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

Simple Hello
Damien Jurado Lyrics

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Simple hello would've been nice
Instead you walked right by
I do recall we used to be friends
Has that slipped your mind

I used to call you on the telephone
Each and every night
Every time I see you with him

I think, "Why even try?"

Think I've had enough
Think I've lost my mind
This time

We used to be the best of friends
I guess now things have changed
Far too busy with your own friends
Do you still know my name

Think I've had enough
And I think I've lost control
So it goes

Think I've had enough
Think I've lost my mind

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Damien Jurado's Simple Hello explore the theme of lost friendships and the feelings of hurt and confusion that come with it. The singer laments the fact that a simple hello from someone who used to be their friend would have been enough, but instead, they walked right by as if they had never known each other. The singer reminisces about the past, remembering that they used to talk on the phone every night, but now the friend seems too busy with their own life, and the singer wonders if their name has even been forgotten. The hurt and disappointment are palpable, and the singer's frustration is evident in the line "Every time I see you with him, I think, 'Why even try?'"

As the song progresses, the singer seems to accept that the friendship is over, stating "Think I've had enough, and I think I've lost control, so it goes." The repetition of this line suggests that the singer has come to terms with the situation and has reached a point of emotional exhaustion. The final verse reiterates the emotional turmoil that the singer is going through, "Think I've had enough, think I've lost my mind," reinforcing the sense of confusion and sadness that the song expresses.

Line by Line Meaning

Simple hello would've been nice
I would have appreciated a friendly greeting from you

Instead you walked right by
You ignored me and kept walking

I do recall we used to be friends
I remember when we were once friends

Has that slipped your mind
Have you forgotten about our friendship?

I used to call you on the telephone
I would frequently call you

Each and every night
Every single night without fail

Every time I see you with him
Whenever I see you with your new partner

I think, "Why even try?"
I wonder if it's even worth trying to reconnect with you

Think I've had enough
I believe I've reached my limit

Think I've lost my mind
I feel like I'm going crazy

This time
Right now