violence, his legacy and impact will be felt through the beauty and growth that he cultivates.
Line by Line Meaning
Every song I sing cuts a little bit more
Each song adds to the weight of my experience and the toll it has taken on me.
You could never connect the copper cast with the mold
No one can fully understand the complexity of where I come from and what I have been through.
You could never guess, you could never guess
No matter how hard you try, you cannot predict the depth of my experiences.
Every mile I drive, further down this road
Every day brings new challenges and takes a physical toll on me.
Tears a little more off of my bones
The burden of my experiences is felt in my physical body and causes pain.
The first thing they was taught, was how to load and lock
From the start, soldiers are trained in the basics of warfare.
Take that aim and shot, embrace the pain of shoulder blade taking stock
They are taught to take aim and deal with the physical consequences of firing a weapon.
Watch em drop, pull the bolt back, load another up till the clip goes "pop"
The process of firing a weapon becomes routine and mechanical.
Till you sweep your block, and you can hear a pin drop
After combat, there is an eerie silence and the soldier must deal with the aftermath of what they have done.
In a place that's more comfortable with "POP! POP! POP! POP!"
In a warzone, the sound of gunshots is tragically commonplace.
The first thing they learned, was how to plant that carbine in the earth
Along with combat training, soldiers learn about the burial of fallen comrades.
Prop that helmet on the stock, hang them dog tags from the lock
Soldiers memorialize their fallen comrades by attaching their dog tags to their weapons.
Say your prayers and mark the spot
It is a solemn duty to mark the spot where a fallen comrade was buried.
Sprinkle a little bit of lye in the earth, don't cry when it hurts
Preparing a grave is a difficult and painful process that must be endured.
'Cause you ain't done yet son, spill a little bit more blood
The cycle of violence and death in war is a never-ending process.
Everybody knows what comes from the warm wet red mud
The reality of war is that it is messy, violent, and results in many deaths.
Best I believe, when you fall to your knees
In times of extreme hardship and loss, faith can be a source of strength and comfort for soldiers.
You're gonna cry, you'll pray for peace
The emotional impact of war is profound and can lead to deep sadness and a desire for peace.
And they gonna plant them seeds of the winter wheat
Even in the aftermath of war, life goes on and new growth can eventually emerge.
And the Georgia peach watered up with your red rum
The loss of life in war is tragic and affects the world in unexpected ways.
I know he would've loved this, but he had to die to give it
The beauty of life can be bittersweet when we think of those we have lost.
I melted down his musket, turned it to a tool
The tools of war can be repurposed for peaceful activities and growth.
Tilling like a fool to see where his blood went
The tragedy of war may inspire us to seek out deeper meanings and connections in life.
Standing guard above my garden till the seeds take root
The hard work of nurturing new life requires diligence and attention.
Taking shade under the trees with the sweet grapefruit
Enjoying the simple pleasures of life can be a source of comfort in difficult times.
I'll take my yield and his old boots till the leaves shake loose
Honoring the memory of the past while moving forward and embracing new growth.
I will die in these fields, but my seeds will move
Although our physical lives may be limited, our legacy can live on through the impact we have on future generations.
The ox and yoke know every note I hum
The hard work of farming requires a deep connection to the land and the animals that help us work it.
Written in the grass by the midday sun
The beauty of nature is all around us, even in the midst of difficult labor and exhaustion.
The lamp lit ahead of me with the earth between my feet
The path forward may be difficult, but we must keep moving forward with our eyes fixed on our goals.
I'll sing a song into the breeze, let it fold the wheat
Even in the midst of difficult labor, we can find a sense of peace and contentment in the beauty of the world around us.
Contributed by Owen M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.