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
Lon Bella
Damien Jurado Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He's trying to call collect
Dad gave him my number
Suppose I should call back
And since I have no plans
On a long term stay
My bus leaves early morning
To die
Serpents in the water
Fogging up my glass
Swimming here since Thursday
Burning through my stacks
And you find out who I am
Then you want to turn me into
Someone you'd respect
A smile you can correct
And since I have no plans
On a long term stay
My bus leaves early morning
Why sit around and wait
To die
And when there are no cups to fill
Where the sidewalk disappears
You and I will make amends
With our daggers in our hands
They will say I knew him when
Before he once had friends
With a life you would curate
Decided now his fate
We sit around and wait
The lyrics to Damien Jurado's song "Lon Bella" are a poignant representation of the theme of isolation and the human need for connection. The opening lines of the song present the image of Jesus trying to reach out to the singer, highlighting the universal human desire for communication and the need to be heard. However, the singer is hesitant to pick up the phone and answer the call, as indicated by the suggestion that he should call back, emphasizing the singer's inner conflict and the deep sense of loneliness he is experiencing.
Throughout the song, we see the singer grappling with his own mortality and the fact that he has no long-term plans, as symbolized by his bus leaving early morning. Despite his awareness of the fleeting nature of life, the singer feels stuck and uncertain of his own place in the world, as depicted through the image of serpents in the water and fogging up his glass. Towards the end of the song, the singer confronts the listener, commenting on how people often try to mold each other into what they believe is the right version of themselves. However, the singer is resolute in his desire to chart his own course, even if that means giving up on the comfort of companionship, as implied by the line: "Why sit around and wait to die?"
Overall, "Lon Bella" is a haunting and thought-provoking song that speaks to the human condition with striking rawness and emotional depth.
Line by Line Meaning
Jesus on the mainline
Someone is trying to call, possibly for help or guidance.
He's trying to call collect
The caller is requesting a collect call, which may indicate financial struggles.
Dad gave him my number
The singer's father gave the caller their phone number.
Suppose I should call back
The artist feels a sense of obligation to call the unknown caller back.
And since I have no plans
The artist has no idea what their long-term future holds.
On a long term stay
The singer doesn't expect to stay in one place for a long time.
My bus leaves early morning
The singer has transportation that is leaving early in the morning.
Why sit around and wait
The artist wants to make the most of their time and not waste it sitting around.
To die
This could be a metaphor for not wanting to waste one's life.
Serpents in the water
There are dangerous creatures or situations present.
Fogging up my glass
The singer's view is obstructed or clouded.
Swimming here since Thursday
The artist has been in this situation for a prolonged period of time.
Burning through my stacks
The singer is spending their resources quickly.
And you find out who I am
Once someone learns more about the singer, they may judge or try to change them.
Then you want to turn me into
Others may want the singer to conform or become someone they're not comfortable being.
Someone you'd respect
The pressure to gain approval from others is present.
A smile you can correct
Even the artist's facial expressions may be manipulated or deemed unacceptable.
And when there are no cups to fill
Once something is used up or gone, things may change.
Where the sidewalk disappears
When things go wrong or become difficult, the path forward is not clear.
You and I will make amends
Two parties may come together to improve a situation after mistakes have been made.
With our daggers in our hands
There may still be some hostility or danger present in the reconciliation process.
They will say I knew him when
Others may remember the artist as someone they knew in the past.
Before he once had friends
The singer may have lost friendships or support along the way.
With a life you would curate
Others may try to take control of the artist's life for them.
Decided now his fate
The singer's future may feel predetermined or out of their control.
We sit around and wait
The singer and those around them may still be waiting for change or resolution to come.
Writer(s): Damien Jurado
Contributed by Jayden E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.