Honesty, loyalty, and the collective versus the individual are not only strong themes within Jordan’s lyrics, they are also the groundwork that led to the natural expansion from solo project to trio to 6 piece musical communion. The band is relatively young in Seattle’s music scene, but the wizened nature of their performance is due in part to the genuine friendship between bandmates and the insistence of Betsy Johnson (Violin/Vocals), Cameron Arneson (Bass/Vocals), Steve Straney (Drums), Mikkel Lee-Meyers (Keyboard/Vocals), and Chris Stroh (Aux. Percussion/Melodica) on participating in a project they believe in.
Blending elements of roots folk, classic rock, gospel, and psychedelia, what really stands out to the listening ear is the haunting minor key chord changes often paired with a poignant phrase in big three part harmony. The guitar and violin dance around the melody of every song while Jordan’s full throated vocals lash out against the new status quo of modern folk, which tends to equate spirituality and meaning with “otherness,” by describing daily life with all the plain ferocity of a blue collar union organizer. Monochrome Places, Cloud Person’s first full length effort, tugs at the soul with everything from present day headlines to starkly gorgeous explorations of Jordan’s personal life. At times it feels like being in church, but not the bright boxes of today’s modern religion, something closer to the uncomfortable wooden pew synchronizing its prodding with organ-led hymns. There is a real person here and he has your grandfather’s morals with your future son’s disillusionment. The cloud storms and quiets in rhythmic sway, markets rise and fall, love evolves into experience, and something familiar stirs within.
Excellent songwriting matched with strong musicianship puts the listener to work, but I promise you, you’ll be leaving full and hungry for more.
-Written by: Nathaniel Orwiler
Lighthouse
Cloud Person Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
After the sight was taken from my head
So typical of my family
I've gone crazy here
Slowly but surely the light came back
He brought me drawings that could free me
Came I to a lighthouse and a hermit's life
My glory yet before me
A rickshaw vessel beneath my feet
My will was to make small changes in the scenery
I command my surroundings
I went in search of my fair Avalon
My mind's eye hazy but mine eyes could see
The pieces falling in familiarity
I remember her
I see it in their faces but I'm not the man they remember
Time has changed me, I can't explain it
It's written in their gazes, they know the beast that lurks underneath
So afraid they try to hide it from me but I will not abandon this post willingly
I lead me an army out onto the black road
I fought the demons up unto their gate
Came I to the goat-head man, he cackled gleefully
Said I created him
The song "Lighthouse" by Cloud Person tells the story of the singer's journey from darkness to light, both literally and metaphorically. The song begins with the singer's death in a dark and damp dungeon after losing their sight, which is unfortunately typical for their family. They describe going crazy here before slowly but surely regaining their sight, aided by someone who brought them drawings that could free them. The singer then finds themselves in a lighthouse, living a hermit's life with their glory still before them.
The song then shifts to the singer's departure from the lighthouse on a stormy day, on a vessel beneath their feet. Their will is to make small changes in the scenery, and they command their surroundings as they search for their fair Avalon. Although their mind's eye is hazy, they can see the pieces falling into familiarity and they remember her. The singer realizes that time has changed them and they cannot explain it, as it's written in their gazes that they are not the same person that they once were. Despite their fear, they will not abandon their post willingly and they lead an army out onto the black road to fight demons up unto their gate. The singer comes face to face with the goat-head man who cackles gleefully that they created him.
Overall, the lyrics of the song can be interpreted in many ways. It can be seen as a journey of self-discovery, overcoming darkness, and finding a new sense of purpose. It also touches on the idea of family traits and how they can influence one's life, as well as the impact of time on oneself and others.
Line by Line Meaning
I died in a dungeon dark and damp and all
I felt trapped and isolated in a miserable place
After the sight was taken from my head
I lost my clarity and purpose in life
So typical of my family
It's a recurring pattern in my family to feel lost and disconnected
I've gone crazy here
I've lost my mind in this darkness and isolation
Slowly but surely the light came back
I gradually regained my sense of direction and purpose
He brought me drawings that could free me
Someone showed me how to escape this place with their drawings
Came I to a lighthouse and a hermit's life
I found refuge in a solitary life by the sea
My glory yet before me
I still have great potential to achieve greatness
I left on a stormy day into the sea
I left my old life behind despite the challenges ahead
A rickshaw vessel beneath my feet
I set sail on a small, humble boat
My will was to make small changes in the scenery
I aimed to make little improvements where I could
I command my surroundings
I have a sense of control and power over my environment
I went in search of my fair Avalon
I sought something rare and precious that I believed would make me whole
My mind's eye hazy but mine eyes could see
I had a vague idea of what I was looking for but it wasn't clear in my mind
The pieces falling in familiarity
I was starting to recognize the signs and clues that would lead me to what I sought
I remember her
I recall someone special who touched my life
I see it in their faces but I'm not the man they remember
People who know me see that I've changed but don't recognize who I've become
Time has changed me, I can't explain it
I've evolved as a person but I don't understand why or how
It's written in their gazes, they know the beast that lurks underneath
People sense that I have a dark side or hidden aggressiveness
So afraid they try to hide it from me but I will not abandon this post willingly
Some people fear or avoid me but I won't give up on who I am
I lead me an army out onto the black road
I took charge of myself and those around me and embarked on a difficult path
I fought the demons up unto their gate
I battled my inner demons and obstacles that stood in my way
Came I to the goat-head man, he cackled gleefully
I encountered someone who was cruel and enjoyed my suffering
Said I created him
I realized that I had contributed to my own problems and misery
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Peter Jordan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ruvel Del Rosario
I died in a dungeon dark and damp and all
After the sight was taken from my head
So typical of my family
I've gone crazy here
Slowly but surely the light came back
He brought me drawings that could free me
Came I to a lighthouse and a hermit's life
My glory yet before me
I left on a stormy day into the sea
A rickshaw vessel beneath my feet
My will was to make small changes in the scenery
I command my surroundings
I went in search of my fair Avalon
My mind's eye hazy but mine eyes could see
The pieces falling in familiarity
I remember her
I see it in their faces but I'm not the man they remember
Time has changed me, I can't explain it
It's written in their gazes, they know the beast that lurks underneath
So afraid they try to hide it from me but I will not abandon this post willingly
I lead me an army out onto the black road
I fought the demons up unto their gate
Came I to the goat-head man, he cackled gleefully
Said I created him