Jurado's solo career began during the mid-1990s, releasing lo-fi folk based recordings on his own cassette-only label, Casa Recordings, beginning in 1995.
Jurado often makes use of found-sound and field-recording techniques, and has experimented with different forms of tape recordings. In 2000 he released Postcards and Audio Letters, a collection of found audio letters and fragments that he had found from sources such as thrift store tape players and answering machines. Also released in 2000 was Ghost of David,, Jurado's bleakest and most personal sounding record to date. I Break Chairs, (2002) was produced by long time friend, David Bazan. It was his last album for Sub Pop, and was a much rockier, electric affair. After signing for the Indiana-based label Secretly Canadian, Damien Jurado reverted to his trademark folk ballad-based style, releasing six more albums: Where Shall You Take Me? (2003), On My Way To Absence (2005), And Now That I'm In Your Shadow (2006), Caught in the Trees (2008), Saint Bartlett (2010) and Maraqopa (2012).
Official blog: iamcaughtinthetrees.blogspot.com
Amateur Night
Damien Jurado Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The alcohol and magazines
In my flashlight you're a star
Razor blade that cuts you clean
Smile for the camera
Take off that dress
Twenty dollars for a kiss
It's me who made you
It's me who will take you
I am not an evil man
I just have a habit I can't kick
It starts with an urge and ends with this
Hang up the phone, I ain't finished yet
The lyrics of Damien Jurado's song "Amateur Night" paint a disturbing and unsettling picture of exploitation and violence. The song describes a scene of screams, blood, and a razor blade, where someone is being filmed and photographed against their will. The second verse reveals that this person is a sex worker, or possibly a victim of human trafficking, with their identity being reduced to a commodity that can be bought and sold for kisses and cash. The final verse is particularly chilling, as the singer confesses to his own addiction to this cycle of abuse and control, while also suggesting that he has not yet finished doing harm.
At its core, the song confronts us with the reality of how marginalized people can be treated in society, particularly women who are forced into situations of sexual exploitation and violence. The lyrics are powerful in their imagery and metaphor, but they also force us to directly confront the very real harm that can be perpetrated by those who seek to profit from others' suffering. The use of first-person narration creates a sense of immediacy and intimacy, drawing us into the twisted and disturbing mindset of the singer.
Overall, the song is a haunting and emotionally charged exploration of themes of exploitation, power, and control. It is a stark reminder that behind every act of violence and abuse lies a web of social, economic, and political factors that perpetuate and enable such harm.
Line by Line Meaning
First came the screams and blood on the floor
The horrifying scene started off with loud screams and the sight of blood spilled all over the floor.
The alcohol and magazines
There were empty bottles of alcohol and pornographic magazines lying around the place.
In my flashlight you're a star
Under the beam of my flashlight, you seem like a shining star to me.
Razor blade that cuts you clean
I have a sharp razor blade which can create a clean cut in your skin.
Smile for the camera
Please show a happy expression for the camera, regardless of the uncomfortable situation.
Take off that dress
I demand that you remove your dress and expose yourself to me.
Twenty dollars for a kiss
I'm willing to pay you twenty dollars in exchange for a kiss, which is commonly known as a cheap and meaningless act of affection.
It's me who made you
I'm taking credit for making you whatever I want you to be or do, regardless of your own will or original personality.
It's me who will take you
I have the power to decide what will happen to you, and I'm taking advantage of that power to use and abuse you.
I am not an evil man
Despite all the atrocities I have committed toward you, I still want to think of myself as a decent human being, trying to justify my sadistic behavior.
I just have a habit I can't kick
I'm trying to downplay my addiction to hurting others, as if it's a minor issue that I am not able to control.
It starts with an urge and ends with this
My actions stem from an unbearable urge to cause pain and humiliation for my own pleasure, and it always ends up with your suffering and despair.
Hang up the phone, I ain't finished yet
I'm telling you to put down the phone and not try to escape, because I haven't finished tormenting you yet.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Damien Jurado
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
tim mcconkey
softly haunting...