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
Exit 353
Damien Jurado Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You were a light
Shining like some planet you call home
Talking aloud
Was it about
The ending or beginning of a word?
I let go, and you held strong
Are we all not lost in song
Feeding back until we're found?
I was a line
Here on rewind
Living out the voices in my mind
Talking aloud
Distorted in sound
Are we all not stars here on the ground?
You were with me all along
I let go, and you held strong
Are we all not lost in song
Feeding back until we're found?
And in the golden hours hue
The darkest of the few
Was with me all along
And sewn into the sounds of joy
The forms of light collide
In the walls of my eyes
I was alone then
I was alone then
I was alone then
I was alone then
I was alone then
I was alone then
I was alone then
I was alone then
I was alone then
The lyrics of "Exit 353" by Damien Jurado explore themes of connection, loss, and the power of music to bring people together. The opening lines set the tone for the song, with the singer describing himself as a "line" and the listener as a "light" shining like a planet. This creates a sense of separation, as though the singer is cut off from the world around him. However, the use of the word "home" suggests that he sees the listener as a source of comfort and belonging.
As the song progresses, the singer asks whether their conversation is about the "ending or beginning of a word". This could be interpreted as a metaphor for the beginning or end of a relationship, or a more general sense of the ephemerality of life. The repetition of the line "I was alone then" at the end of the song emphasizes this sense of isolation and the quest for connection.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of tension between the singer's inner thoughts and the external world. He describes living out the "voices in his mind" and feeling "distorted in sound", suggesting a sense of disconnection from the world around him. However, the repeated refrain of "you were with me all along" suggests that the listener is a source of stability and support, even in the darkest moments.
Overall, "Exit 353" is a haunting and introspective song that explores the complexities of human connection and the power of music to bring people together.
Line by Line Meaning
And when, I was a line
At a previous point in time, when I was feeling restricted and limited
You were a light
You provided me with guidance and direction, serving as a beacon of hope
Shining like some planet you call home
Radiating brilliantly and feeling a deep sense of belonging and comfort
Talking aloud
Expressing my thoughts and feelings through words
Was it about
Was my conversation focused on
The ending or beginning of a word?
Whether the conclusion or introduction of a concept was being discussed
That was with me all along
An idea or feeling that I had inside of me for some time
I let go, and you held strong
I allowed myself to move on while you remained steadfast and supportive
Are we all not lost in song
Are we not all consumed by our own personal narratives and emotions?
Feeding back until we're found?
Taking in experiences and growing until we've discovered our true selves
Here on rewind
Replaying past events in my mind
Living out the voices in my mind
Acting on the inner monologue within me
Distorted in sound
Muted and unclear
Are we all not stars here on the ground?
Do we not all have the potential to shine brightly and impactful even in mundane or difficult circumstances?
And in the golden hours hue
In the warm, radiant light of a sunset
The darkest of the few
The moments of greatest struggle
Was with me all along
Were my shadows and challenges that had been present with me even in the good times
And sewn into the sounds of joy
Inextricably intertwined with the sensations of happiness and fulfillment
The forms of light collide
The different kinds of positivity can come together and make something even brighter
In the walls of my eyes
Within my own perspective and perception of the world
I was alone then
In the past, I was by myself
I was alone then
In that moment of recollection, I felt a sense of isolation
I was alone then
Reflecting on a time when I was without support or understanding
I was alone then
A heartbreaking repetition of my loneliness
I was alone then
Contemplating the idea of ever really being truly alone
I was alone then
Feeling the depth of my past struggles in the present moment
I was alone then
Acknowledging that while I might have support now, that wasn't always the case
I was alone then
Finally giving voice to feelings of hurt and abandonment
I was alone then
Capturing the feelings of uncertainty and fear in a memorable phrase
Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Damien Jurado
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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And when
I was the line
You were a light
Shining like some planet
You call home
Talking aloud
What's it about
The ending or beginning of a word
That was with me all along
I let go, you held strong
Are we all not lost in song
Feeding back until we're found
I was a line
Here on rewind
Living out the voices in my mind
Talking aloud
Distorted in sound
Are we are not stars here on the ground
You were with me all along
I let go, and you held strong
Are we all not lost in song
Feeding back until we're found
And in the golden hours hue
The darkest of the few
Was with me all along
And sewn into the sounds of joy
The forms of light collide
In the walls of my eyes
I was alone there
I was alone then
I was alone there
I was alone then
I was alone there
I was alone then
nitedreamer23
DJ is so vastly underrated. This album, as well as the new one with Richard Swift, is terrific. I love that "Silver Timothy" is playing in the store when the child is "shopping".
Johnson McGee
How the heck have I never heard of this guy before.. Wow.. Unreal.. he's so good.
Paul Varn
You can always count on Damien for that great mystical sound.
Michael B
Amazing... Damien Jurado has a sound like nobody else. Its music that makes you think...
Gisela Afonso
What a marvellous song! Thank you, Damien.
Gabriel Everett
This is a perfect song for so many reasons!
mifune141
Great song and video, can't wait for the album!
Frank Coughlan
Brilliant song.
Not a hope I'd get into the car with him !!
And I wouldn't pick her up either.
Great video, captures everything !!
S MacFarlane
Love this. The acting was great in the video/short film. I was as gripped by the video as I was mesmerised by the song. Regards from Ireland.
MateBoy
As "Brothers and Sisters of the Eternal Son" was one of my favorite albums of 2013, I'm so incredibly hyped for this one!