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
December
Damien Jurado Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They're expecting a cold one
Plenty of ice and snow
On the North Dakota plains
December, you killed a man
Trapped in his car for hours
He couldn't call for help
I found him in his car
Hands stuck to the steering wheel
Winter, I found it out
How you can be so cruel
Boy you just watch your back
'Cause one day I'll kill you too
They'll find you in your car
Hands stuck to the steering wheel
Damien Jurado's song "December" paints a vivid picture of a harsh winter in North Dakota. The opening lines "Winter, put on your coat / They're expecting a cold one" sets the scene for a very cold and brutal season. The lyrics "December, you killed a man / Trapped in his car for hours / He couldn't call for help / 'Cause all of the lines were down" are haunting and reveal the dangerous consequences of the extreme winter weather. The singer's discovery of the dead man in his car with his hands stuck to the steering wheel is a stark reminder of the brutal and unforgiving nature of the winter season.
What is interesting about the song "December" is that it was inspired by a true story that Jurado read about in a local newspaper. Additionally, the song was written in only 15 minutes, showcasing Jurado's ability to effortlessly capture a story and turn it into a song. Another interesting fact is that the song was originally included on Jurado's album titled "Where Shall You Take Me?", which was released in 2003, and has since seen a resurgence in popularity due to its use in popular TV shows such as "The Blacklist" and "The Leftovers".
Line by Line Meaning
Winter, put on your coat
Preparing for the winter season with appropriate clothing.
They're expecting a cold one
The weather forecast predicts a harsh winter season.
Plenty of ice and snow
The North Dakota plains will experience a lot of snow and ice.
December, you killed a man
The winter season has taken a life.
Trapped in his car for hours
The victim was stuck in a car for hours due to the harsh winter conditions.
He couldn't call for help
The victim was unable to call for help due to communication lines being down.
'Cause all of the lines were down
The communication lines were unavailable during this time, preventing the victim from summoning help.
I found him in his car
The discovery of the victim's car.
Hands stuck to the steering wheel
The cold weather led to the victim's hands being frozen to the car's steering wheel.
Winter, I found it out
Realizing how harsh and unforgiving winter can be.
How you can be so cruel
Expressing frustration towards the unforgiving and dangerous nature of winter.
Boy you just watch your back
Winter is being personified as a threat, with a warning directed towards it.
'Cause one day I'll kill you too
Promising a retaliation against the harshness of winter.
They'll find you in your car
Winter's eventual defeat is predicted to occur within a vehicle, like the victim.
Hands stuck to the steering wheel
Like the victim, winter will be defeated with its hands frozen to a car's steering wheel.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB.
Written by: Damien Jurado
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind