Damien Jurado (born 12 November 1972) is an American singer in the indie-ro… Read Full Bio ↴Damien Jurado (born 12 November 1972) is an American singer in the indie-rock tradition of Seattle, Washington. His music is regarded as being heavily influenced by folk music. Over the years he has released albums on many labels; today his primary label is Secretly Canadian. He was once in the band, Coolidge, with Seattle's David Bazan.

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

Fuel
Damien Jurado Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I was born in this town
My name taken from here
Three sisters and a brother
Who all died before me

When wickedness takes you
Like a child of its own
Nobody will befriend you

Nobody will defend you

I murdered the law here
I took on God here
So in place of your sins I bring you a Judas

So mother, burn my body
For fuel
Oh, mother, burn my body
For fuel

They say I'm a story
But the legend's all wrong
I was forced out of town
But kept in this song

See, it was you who made me
It is you who must take me
Love me or hate me
I'm still your son

So mother, burn my body
For fuel
Oh, mother, burn my body
For fuel

So mother, burn my body
For fuel.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Damien Jurado's song Fuel reveal a story of a man who is deeply connected with his hometown. Born and raised there, he is the last surviving member of his family, all of whom died before him. The song seems to suggest that he has been cast out of the town for some wrongdoing, possibly murder or some other form of heinous crime, but the details are not made clear. He makes references to "murdering the law" and "taking on God," which could suggest that he has committed some terrible act that led to his exile.

Despite the gravity of his situation, the singer of the song does not seem to show remorse for his actions. He states that he brings his town a "Judas" in place of their sins, essentially saying that he is justified in his actions. He pleads with his mother to burn his body for fuel, suggesting that he has no place in the world and that his body is only good for fueling the fire. In essence, he is saying that he wants to be forgotten, erased from memory.

The songs' haunting melodies and the haunting lyrics can leave listeners emotionally charged as it is a song that is open to interpretation. It can be considered a commentary on sins, regret, and loss. It's worth mentioning that Damien Jurado is known for his storytelling abilities, and Fuel is no exception. His use of imagery and metaphor paints a vivid picture of the singer's inner turmoil.

Line by Line Meaning

I was born in this town
I originated from this place

My name taken from here
My name was given to me based on this place

Three sisters and a brother
I had three sisters and a brother

Who all died before me
All of them passed away before me

When wickedness takes you
When evil captivates you

Like a child of its own
Like its own offspring

Nobody will befriend you
Nobody will be your companion

Nobody will defend you
Nobody will protect you

I murdered the law here
I violated the law in this place

I took on God here
I challenged God in this place

So in place of your sins I bring you a Judas
Instead of taking your sins, I bring you a betrayer like Judas