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
Northbound
Damien Jurado Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I drive to a place where no one knows who I am
Stop lights broken, tail lights out
I speed without caution on a road made of ice
My body an engine, my car is a train
I don't feel guilty for the hurt or pain
Telephone message, we all ring twice
The opening lyrics of Damien Jurado's "Northbound" set the tone for a journey of self-discovery and escape, with the singer escaping to a place where they can shed their identity and start anew. The use of the phrase "left hand lane" creates a sense of disorientation, as if the singer is purposefully moving away from the familiar and established. The broken stop lights and tail lights suggest a disregard for the rules or consequences of their actions, and the road made of ice implies a slippery and unstable path.
Line by Line Meaning
Northbound open, use left hand lane
I am heading north on the open road and I stick to the left lane.
I drive to a place where no one knows who I am
I am trying to escape from my current life and flee to a location where nobody recognizes or knows me.
Stop lights broken, tail lights out
The traffic lights are not operational and my car's tail lights are not functioning properly.
I speed without caution on a road made of ice
I am recklessly driving at a high speed on a slippery road made of ice, without worrying about any consequences.
My body an engine, my car is a train
I feel like my body is an engine and the car I am driving is like a train, giving me a sense of empowerment and freedom.
I don't feel guilty for the hurt or pain
I do not feel any remorse for the pain or hurt caused by my actions, implying that I am unfazed by my actions and their consequences on others.
Telephone message, we all ring twice
The phone rings twice before we hang up, implying that communication is not significant or long-lasting in my life.
I speed without caution on a road made of ice
The previous line is repeated, indicating that I am continuing to act irresponsibly and drive fast on treacherous terrain.
Contributed by Olivia G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.