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
Pear
Damien Jurado Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All my life was built on the sinking sand
What you see is what you get
If I do come home please leave the light on
(I don't need a safer place to land)
You tell so and so to leave a bed
(All my life was built on the sinking sand)
You should've said, you should've said
The lyrics to Damien Jurado's song Pear speak to the notion of being comfortable with vulnerability and not needing to rely on safety nets to navigate life's uncertainties. The verses are filled with contrasting imagery that highlight the singer's unique perspective on life. He expresses that he isn't looking for a safe place to land because his whole life has been built on the sinking sand, which may seem like a contradiction but is actually indicative of the singer's view of the world as involving struggle and impermanence.
The chorus of the song is particularly emotive. The singer implores his loved ones to leave the light on and to tell so and so to leave a bed. He is confessing that although he doesn't need a safer place to land, he still needs a place to call home and to feel loved. The last line of the chorus is repeated twice for emphasis, conveying a sense of regret and longing for a past where things could have been different if only someone had said something that wasn't said.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't need a safer place to land
I am not looking for comfort and safety, because all my life, I've been living in instability and uncertainty.
All my life was built on the sinking sand
My entire existence has been unstable and shaky, like my every step is on quicksand or sinking sand.
What you see is what you get
I am truthful and transparent, and you can trust me to reveal only what is true about myself.
If I do come home please leave the light on
If I ever decide to come back home, please leave the light on as a symbol of hope and welcome.
You tell so and so to leave a bed
You give orders for someone to evacuate a bed, perhaps indicating a desired space for me to sleep.
You should've said, you should've said
You missed an opportunity to say something crucial, which could have had a significant impact on our relationship or situation.
Contributed by Mackenzie K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.