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
Kalama
Damien Jurado Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All of this has changed us
I was a fool who would always defend you
Was I wrong, too, like the others
Sisters and brothers abandoned
Forgive my living, keep me from breathing
A house that is standing is no house at all
Knowing that I will die soon
Will you keep me as ashes
Placed on the mantle or thrown out
Mother, do you know now
Love is not painless, it's poison
Forgive my living, keep my from breathing
A house that is standing is no house at all
In Damien Jurado's song Kalama, the singer is struggling with the aftermath of their dysfunctional family dynamic. Addressing their mother, the singer laments the ways in which their family has been changed, likely due to some form of abuse or neglect. The singer had always defended their mother, but now questions whether this was a mistake. The siblings have abandoned each other, leaving the singer alone to confront their pain. The lyrics "Forgive my living, keep me from breathing" exhibit the singer's desire to be put out of their misery, as the family's pain has been unbearable.
The chorus of the song is poignant, stating "A house that is standing is no house at all." This line implies that the family, despite still being physically together, is broken beyond repair. The singer's impending death is mentioned, and their request for their ashes to be thrown out or kept on a mantle is a dark moment that highlights the futility of their existence. The lyrics "Love is not painless, it's poison" further emphasize the singer's hopeless outlook, suggesting that love has only brought them agony.
Overall, Kalama is a deeply emotional and honest song that explores the pain of family trauma. Jurado's vocals and the simple, folksy instrumentation add to the rawness of the lyrics, making for a haunting listening experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Mother, do you know how
The singer is addressing their mother and asking if she is aware of the changes that have occurred in their life.
All of this has changed us
The singer believes that everything they have gone through has had a profound impact on their life and has changed them in some way.
I was a fool who would always defend you
The singer admits that they were foolish in the past and would always defend their mother, despite any flaws or mistakes she may have had.
Was I wrong, too, like the others
The artist questions if they were also wrong, like their siblings who have abandoned them.
Sisters and brothers abandoned
The artist's siblings have left or given up on them, possibly due to the family's struggles or disagreements.
Forgive my living, keep me from breathing
The singer is asking for forgiveness for simply existing and wants their mother to relieve them of the burdens of life.
A house that is standing is no house at all
Even if they have a physical home, it doesn't feel like a real home if they don't have the love and support of their family and loved ones.
Mother, is it easy
The artist asks their mother if it is easy for her to deal with the fact that they are going to die soon.
Knowing that I will die soon
The artist acknowledges their own mortality and the fact that they will die soon.
Will you keep me as ashes
The artist is asking their mother if she will keep their ashes after they die.
Placed on the mantle or thrown out
The singer is giving their mother two options for what to do with their ashes - display them on a mantelpiece or throw them away.
Mother, do you know now
The artist repeats their question from earlier in the song, asking if their mother is now aware of something important.
Love is not painless, it's poison
The singer has had a painful experience with love and sees it as a destructive force that can poison a person's life.
Forgive my living, keep me from breathing
The singer repeats their plea for forgiveness and asks their mother to help them escape the difficulties of life once again.
A house that is standing is no house at all
The singer repeats the idea that having a house isn't enough for them to feel at home and happy. They need love and support from those around them.
Contributed by Sophia G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.